Barnwell Elementary School Governance Council

Meeting Summary of Action Items

July 30, 2024 / 3:00PM

Barnwell Elementary Admin Conf. Room

Attendance: Takisha Benning, Renee Morris, Amber Wells, Joanna Thomas, Jill Reffitt, Mike Carey, Holli Freeman, Reed Moll, Saudy Fahm, and Amber Banks

Absent: N/A

Guests: Katie Kinsey

Action Item:  Approve Agenda

Action Item:  Approve May Meeting Minutes

Action Item:  Elect New Officers

Action Item:  Staff Standing Committees

Discussion Item:  Nominate Rep for Superintendent’s Parent/Community Advisory Council

Discussion Item:  Determine Meeting Schedule for SY 24-25

Discussion Item:  Draft Next Meeting Agenda

Informational Item: Principal’s Update

Next Barnwell SGC meeting:  September 10, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barnwell Elementary School Governance Council

Meeting Minutes

July 30, 2024 / 3:00PM

Barnwell Elementary Admin Conf. Room

 Attendance:  Takisha Benning, Renee Morris, Amber Wells Lohnes, Joanna Thomas, Jill Reffitt, Amber Banks, Holli Freeman, Reed Moll, Saudhy Fahm, Mike Carey

Absent:

Guests:  Katie Kinsey

Call to order:  3:03pm

Action Item - Approve Agenda

Motion:  Amber Wells Lohnes

Second: Renee Morris

All in favor:  Approved

Action Item - Approve May Meeting Minutes

Motion:  Joanna Thomas

Second:  Holli Freeman

All in favor:  Approved

Discussion Item:  Member Introductions

●     We went around the room and everyone introduced themselves

Action Item:  Elect New Officers

●     Chair will be Amber Wells Lohnes

○     Motion to Approve: Saudy Fahm

○     Second: Holli Freeman

○     All in favor - Approved

●     Vice Chair will be Joanna Thomas

○     Motion to Approve: Takisha Benning

○     Second: Joanna Thomas

○     All in favor - Approved

●     Parlimentarian will be Holli Freeman

○     Motion to Approve: Amber Banks

○     Second: Joanna Thomas

○     All in favor - Approved  

Action Item:  Standing Staff Committees

●     Budget and Finance will be Jill Reffitt, Reed Moll, Amber Banks, and Amber Wells Lohnes

●     Outreach and Communication will be Mike Carey, Saudy Fahm, Joanna Thomas, and Renee Morris

●     Principal Selection will be Holli Freeman, Amber Wells Lohnes, Amber Banks, and Renee Morris

Discussion Item: Nominate Representative for Superintendent’s Parent/Community Advisory Council

●     Reed Moll agreed to represent our SGC

Inforamation Item: Principal’s Update

●     School/Staff Updates

○     Teachers returned this week for a fun, inspiring week

○     6 new hires and a literacy coach

○     626 projected and we are 50 kids over that

○     3rd grade definitely will have a class added; 4th and 5th grade are very close to doing so as well

●     SY 23-24 Charter Funds Project Update

○     Let’s start thinking NOW how to spend these funds

○     We purchased the recess equipment, new rugs, school signage near cafeteria, added the banner on the fence, branded the elevator with a Barnwell Bear, Bears for Kindergarten, shirts for staff, PBIS inventory, gift for staff on Friday this week will 23-24 expenditures

○     Strategic Plan Action Plan Metrics were passed out for review

●     Calendar of Upcoming School Events

○     Popsicles on the Playground and New Family Play Date on Wednesday, July 31st

○     Sneak Peek on Thursday, August 1st

Discussion Item: Determine Meeting Schedule for SY 24-25

●     Tuesdays at 3pm

●     Sept 10th, Oct 8th, Jan 7th, March 4th, and May 6th are the proposed dates

Discussion Item:  Draft Next Meeting Agenda

●     SGC Strategic Action plan

●     Charter funds expenditures - amount TBD

●     Update on Staff

Public Comments: None

Meeting Adjourned:  3:52pm

Date | time 09/10/2024 | 3:00pm | Location Barnwell Admin Conference Room

SGC Members

Ms. Takisha Benning, Principal | Ms. Renee Morris, Asst. Principal, Appointed Staff| Ms. Joanna Thomas, Teacher | Ms. Amber Lohnes, Teacher | Ms. Jill Reffitt, Appointed Staff | Ms. Amber Banks, Parent| Ms. Holli Freeman, Parent | Ms. Reed Moll, Parent| Ms. Saudhy Sanjuanelo, Community Member | Mr. Mike Carey, Community Member

