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DeKalb Brilliance Academy

Board of Directors

Regular Meeting

August 24, 2026, 7-9 PM

2364 Park Central Boulevard, Decatur, GA 30035

Wifi Network: DBA Staff

Password: SafeBoulder5710!

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Grounding our work

OUR MISSION

With unwavering commitment to exceptional academics, leadership development, and community collaboration, DeKalb Brilliance Academy prepares all Kindergarten–8th grade students to thrive in high school and college, have fulfilling careers, and become impactful leaders in our communities.

OUR VISION

Each child will know and leverage their unique brilliance to critically analyze the world around them and to design a better and more equitable future.

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Team Agreements

Build excellence

Come prepared, fulfill commitments, generate new ideas.

Stay engaged

Stay morally, emotionally, intellectually, and socially involved.

Embrace disagreement

Bring issues into the open; we grow through dialogue.

Take responsibility for intent and impact

Assume best intent, own the impact.

Process, not the people

Change the process, policy, or plan - not the person.

Adapted from Glenn Singleton's Courageous Conversations framework

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120 MIN

How we'll use our time tonight

0:00 – 0:10

Opening, public comment, minutes

0:10 – 0:25

Governance: strategy + renewal runway

0:25 – 0:45

Finance: FY26 close + FY27 outlook

0:45 – 1:00

Leadership: opening of Year 5

1:00 – 1:25

Workshop I: tax credit fundraising

1:25 – 1:50

Workshop II: board recruitment

1:50 – 2:00

Next steps + closing

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0:00 – 0:10

SECTION ONE

Meeting Opening

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0:00 – 0:10

PROCEDURAL

Meeting Opening

01

Call meeting to order

02

Roll call

Confirm quorum

03

Share procedure for public comment

Read procedure aloud

04

Vote on approval of previous minutes

July regular board meeting

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Public Comment

Speakers observe the time limit stated in the procedure read at the opening of this meeting. The Board receives public comment; it does not respond or deliberate during this period.

7 · Public Comment - Mike / variable - 3 min per speaker

"Anyone who is here for public comment should have already indicated so on the clipboard in the back of the room or in the meeting chat on Zoom."

If people signed up:

"Before we begin, a few notes on how we handle public comment.

On transparency: board meetings are a public forum to provide transparency into the governance of the school. Engagement from the community is strongly encouraged and vital to that governance.

On time: a total of 30 minutes is set aside for public comment. Each speaker will have a maximum of three minutes. A speaker may not sign up to speak more than once during the same public comment period.

On board action: the board cannot respond to public comment in the meeting. In general we need to listen, and then follow up after the board meeting. That's because the board acts through policies and votes as a governing body, not through individuals, so we can't respond until the board has the information to respond as a group. I want to name that this can feel awkward. Please know that we are taking careful notes and we take all feedback to the board seriously. The board will direct an appropriate committee or the Head of School to respond at a later time as necessary and appropriate.

On civil discourse: speakers are encouraged to maintain decorum and present comments in a civil manner. The Governing Board reserves the right to request that any speaker engaging in personal attacks, or using obscene or derogatory language, restate their position in a manner more appropriate for a school environment.

The order we have for public comment is [names]."

If no one signed up:

"Seeing no requests for public comment, we will move to the next section of our agenda."

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0:10 – 0:45

SECTION TWO

Committee Report Out

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0:10 – 0:25

MICHAEL FREELAND, CHAIR

Governance Committee

Everything this board does between tonight and February is renewal work.

Strategic Plan

Board retreat moved to September for full in-person attendance. Draft plan to the board by November 2026, strategic plan approved by January 2027.

Charter Renewal

Board voted in July to seek five-year renewal. Site visit window is next month.

Community Voice

Family advisory structure targeted for September. Three or more listening sessions by November feed the strategic plan draft.

9 · Governance Committee - Mike - 6 min

Everything this board does between tonight and February is charter renewal work.

Three things.

