April 2026 Meeting Agenda and Minutes
The Academy
Board of Directors
Board Meeting
Monday, April 27, 2026
6:00pm
Agenda
.
I. Open Meeting
The Academy’s mission is to help all students grow into college ready, exemplary citizens by combining academic mastery with personal empowerment to drive lifelong success. We serve our full community by intentionally developing a school culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. With this in mind, the Board of Directors welcomes all members of our community to this meeting and invites each person to begin our time together in whatever way will help ground you for thoughtful and productive discussion - a few deep breaths, a prayer, a moment to organize your thoughts, or whatever meets your needs.
II. Consent Agenda
a. Approve Agenda
b. Approval of March 30, 2026 minutes.
III. Public Comment
The chairperson will recognize anyone who signs the request form before the meeting time. Public comment and input shall be limited to fifteen minutes total, ten minutes per topic, and 2 minutes per speaker. Neither Board members nor Academy staff is obligated to respond to comments or input. The Board will provide written responses as deemed appropriate.
IV. Reports from Directors, Principals, and Committees
a. Executive Director Report – Expectation: The ED will update the Board on progress toward financial and operational strategic priorities.
b. Chief Academic Officer Report - Expectation: The CAO will update the Board on progress toward instructional and cultural strategic priorities.
c. Committee Reports – Expectation: Committee Chairs will update the Board on progress with each committee.
i. Finance – See meeting minutes.
ii. SACademic – No meeting this month.
iii. PTO – No minutes this month.
V. Presentation and Discussion
a. School Culture Survey – Expectation: The Executive Director and Chief Academic Officer will present new data collected through the Teaching & Learning Conditions in Colorado statewide survey of schools.
b. Draft Strategic Plan – Expectation: The Executive Director will present draft language for the new strategic plan.
c. Final Review of the Strategic Planning Committee and Committee Formation Policies - Expectation: The Executive Director will lead a final discussion of proposed updates to the Committee Policy and the intention to dissolve the Strategic Planning Policy ahead of a vote.
d. Student Fees 2026-27 – Expectation: The Board will discuss proposed updates to Student Fees for the 26-27 school year.
e. Executive Session C.R.S. §24-6-402(4) – Expectation: As needed, the Board may call an executive session for one of the specific topics identified below via a 2/3 majority.
i. Discussions regarding buying or selling property;
ii. Conferences with an attorney to receive legal advice;
iii. Matters required to be kept confidential by state or federal law (e.g., student academic records);
iv. Security arrangements or investigations;
v. Determining contract negotiation strategies;
vi. Personnel matters;
vii. Consideration of documents protected from disclosure under the Open Records Act; or
viii. Discussion of individual students where public discussion would adversely affect the student involved.
f. Work Session Summary – Expectation: The Board Chair will summarize the topics discussed during the work session prior to this formal meeting.
VI. Executive Summary
a. Approval of Updated Committee Formation Policy - Expectation: The Board will vote to approve the proposed updates to the Committee Policy.
b. Dissolution of the Strategic Planning Committee Policy - Expectation: The Board will vote to approve the proposed updates to the Committee Policy.
c. Approval of 2026-27 School Fees - Expectation: The Board will vote to approve the proposed updates to School Fees for the 26-27 school year.
VII. Adjourn Meeting
Board Meeting Minutes
Monday April 27, 2026
Board Members Present: Also Present:
Sarah Drewlow Chairperson Brent Reckman Executive Director
Dan Klenjoski Treasurer Sarah Gramarossa Chief Academic Officer
Kristen Cofrades Secretary Stacy McCleskey Exec. Admin. Manager
Autumn Coffee Board Member
Jen Halford Board Member
Minutes of the regular Board meeting of The Academy held at 11800 Lowell Blvd, Westminster, CO 80031 in Adams County on April 27, 2026.
I. Open Meeting
A quorum being present, Sarah Drewlow called the meeting to order at 6:06 pm.
II. Consent Agenda
a. Kristen Cofrades moved to approve March 30, 2026, minutes. Seconded by Jen Halford.
Discussion: None
Ayes: Sarah Drewlow, Dan Klenjoski, and Autumn Coffee
Nays: None
III. Public Comment
There was no public comment this month.