Time	Item	Owner
3:00pm	Call to Order	Lohnes
3:01pm	Action Item: Approve Agenda	Lohnes
3:05pm	Action Item: Approve August Meeting Minutes	Lohnes
3:10pm	Discussion Item: Determine SY24-25 Council Norms	All Members
3:15pm	Discussion Item: Review SGC Website for Compliance	Thomas
3:20pm	Discussion Item: Review 2024 Council Self-Assessment and Create Initiatives	All Members
3:23pm   3:40 pm	Discussion Item: Charter Dollar Expenditure Proposals   Discussion Item: Opportunity for Public Comment	Thomas   All Members
3:45pm	Informational Item: Principal's Update A.    Enrollment Update B.     Strategic Planning	Benning
3:55pm	Discussion Item: Draft Next Meeting Agenda	Lohnes
4:00pm	Action Item: Meeting Adjournment	Lohnes

Meeting Norms

Silences Phones | Be Respectful of Others’ Opinions | Work for the Good of All Students

 

 

Barnwell Elementary School Governance Council 

Meeting Summary of Action Items

September 10, 2024 / 3:00PM

Barnwell Elementary TAG Room

Attendance: Takisha Benning, Renee Morris, Amber Lohnes, Joanna Thomas, Jill Reffitt, Holli Freeman, Saudhy Fahm

Absent: Amber Banks, Reed Moll, Mike Carey

Guests: None

Action Item:  Approve Agenda

Action Item:  Approve August Meeting Minutes

Discussion Item:  Determine SY24-25 Council Norms

Discussion Item:  Review SGC Website for Compliance

Discussion Item:  Review 2024 Council Self-Assessment and Create Initiatives

Discussion Item:  Charter Dollar Expenditure Proposals

Discussion Item:  Opportunity for Public Comment

Discussion Item:  Draft Next Meeting Agenda

Informational Item: Principal’s Update

Next Barnwell SGC meeting: October 10, 2024

 

Barnwell Elementary School Governance Council

Meeting Minutes

September 10, 2024 / 3:00PM

Barnwell Elementary Admin TAG Room

 

Attendance:  Takisha Benning, Renee Morris, Amber Lohnes, Joanna Thomas, Jill Reffitt, Holli Freeman, Saudhy Fahm

Absent: Amber Banks, Reed Moll, and Mike Carey

Guests: None

Call to order: 3:01pm

Action Item - Approve Agenda

●     Motion: Holli Freeman

●     Second: Saudy Fahm

●     All in favor: Approved

Action Item - Approve August Meeting Minutes

●     Motion: Renee Morris

●     Second: Saudy Fahm

●     All in favor: Approved

Discussion Item: Determine SY24-25 Council Norms 

●     All agreed on the norms set

Discussion Item: SGC Website for Compliance

●     Joanna reviewed the website, and thanks to Susan Agerton, we are up to date

Discussion Item: 2024 Council Self-Assessment and Create Initiatives

●     Only two people completed the survey

●     We’ll get some clarification for this year’s survey and make it a priority to have all members complete it

Discussion Item: Charter Dollar Expenditure Proposals

●     We have $46K to spend for SY24-25

●     We should survey the teachers to see if they have input/proposals

●     Takesha suggests we spend it early (by January)

●     Council members are encouraged to brainstorm ideas

●     Cafeteria improvements could be an idea. The PTO is currently looking to fund that with money raised from the Fun Run in October.

Information Item: Principal’s Update

●     Enrollment Update

○     A sixth 3rd grade class has been added - Ms. Nephew is the new teacher. The kids’ first day was yesterday (Sept. 9th)

●     Strategic Planning

○     Plan is for the whole district, but we come up with a plan specific to our school

■     Increase academic achievement

■     Decrease office referrals

■     Increase percentage of students with disabilities meeting GMAS Reading indicator

■     Increase employee retention rate

■     Increase percentage of charter dollar expenditures

■     Decrease percentage of students absent 10% or more days enrolled (8 days per year)

○     This plan will be placed on the SGC website once Downey approves so absent SGC members can review