The strategic plan - we moved the retreat to September so we could be in person with full attendance - scheduling options will be in the closing survey tonight, and the draft comes back to this board by November. That retreat is where we influence the strategic plan the renewal application will point to. The strategic plan is a renewal deliverable, not a nice-to-have. We will engage Bellwether, the same firm that the SCSC sponsored us doing our initial Growth and Replication Cohort work two years ago.
Charter renewal itself - we voted in July to seek a five-year renewal, and the site visit window opens next month.
And community voice - the family advisory structure is targeted for September, with three or more listening sessions by November. Those feed the strategic plan draft. So when a site visitor asks how this board hears from families, we have a real answer.

My one ask tonight: respond to the closing survey so we can lock in the September retreat date.

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0:10 – 0:25

CHARTER RENEWAL

Charter renewal runway: tonight to February

SEP–OCT

Site Visit

Board members may be interviewed at SCSC renewal site visit; scheduling TBD

Strategic plan community listening sessions: families, students, staff, board

NOV 1

Audit Due

Annual independent audit due

Charter renewal application released

Board discusses draft strategic plan

JAN

Application Due

Charter renewal application submitted

Strategic plan voted on by board

LATE FEB

SCSC Vote

Commission votes on DBA charter renewal

We laid groundwork this month by presenting to SCSC as a highlight school →

10 · Charter renewal runway - Mike - 4 min

"Left to right. September to October is the site visit window - scheduling is still to be determined, and board members may be interviewed. That's also when the strategic plan listening sessions run with families, students, staff, and this board. We’re re-engaging Bellwether Partners - the same organization that planned our worth with the SCSC Growth and Replication Cohort two years ago - to support this work.

November 1: the independent audit is due, and the renewal application is released. That's when we discuss the draft strategic plan.

January: the application is submitted and the board votes on the strategic plan.

Late February: the Commission votes on our renewal.

And we've laid groundwork: DBA presented to SCSC this month as a highlight school (board members can click the image to see full slides).

The thing I want you to take from this - the visit could start as early as mid-September. Board readiness is a tonight problem, not an October problem. A"

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0:10 – 0:25

BOARD READINESS

What SCSC may ask you directly

Site visitors interview board members. Be ready to answer these in your own words.

How does the board monitor academic performance - and what did you do when results told you something?

What is the school's financial position, and how does the board oversee it?

How do you recruit board members and fill skill gaps?

How does the board evaluate the school leader?

What is the board's role versus the staff's role?

How does the board hear from families and the South DeKalb community?

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0:25 – 0:45

QUENTIN JOHNSON, TREASURER

Finance Committee

FY26 closed to plan. We finished within $3,096 of plan in a year with a nearly $.5M state revenue decrease.

90*

of 100 points

SCSC financial performance:

Meets Standards*

*projected

106

days

Unrestricted days cash at June 30

Takeaways

Net income

($329,071) actual vs ($325,975) budgeted.

Expenses

$128,365 favorable.

Personnel

$308,685 over - more teachers due to additional SPED needs.

Grants

100% drawn down by June 30.

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0:25 – 0:45

FY26 · 2025-26 CPF

SCSC financial performance framework

Projected 90 of 100 points - Meets Financial Performance Standards.

Indicator 1: Fiscal Viability

Near-term and sustainability measures

Current Ratio - 11.51

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Unrestricted Days Cash - 106

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Annual Debt-to-Income - 13.07%

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Default / Timely Repayment

10 / 10

Efficiency Margin - -3.66%

5 / 10

Debt to Asset Ratio - 95.06%

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Subtotal

50 / 65

Indicator 2: Fiscal Management

Compliance and oversight measures

Adherence to GAAP / clean audit

10 / 10*

Federal financial requirements

3 / 3*

LUA Manual

4 / 4*

Own financial policies

3 / 3*

Enrollment Variance - 1.2%

4 / 4

Timely Audit Submission

11 / 11*

Subtotal

35 / 35

Bonus: building ownership 5 / 5* Projected total: 90 / 100 Meets Standards = 80–100

* Projected - Indicator 2 measures and the bonus are confirmed through the independent audit and SCSC monitoring.

