4--GLOBE_Response Initial Memo_Due 08.19.22 - October 17, 2022 - DCSD Board Meeting Archive

Initial Memorandum To
The GLOBE Academy
August 8, 2022

The DeKalb County School District’s Initial Memo provides the petitioner with feedback from the DCSD Charter Petition Review
Committee. The Initial Memo includes identified strengths, clarifying questions, and requests for additional information or
documentation.

Directions:
1. Review the Initial Memo.
2. Respond in writing to each item. Written responses should be submitted with the revised petition. Below is an example.

Feedback: Describe the process for collecting data on stakeholder satisfaction. It is unclear as written.
Petitioner’s Response: Process revised in petition. See pages 2-3. Copy of survey included. See exhibit #32.

3. Revise the original petition and save the revised document in Microsoft Word. All changes made to the original petition
should be made using the “track changes” feature in MS Word. No additional changes to the petition will be accepted
unless requested by the DeKalb Board of Education.
How to Submit the Final Revised Petition and Response to the Initial Memo

By August 19, 2022 (12:00 PM), deliver to the School Innovation/Governance Department via DropBox at
charterschools@dekalbschoolsga.org the revised petition (including exhibits) and the Response to the Initial Memo. Use electronic
folders for sections, exhibits, and appendices.

Your Application Package must include the following:

1. Microsoft Word version of your Application Cover Page (page 14)
2. REDLINED Microsoft Word version of your Application and Exhibits
3. PDF version of your Complete Application Packet in the following order: Cover Sheet, Application, signed Assurances Form(s),
Affidavit, and Exhibits
4. PDF version of your Locally-Approved Charter School Partners Roles and Responsibilities Chart
5. Excel version of your completed Budget Templates
6. Microsoft Word version of the Response to the Initial Memo

Faxed or emailed copies will not be accepted. Only complete applications that comply with these guidelines will be evaluated.
SUMMARY

On July 26, 2022, The GLOBE Academy submitted a DCSD charter renewal application seeking the DeKalb Board of Education’s
approval for a five-year contract term. In evaluating the petition, the Charter Petition Review Committee identified aspects of the
petition, which would affect students attending the charter school.

Commendations from the Petition Review Committee:

● The Governing Board is high-functioning, knowledgeable, and collaborative.
● Multiple members of the Governing Board demonstrate strong instructional backgrounds and knowledge of the DLI model.
● The GLOBE Academy strategically allocates resources to support academic priorities.
● The school’s financial plan is thoroughly developed and aligned with the school’s mission and education program.
● The GLOBE Academy has demonstrated a strong academic performance and, since the beginning of this charter term, their
CCRPI exceeds DCSD and the state of Georgia.

Process:

Items requiring a response are listed below. If applicable, questions correlate to the page number in the Microsoft Word version of
the petition. Additional areas of concern may be raised by DeKalb Board of Education members during their review of the petition
or by GADOE during its review process.

Community Support

Item Committee’s Feedback Petitioner’s Response
1 Describe how you engaged family and community stakeholders in Thank you for sharing this feedback – we have provided
planning and reviewing petition content.
additional clarification in the petition on page (18).
2 Describe the partnership between epidemiologists at Emory, the We are happy to share more about this partnership. We have
CDC, and GLOBE Academy. Are there any other notable
added additional detail on page 37 (53).
partnerships? (p. 37)
3 The Governing Board shared that increasing diversity (both in the Thank you – we have added a section on page (5) that outlines
student population and staff recruitment) has been a concern for
our DEI strategic priorities outlined in the current strategic plan.
the past 5 years. The Governing Board shared that increasing
diversity will be a priority in the next strategic plan. Please identify
the aligned priorities in the current strategic plan.
4 Does the school intend to develop a pipeline program or Thank you. We have added clarifying language on page (50)
partnerships with higher education to support recruiting a more
describing our work with Georgia State University.
diverse staff? If so, how?

School Governance

Item Committee's Feedback Petitioner’s Response
5 Provide a copy of the Governing Board’s “written procedure for Thank you. We have included a copy of the procedure in the
resolving conflicts between the charter school and the local board addendum below.
of education.” (p. 299)
6 How has the administrative team informed the Governing Board Creating an inclusive school community rooted in values of
when students (such as those with exceptionalities) have needs diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and access (DEIBA)
for which GLOBE’s instructional model does not provide sufficient
support? What has been the role of the Board in ensuring that
remains a core priority for our Board. During our last strategic
the needs of students with exceptionalities are met? plan, DEI was one of our four priority areas, which included the
following four action items: 4.1) Create Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion vision and goals, 4.2) Strengthen and build capacity to
execute student behavior plan, 4.3) Implement “strong start”
school culture plan, 4.4) Develop staff Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion competencies and 4.5) Strengthen diversity in
advanced/gifted cohorts. We intend to continue to focus on
DEI(BA) initiatives into our next strategic plan to continue this
important work.
.

