Also at the meeting, the council reviewed how the school fared in its first year on schoolwide Criterion Referenced Competency Test scores and approved the 2012-13 school calendar.
Council members present at the morning meeting were Heather Blevins, Larry Blase, Jay Wright and Principal Vanessa Suarez, with Danny Dukes and Lyn Carden phoning in via teleconference. Vince Baker was absent.
In the board of directors’ school report, Cherokee Charter Academy is reported as having a total enrollment of 821 students in May for a budgeted enrollment of 995 students with 99 percent in attendance.
The student withdrawal total for May is at 17, with eight students suspended, six moving out of the area and 11 deciding to return to Cherokee County School District schools in the fall.
The school reports 765 students recommitted for fall enrollment with 169 new students and 347 children on the wait list. Some grade levels are at capacity and have a wait list, while others are not yet filled.
Also at the meeting, the board unanimously approved the proposed budget discussed at last month’s meeting.
The FY13 budgeted enrollment assumes 995 students, making total revenues amount to $7,784,655 and total expenses $7,639,769, leaving the school with a surplus of $144,885.
The total revenue accounts for $3,863,306 in quality basic education, or QBE, funding dollars from the state, making up 50 percent of the school’s revenue for the year. Included in the QBE funding is special needs and gifted education funding, which the school is still in the process of securing, Suarez said.
Dukes said Wednesday after the meeting that the school had more special needs and advanced students than initially expected and continues to work with the Georgia Department of Education to attain the additional funds.
The school also counts $3,568,737 in state special schools revenue and $352,612 in food service, title grant and revenues from their before and aftercare programs.
The overall budget did not see any major fluctuations from the initial budget presentation last month, but saw about a $17,000 reduction in surplus funds, thus reducing the operating budget.
When Wright expressed concern whether the school would reach that number, Suarez said enrollment could actually be higher.
“Right now, I’m expecting to have at least 1,000 students, which means we would make our 995 target,” Suarez said. “(The number) is very realistic. I expect to exceed it by at least 10 or 15 students.”
For this year’s school calendar, Cherokee Charter Academy will hold parent orientation July 24 and 26 and begin the first day of school July 30. There will be two teacher development days/student holidays on Aug. 9 and 10.
The entire approved calendar will be available through the school’s website.
The next Local Governing Council meeting will be held at 10 a.m. July 25 at the school.
The council discussed moving the meeting time to the evening for August, but the matter will not be decided until the July 25 meeting.
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