13 · SCSC financial performance framework - Quentin - 4 min

"One caveat: the framework itself is mid-transition right now, so this is very much a projection based on the current information we have. For context, fewer than half of state charter schools met financial standards last year because they were split into two separate ratings that unfairly penalized even high-performing schools (as a reminder we “met” in one of the two and “approached” in the second of the two last year, which gave us an “approaching” overall).

For FY26, we project 90 of 100 - Meets Standards.

Full credit on current ratio, days cash, timely repayment of debt, and enrollment variance.

Three measures at partial credit.

Debt-to-income at 13.07% - that's the facility loan. It's structural, and it improves as revenue grows, not through anything we manage differently. This will be our slowest measure to improve.
Efficiency margin at negative 3.66% - full credit needs a positive three-year aggregate, and a strong FY27 would deliver that.
Debt-to-asset at 95.06%, where the threshold for full credit is below 95. We are seven one-hundredths of a point outside. That's the closest miss on the whole framework.

Anything with an asterisk is confirmed through the independent audit and SCSC monitoring - which is why the November 1 audit date Mike flagged matters so much."

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0:25 – 0:45

FINANCE

FY27 outlook after the CSGF award

$400,000

Project RISE / CSGF awarded - all revenue shifted into FY27

+

Charter Supplement

Actuals higher than estimated; outyears align

=

+$956,263

above approved FY27 budget

Board-approved FY27 net income

$179,305

Current projected FY27 net income

$1,135,568

Increase over approved budget

$956,263

The MYP shows positive shifts to net income and fund balance across all five years.

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0:25 – 0:45

BOARD DECISION

Proposed investment of additional resources

INVEST NOW

$250,000

Playground

$75,000

Part-time operations support

$50,000

Student computers

$25,000

Strategic planning

$25,000

Website update

Total proposed

$425,000

RETAIN

$531,263

Held for future capital needs:

Roof repairs / replacement
Parking lot repairs
Transition to full cook kitchen
Auxiliary building upkeep
Parking / future expansion site

If the KABOOM! partnership lands, they cover base equipment - the same $250,000 buys substantially more.

15 · Proposed investment of additional resources - Quentin, then Jocelyn - 6 min

"Here's what Finance is proposing. $425,000 invested, $531,263 retained.

$250,000 for the playground, deferred out of FY26. $75,000 for part-time operations support - real capacity for a school this size. $50,000 for student computers. $25,000 for strategic planning, which funds the September retreat directly. And $25,000 for a website update.

Jocelyn, do you want to speak to the playground?"

Jocelyn: "$250,000 funds a straightforward build on its own. If the KABOOM! partnership lands, they cover the base equipment and that same money goes considerably further. We'll know more before September."

Quentin: "The $531,263 we hold is for deferred construction and future capital - roof, parking lot, a full cook kitchen, auxiliary building, and future expansion.

What I'd like is discussion, and a sense of whether this board is comfortable with the shape of it, so Finance can finalize the plan."

Mike, to close the block: "Reactions? Anything in the invest column you'd move, or anything missing?

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0:45 – 1:00

SECTION THREE

Leadership Report Out

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0:45 – 1:00

HEAD OF SCHOOL REPORT

Opening of Year 5

Staffing

Hiring for one kinder resignation.

Performance management live for all 57 staff.

Leader pipeline launching this month.

Enrollment

Current enrollment = 613.

Offering 7 new seats to keep numbers at 620 for 10/1 state reporting.

899 enrollment applications; 528 remain on waitlist.

Academics

BOY MAP administration underway.

80% of staff meeting bar on culture and relationships.

71% of staff meeting bar on systems & procedures.

Operations

Dismissal, technology, school meals, and transportation systems all meeting bar for both ES & MS.

