The Morris Brandon School Council met in regular session on March 23, 2011 at 7:15 a.m.

The meeting was held in the Library at Morris Brandon Main Campus, 2741 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30327.

School Council Members Present:

Karen Evans, Head of School

Julie Bassett and Katie Mori, Parent Representatives

Logan Ide, Lee Pritchard and Joseph Rogers Business Representatives

School Council Members Absent:

Betsy Nettles and Allie Fleckner, Faculty Representatives

Others Present:

Pete Settelmayer, Primary Center Administrator

Emily Jordan and Rush Levitt, PTA Co-Presidents

Hyde Desloge and Margaret Warren, PTA Co-Presidents-Elect

Six School Council members were present, representing a quorum.

1. Call to Order

Logan Ide called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.

3. Approval of Agenda

Logan Ide presented proposed Agenda.  Moved, seconded and carried that the agenda be approved.

MOTION: Karen Evans; SECOND: Lee Pritchard

VOTE: 6 Yes; 0 No

3. Approval of Minutes

Logan Ide presented draft minutes from the February 2011 meeting.  Moved, seconded and carried that the minutes be approved.

MOTION: Joseph Rogers; SECOND: Karen Evans

VOTE: 6 Yes; 0 No

4. Brandon Capacity Issues and APS

Lee Pritchard led a discussion regarding the status of discussions with APS regarding Brandon’s capacity issues.

Lee reported that task force members met with APS CFO, Chuck Burbridge, regarding funding issues surrounding possible solutions to overcrowding in the northern cluster.  Burbridge noted that funding for facilities comes from one of three buckets: SPLOST; property taxes (the Board of Education has authority to increase property taxes for this purpose); and cuts from other budget areas.  SPLOST III has been fully utilized, and SPLOST IV will not be up for vote until November 2011.  Because the budget is already under stress, funding is not available from other areas.  Burbridge and task force members discussed issues surrounding the bond offering that will fund the purchase and start-up construction for the new high school, and whether a bond offering might also provide funding for elementary school construction needs.  The Brandon PC will host an APS community meeting regarding the APS budget on April 26, 2011.

Lee also reported on recent discussions with Nancy Meister and Reuben McDaniel.  These discussions have centered on financing issues, the next phase of the demographic study commissioned by APS to encompass 2010 Census findings, and recent community/school input. 

Karen Evans reported that she has requested 6 portable classrooms at the Main Campus for 2011-12.  These portables will be used for specials instruction.

Council members also discussed the status of capacity and infrastructure issues faced by E. Rivers.  In light of these issues, E. Rivers is more likely to get funding allocated ahead of Brandon.  Therefore, Council members discussed strategies for working with E. Rivers representatives to come up with mutually beneficial solutions to the two schools’ concerns.

5. Capacity Survey

School Council discussed the results of the survey regarding Brandon’s capacity concerns.  Council members agreed to send the entire survey results to APS and to summarize findings for the Brandon community.

At a high level, the survey revealed several preferences:

·      All respondents prefer a long-term solution to Brandon’s overcrowding

·      Most respondents accept portable classrooms for the short-term

·      While 58% of respondents are comfortable with the one-campus/two-school model, this data shifts substantially depending on the neighborhood in which the respondent lives

·      Several respondents had answers that do not reconcile with other answers

·      50% of respondents will seek private school education in the absence of a long-term solution

Moved, seconded and carried that School Council send a letter to APS regarding the survey findings, and specifically requesting that APS implement actions to solve Brandon’s overcrowding issues. 

MOTION: Lee Pritchard; SECOND: Joseph Rogers

VOTE: 6 Yes; 0 No

6. Spring Survey

Council members discussed topics for the final survey, to be issued shortly after Spring Break.

7. School Achievement Plan

Council members agreed to table further discussion regarding the School Achievement Plan until the next meeting of School Council.

8. Year-End Planning

Council members discussed ways that School Council can continue to add value to Morris Brandon, as well as elections and possible appointments for 2011-12.

9. Adjournment

With no further business to come before the school council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 a.m.

MOTION: Lee Pritchard; SECOND: Karen Evans

VOTE: 6 Yes; 0 No

The next meeting of the Morris Brandon School Council will be held on Monday, May 1, 2011 at 7:15 a.m. in the Morris Brandon Main Campus Conference Room.