BOD Meeting Minutes- May 13, 2025
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
The Arts Based School
North Campus
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The Arts Based School
North Campus
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
ABS Staff in attendance: Charter Director Robin Hollis and Principal MacArthur
Board Members in attendance: Kellie Alston, Joy Blaser, Jennifer Borrero, Ellen Coble,
Becky Dickson, Asher Ellis, Brenda Kennedy, Jay Kumar, Michelle Hopkins Lawrence,
Shannon Meares, Tonya Monteiro, Kimberly Pemberton, and Elizabeth Repetti.
Meeting materials: The agenda, the April Board meeting minutes, the draft budget for
2025-2026, the amendment for the building lease, and the monthly financial activity
report for April were shared via email on May 12, and the director’s report was shared
on May 13.
Repetti called the meeting to order at 5:55 pm.
Approval of April minutes: Coble motioned to approve; seconded by Meares. Motion
carried unanimously.
Review of April Financial Results (Ellis)
● ABS is on track for spending.
● WSFCS sent payment number six of nine due for this fiscal year.
● EPA has begun dispersing funds again, but ABS must resubmit an application for
the portal to get reimbursed.
● The committee recommends taking the 5-year term loan which was approved by
the board earlier this year for $345K while school waits for reimbursement from
the federal government.
● New student fundraiser brought in $62,000 and Community Creates raised
$40,000. Both brought in more money than planned.
● Committee recommended the board approve the financial report for April which
passed unanimously.
● Review of 2025-2026 budget anticipates increased enrollment and 3% increase
in salaries.
● Committee recommended approval of next year’s preliminary budget which
passed unanimously.
Review 7th Street and MLK Building Leases (Hollis)
● Board is being asked to approve amendments to the lease agreement for the
North Campus.
● The Board will vote in June after reviewing the changes.
Director’s Report (Hollis)
● End of grade testing will take place this month.
● ABS Students continue to outperform the National mean in both reading and
Board Members in attendance: Kellie Alston, Joy Blaser, Jennifer Borrero, Ellen Coble,
Becky Dickson, Asher Ellis, Brenda Kennedy, Jay Kumar, Michelle Hopkins Lawrence,
Shannon Meares, Tonya Monteiro, Kimberly Pemberton, and Elizabeth Repetti.
Meeting materials: The agenda, the April Board meeting minutes, the draft budget for
2025-2026, the amendment for the building lease, and the monthly financial activity
report for April were shared via email on May 12, and the director’s report was shared
on May 13.
Repetti called the meeting to order at 5:55 pm.
Approval of April minutes: Coble motioned to approve; seconded by Meares. Motion
carried unanimously.
Review of April Financial Results (Ellis)
● ABS is on track for spending.
● WSFCS sent payment number six of nine due for this fiscal year.
● EPA has begun dispersing funds again, but ABS must resubmit an application for
the portal to get reimbursed.
● The committee recommends taking the 5-year term loan which was approved by
the board earlier this year for $345K while school waits for reimbursement from
the federal government.
● New student fundraiser brought in $62,000 and Community Creates raised
$40,000. Both brought in more money than planned.
● Committee recommended the board approve the financial report for April which
passed unanimously.
● Review of 2025-2026 budget anticipates increased enrollment and 3% increase
in salaries.
● Committee recommended approval of next year’s preliminary budget which
passed unanimously.
Review 7th Street and MLK Building Leases (Hollis)
● Board is being asked to approve amendments to the lease agreement for the
North Campus.
● The Board will vote in June after reviewing the changes.
Director’s Report (Hollis)
● End of grade testing will take place this month.
● ABS Students continue to outperform the National mean in both reading and
math at most grade levels. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is
administered to students in 3rd-8th grade three times a year to gauge academic
program and identify areas of need.
● Student survey results from the first 75 students showed positive feelings about
ABS teachers and programs.
● Read to Achieve Summer Reading Program (5 days a week for three weeks in
June) will be offered this summer to students who qualify based on test scores.
Motion to adjourn by Meares and seconded by Coble. Meeting adjourned at 6:35
Next Board Meeting - June 10, 2025
administered to students in 3rd-8th grade three times a year to gauge academic
program and identify areas of need.
● Student survey results from the first 75 students showed positive feelings about
ABS teachers and programs.
● Read to Achieve Summer Reading Program (5 days a week for three weeks in
June) will be offered this summer to students who qualify based on test scores.
Motion to adjourn by Meares and seconded by Coble. Meeting adjourned at 6:35
Next Board Meeting - June 10, 2025