Compliance

100% of SCSC items submitted ahead of the 8/31 deadline.

95% transfer IEPs scheduled, 70% complete.

WIDA screening launches next week.

Dyslexia Law screening complete.

Fundraising

Project RISE awarded.

CSP applications advancing.

CTAE ineligibility converted into advocacy with SCSC.

17 · Opening of Year 5 - Jocelyn - 15 min

"Fifteen minutes, about two on each. I'm going to stay at the governance altitude - headline and health. If you want more on any of these, tell me and I'll bring more detail back to you.

Staffing. We're hiring for one kindergarten resignation. Performance management is live for all 57 staff, and our leader pipeline launches this month.

Enrollment. We're at 613 scholars today. We're offering seven new seats to hold at 620 for the October 1 state count, which is the number our budget is built on. The demand picture behind that: 899 applications this cycle, and 528 families still on our waitlist. That's roughly five applications for every seat we have.

Academics. Beginning-of-year MAP administration is underway. On our own instructional bar, 80% of staff are meeting it on culture and relationships, and 71% on systems and procedures. Culture is where we'd want it in week three. Systems and procedures is where we're coaching to be able to move quickly into academics and rigor.

Operations. Dismissal, technology, and transportation are all meeting bar for both elementary and middle school. Adding 6th grade has a lot of back-end systems complexities and we’ve been working hard, but able to manage/navigate it.

Compliance. 100% of SCSC items submitted ahead of the August 31 deadline. On transfer IEPs, 95% are scheduled and 70% are complete. WIDA screening launches next week. Dyslexia Law screening is complete.

Fundraising. Project RISE is awarded. CSP applications are advancing. And we converted a CTAE ineligibility finding into an advocacy proposal to SCSC.

What questions do folks have?"

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1:00 – 1:50

SECTION FOUR - WORKSHOP

The Board's Fundraising Role

Two connected conversations: the opportunity in front of us, and the board capacity to sustain it.

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1:00 – 1:25

WORKSHOP I

The PEACH Education Tax Credit

Redirect Georgia income tax you already owe into DBA - dollar for dollar, at no net cost.

1

APPLY

Apply at gfpe.org in under a minute. GFPE submits to the Georgia Department of Revenue.

2

DONATE

Once approved, contribute on the gfpe.org site and designate DeKalb Brilliance Academy.

3

CLAIM

Claim the credit dollar for dollar against your Georgia income taxes.

DBA is an approved fundraising plan partner - donors can designate their credit directly to us.

You do not need to live in Georgia - only to pay Georgia state income tax.

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1:00 – 1:25

WORKSHOP I

How much can each donor redirect?

$2,500

Single individual or head of household

$2,500

Married, filing separately

$5,000

Married couple filing jointly

$25,000

LLC member or partnership partner

75%

S-corp shareholder, C-corp, or trust - of Georgia tax liability

Timing matters. The statewide cap is finite and preapproval is first come, first served.

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1:00 – 1:25

WORKSHOP I

The ask

Every board member applies this fall - and brings one other Georgia taxpayer.

Apply

Complete your own application at gfpe.org and designate DBA.

Name one

Identify one individual or business in your network paying Georgia tax.

Report back

Tell Jocelyn who you've asked so we can track designations.

Discussion: who in your network is the strongest candidate - and what do you need from staff to make that ask?

21 · The ask - Jocelyn - 15 min

"What I'm asking is that every board member applies this fall, and brings one other Georgia taxpayer with them.

But I don't want to ask you to do this later, because later is where these things go to die. So we're going to do it right now, together. Pull out your phones.

Go to gfpe.org. The application is short - name, filing status, the amount you want to redirect. Any amount you want to apply for is the right amount. And, if you have to talk to your tax professional first, that is fine - still go to the like so you can understand the process.

Make sure you designate DeKalb Brilliance Academy. That's the step people miss.

I'll give us five minutes. I'm doing mine right now too."

[Five minutes. Walk the room. Help anyone who's stuck.]