IV. Reports from Directors, Principals, and Committees
a. Executive Director Report
i. Finance
1. The process of developing next year’s budget is well underway.
2. The first read has been completed by the finance team.
3. The budget was created with a flat PPR or zero percent increase.
ii. Operations
1. Buckets of budgeted money is being identified, to put towards facility costs.
iii. Facilities Master Plan
1. It is estimated that the Certificate of Occupancy will be given in a couple of weeks.
2. The kitchen renovation will begin the Tuesday after school is out.
b. Chief Academic Officer Report
i. Testing
1. State testing has been completed and the process was well organized, with no technology issues.
a. Testing Opt-Outs
i. Elementary had a similar amount as in years past.
ii. Middle School had an increase. There will be more communication and education around testing next year
iii. High School was on track as they usually are for 11th grade Science.
2. AP testing will start in May and this year has the highest student participation.
3. STAR and MAPS testing will begin in elementary and middle school.
ii. Graduation Trajectory
1. There are 127 students in the 2026 cohort and 13 are on the watch list
a. Two students will not graduate.
b. Eight students have been at The Academy for 5 or more years.
iii. Attendance
1. Reports show that attendance is around 90%.
2. The goal was to decrease chronic absenteeism by 4% but we only decreased by 1%.
iv. Uniform Improvement Plan (UIP)
1. Continue K-3 READ Plan and increase growth.
2. Focus on K-12 instruction goal to elevate Tier 1 rigor.
c. Committee Reports
i. Finance – Finance items were discussed during the Executive Director report.
ii. SACademic – No meeting this month.
iii. PTO – No minutes this month.
V. Presentation and Discussion
a. School Culture Survey
i. This is a state-wide survey given every other year.
ii. All schools are encouraged to participate and CDE will share data with any site that has a participation rate of 50% or more. This year we had approximately 80% participation.
iii. Positive area (Instructional staff)
1. There are supportive construction conditions.
2. There is a shared responsibility for learning.
iv. Areas for growth (Instructional staff)
1. There is a need for instructional AI integration.
2. More support is needed for gifted students.
v. Positives (all staff)
1. There is a professional climate in the school.
2. There is support for wellbeing.
vi. Areas for focus (all staff)
1. Increased compensation and career advancement.
2. Better time management.
vii. Some notable increases from the previous survey in 2024.
1. The substitute coverage has increased.
2. The professional development is good for all staff.
3. The staff evaluations have gotten better.
viii. The next step is to share the results with staff.
b. Draft Strategic Plan
i. “Finance, Operations & Governance” is the third and final section.
ii. It is similar to what’s in place now, but has a new piece that articulates vision and values.
iii. Finance
1. This is the compensation and compliance related piece that defines the days of cash on hand, Tabor reserves, etc.
2. The “Actions” will be to maintain an effective Finance Committee, follow best practices to meet enrollment, and have bi-annual meetings to monitor performance.
iv. Operation
1. This section has a customer service mindset, specifically internally.
2. The “Actions” will be to give all staff the opportunity to give feedback and feel well supported .
v. Governance
1. This section will include the tracking and oversight of the school
2. The “Actions” will include Board meetings, committee work, etc.
vi. The last read will be in May and final approval will be in June.
c. Final Review of the Strategic Planning Committee and Committee Formation Policies.
i. There are minor updates to the Committee Formation Policy, so that it aligns with our current practices, but major content remains the same.
d. Student Fees 2026-27
i. Minor updates were made to keep up with rising costs.
ii. A $10 increase was made to supply lines.
iii. An adjustment was made to Outdoor Ed costs to match what we are being charged.
iv. 8th grade Outdoor Ed was removed and is being discontinued.
e. Work Session Summary
i. Monthly Board communications were reviewed.
ii. Board planning was done for the summer retreat.
iii. Ongoing policy review.
iv. Executive Director and Chief Academic Officer reports were given.
VI. Executive Summary
a. Approval of the Committee Formation Policy.
Sarah Drewlow moved to approve the Committee Formation Policy. Seconded by Kristen Cofrades.
Discussion: None
Ayes: Dan Klenjoski, Autumn Coffee, and Jen Halford
Nays: None
b. Dissolution of the Strategic Planning Committee Policy.
Sarah Drewlow moved to approve the dissolution of the Strategic Planning Committee Policy. Seconded by Jen Halford.
Discussion: None
Ayes: Dan Klenjoski, Autumn Coffee, and Kristen Cofrades Nays: None
c. Approval of 2026-27 School Fees
Sarah Drewlow moved to approve the 2026-27 School Fees. Seconded by Jen Halford.
Discussion: None
Ayes: Dan Klenjoski, Autumn Coffee, and Kristen Cofrades Nays: None
VII. Adjourn Meeting – Sarah Drewlow adjourned the meeting at 6:52 pm.