Discussion Item: Draft Next Meeting Agenda

●     Members to come up with two ideas each for charter money expenditure

●     Vote on strategic action plan

●     Next meeting is Oct. 8th

Public Comments: None

Meeting Adjourned: 3:34pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

October Agenda  

School: Barnwell Elementary School 

Date: 10/08/2024  

Time: 3:00 PM 

Location: Admin Conference Room  

SGC Members: Ms. Takisha Benning, Principal | Ms. Renee Morris, Asst. Principal, Appointed Staff| Ms. Joanna Thomas, Teacher | Ms. Amber Lohnes, Teacher | Ms. Jill Reffitt, Appointed Staff | Ms. Amber Banks, Parent| Ms. Holli Freeman, Parent | Ms. Reed Moll, Parent| Ms. Saudhy Sanjuanelo, Community Member | Mr. Mike Carey, Community Member  

3:00PM Call to Order (Lohnes) 

3:02PM Action Item: Approve Agenda (Lohnes) 

3:05PM Action Item: Approve September Minutes (Lohnes) 

3:07PM Discussion Item:  SY24-25 Council Initiatives* (All Members) 

3:20PM Discussion Item: Strategic Planning (Benning)  

3:25PM Action Item: Approve Strategic Plan (Lohnes) 

3:30PM Discussion Item: Charter Dollar Expenditure Proposals (All Members) 

3:45PM Action Item: Approve Charter Dollar Expenditure Proposals (Lohnes)  

3:50PM Informational Item: Principal’s Update (Benning)  

4:00PM Discussion Item: Draft Next Meeting’s Agenda (All Members) 

4:05PM Action Item: Meeting Adjournment (Lohnes) 

 

Meeting Norms: Silence Phones, Be Respectful of Others’ Opinions, Work for the good of all Students 

 

  

Barnwell Elementary School Governance Council 

Meeting Summary of Action Items

October 8, 2024 / 3:00PM

Barnwell Elementary TAG Room

 

Attendance: Takisha Benning, Renee Morris, Amber Lohnes, Joanna Thomas, Jill Reffitt, Holli Freeman, Saudhy Fahm, Amber Banks, Mike Carey, Reed Moll

Absent: None

Guests: Katie Kinsey

Action Item:  Approve Agenda

Action Item:  Approve September Meeting Minutes

Discussion Item:  SY24-25 Council Initiatives

Discussion Item:  Strategic Planning and Approval

Discussion Item:  Charter Dollar Expenditure Proposals and Approval

Discussion Item:

Discussion Item:  Draft Next Meeting Agenda

Informational Item: Principal’s Update

Next Barnwell SGC meeting: January 7, 2025

 

December Agenda  

School: Barnwell Elementary School 

Date: 12/03/2024  

Time: 3:00 PM 

Location: TEAMS 

SGC Members: 

Ms. Takisha Benning, Principal | Ms. Renee Morris, Asst. Principal, Appointed Staff| Ms. Joanna Thomas, Teacher | Ms. Amber Lohnes, Teacher | Ms. Jill Reffitt, Appointed Staff | Ms. Amber Banks, Parent| Ms. Holli Freeman, Parent | Ms. Reed Moll, Parent| Ms. Saudhy Sanjuanelo, Community Member | Mr. Mike Carey, Community Member   

3:00PM Call to Order (Lohnes)  

3:02PM Action Item: Approve Agenda (Lohnes)  

3:05PM Action Item: Approve October Minutes (Lohnes) 

3:07PM Action Item: Approve Charter Dollar Expenditure Proposals (Lohnes)   

3:30PM Action Item: Meeting Adjournment (Lohnes)  

Meeting Norms: Silence Phones, Be Respectful of Others’ Opinions, Work for the good of all Students 

 

***Charter Dollars 

  

This year, schools have received $46,391 in Charter Dollars to help meet their strategic goals through local innovative solutions. These funds should be used for non-personnel purchases such as supplies, registrations, communications, etc. When purchasing personnel, schools are advised to use other funding sources allowable for positions. If Charter Dollars are requested for personnel, the expenditure will require approval from the Zone Superintendent, SGC, and Executive Director of Governance and Strategy. Additionally, any materials purchased to support literacy instruction must align with GaDOE literacy requirements. 

  

Each Charter Dollar expenditure requires an SGC vote for approval, the completion of the Charter Dollar Expenditure Form, and is subject to the same district guidelines that govern school cost center budgets. All Charter Dollars must be spent in the year they are received to support our current student population. We encourage SGCs to schedule discussions early in the year to plan for these expenditures, ensuring all purchases are made before end-of-year spending deadlines. See our Charter Dollar Matrix for examples of FCS-supported expenditures. 

 

Items for Approval:  

 

Screen Beams ~18,000.00 

STEAM Week High Touch High Tech ~$7,610.25  

Reflex Math Subscription ~$3295.00 Schoolwide Subscription