"Tell me what got in the way so I can fix it for the next person.

Now the second half of the ask, and this one you can't do on your phone. One individual or business in your network who pays Georgia income tax. Going around the room - give me a name or a category, and tell me what you need from staff to make that ask."

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1:00 – 1:25

WORKSHOP I - ON THE HORIZON

What's coming in 2027: the federal credit

A second, federal dollar-for-dollar credit opens January 1, 2027 - and Georgia has opted in.

$1,700

Maximum credit per return, including joint filers

Jan 1, 2027

Contributions eligible; claimed on 2027 returns

Georgia

Among the states electing to participate

Carries forward

Nonrefundable; unused credit up to five years

What we still don't know

Contributions go to Scholarship Granting Organizations, not schools directly, and Treasury guidance on how SGOs qualify is still pending.

Why it matters tonight: we're recruiting board members who can help us move on both credits.

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1:25 – 1:50

WORKSHOP II

Where the board stands today

Nine members across four committees. One committee is a single person.

3

Governance

Michael Freeland
Jazmin Counts
Sharicka Samuels

3

Finance

Quentin Johnson
Joseph Akpan
Jenea Caruth

2

Academics

Mesha Greene
Dr. Curtis Armour

1

Partnerships

LaKenya Norris

Board recruitment is off track. One person cannot carry the fundraising push we just discussed.

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1:25 – 1:50

TERM HORIZON

Four of nine terms expire at the end of FY27

All four are eligible for a second term. We need intent confirmed early.

MEMBER

COMMITTEE

CURRENT TERM

EXPIRES

Michael Freeland

Governance - Chair

Term 2 · FY26–FY28

FY28

Jazmin Counts

Governance

Term 2 · FY27–FY29

FY29

Mesha Greene

Academics

Term 1 · FY25–FY27

FY27

Dr. Curtis Armour

Academics

Term 1 · FY25–FY27

FY27

Joseph Akpan

Finance

Term 1 · FY25–FY27

FY27

Quentin Johnson

Finance

Term 1 · FY25–FY27

FY27

Jenea Caruth

Finance

Term 1 · FY26–FY28

FY28

Sharicka Samuels

Governance

Term 1 · FY26–FY28

FY28

LaKenya Norris

Partnerships

Term 1 · FY26–FY28

FY28

Recruitment can't start in the spring while the renewal application is being written.

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1:25 – 1:50

WORKSHOP II

Candidate pipeline and open seats

SEATS TO FILL

+1

Academics

+2

Partnerships

What we need most

People who can move fundraising forward - PEACH now, the federal credit in 2027. CPAs and attorneys remain on our list.

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1:25 – 1:50

WORKSHOP II

What we're asking the board to do

Tonight

Each member names one prospective candidate with fundraising capacity.

By Sept 15

Greene, Armour, Akpan, and Johnson confirm second-term intent.

September retreat

Governance brings a slate and a chair succession plan.

Before renewal

Fill three seats: one Academics, two Partnerships.

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1:50 – 2:00

SECTION FIVE

Meeting Closing

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1:50 – 2:00

CLOSING

Team agreement shoutouts

Who lived our agreements tonight?

Build excellence

Stay engaged

Embrace disagreement

Take responsibility for intent and impact

Process, not the people

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1:50 – 2:00

CLOSING

Closing & next steps

Apply for PEACH

Complete your application at gfpe.org and designate DBA this fall.

Confirm term intent

FY27-expiring members confirm second-term intent by September 15.

Name a candidate

One prospective board member with fundraising capacity.

Confirm committee times

Governance, Academics, and Partnerships send times to Mike & Jocelyn

Schedule September retreat

Complete board survey here - https://forms.gle/mwKcZtsJJ3poehfc9

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Thank you

Each child will know and leverage their unique brilliance to critically analyze the world around them and to design a better and more equitable future.

DeKalb Brilliance Academy · Board of Directors · August 24, 2026