Academic Plan

Item Committee’s Feedback Petitioner’s Response
7 Are all legal requirements of IEPs being met in the current DLI Thank you. We have added additional clarification on page (42).
model? Please provide any additional clarification.
8 How are the STAMP assessment and language proficiency standards GLOBE uses open enrollment in grades K, 1, and 6. In grades 2-5,
used during the application, enrollment, and lottery process for
and 7-8, we have observed that assessing an incoming students’
lower and upper grades? If a student doesn’t score well on the
STAMP, what guidance is provided on applying or entering the language ability is critical for them to be successful in our dual
lottery? language learning environment.

Students who do not meet the standards required by our
administrative team on the STAMP assessment are not
admitted. This information is stated in our admissions criteria
and handbook, and is in accordance with the Georgia
Department of Education (SBOE Rule 160- 4-9-.05).

Our admissions director works with families to help them
explore options other than GLOBE should they not meet testing
requirements. Students in 2-5 are welcome to re-apply in grade
6, when we offer open enrollment for middle school.
9 What additional services are offered to students who struggle in At GLOBE, every student is offered Tier 1 instructional
reading and math prior to referral to Tier II Interventions (especially
strategies. Teachers are trained on differentiation strategies
highlighting that the students Reading and Math, particularly in
Kindergarten and 1st grade, is provided with interventions every within Tier 1 instruction, which includes small group instruction
other day)? and other in-class instructional strategies. Formative
assessment data that teachers collect drives this instruction in
the classroom. Teachers also use grade-level assessments and
conferences to inform this work.

We note that mathematics is taught every day in both
languages. We also teach literacy skills every day in both
languages (English and the target language). DLI approaches
have emphasized that these literacy skills across languages
complement one another and support literacy development in
the opposite language it is taught.
10 Through regular progress monitoring cycles, the District analyzes Thank you. We have added clarifying information on page 6
student subgroup data—specifically, Black males, Hispanic males,
(18) highlighting a recent analysis of race/ethnicity subgroup
students with disabilities, and multi-lingual learners. Has GLOBE
analyzed the performance of one or more of these student data, and also included this report titled “AC - Board
subgroups? If so, what have been some of the key findings? (p. 6) Presentation - 3.2020” with our petition.
11 How are the waivers of Program Enrollment & Appropriation Thank you. We have added clarifying information on page 8
(O.C.G.A. § 20-2-160) and ELL Program Requirements (O.C.G.A. §
(21).
20-2-156 and SBOE Rule 160-4-5-.02) used to implement the
academic program at GLOBE? (p. 8)
12 Provide an example of how new research on dual language Thank you. We have added clarifying information on pages 8-9
immersion has been used to adapt the curriculum and/or
(20-21)
instructional practices at GLOBE. (p. 9)

13 If applicable, how does GLOBE incentivize teachers becoming ESOL Thank you. We added clarifying information on page 29 (43).
endorsed? (p. 29)
“by covering costs associated with the endorsement and
providing an additional financial stipend”

14 Provide your most recent analysis of disproportionality data. Thank you We have included a copy of our Academic Committee
Report given to the Board of Directors at our June 2022
meeting. See below for the Academic Committee Report.
15 What has been the social-emotional impact of the pandemic on Thank you. When our Reopening Committee convened in
students at The GLOBE Academy? What SEL strategies have been
2020-2021 school year, we were concerned about the potential
put in place as a result?
negative impact of the pandemic on students’ academic, social,
and emotional wellbeing. We know it’s best for students to be in
school and worked hard to find a balance in the community
between the need to keep the community safe while prioritizing
student academic and especially social and emotional
wellbeing.

Following the return to school, GLOBE implemented a new SEL
program started by our counselor for Upper Campus called “SEE
(Social, emotional and ethical) Learning from Emory University.
We also had been working to do a full implementation of
responsive classroom just before the pandemic, and
doubled-down on this commitment to launching responsive
classroom with the return to school across our school
community.

We see SEL as an integral part of our school’s mission and
rooted in our values of CREST (Community, Respect, Empathy,
Sustainability, and Trust). These values are not only incorporated
into all of our academic programming but also guide the
long-term work of the GLOBE Board and administrative
leadership team.
Financial Plan

Item Committee’s Feedback Petitioner’s Response
Please be sure to provide Exhibit 18 to your agent at Manry & This is included as Manry & Heston Exhibit
Heston as all our requirements are contained in pages 7, 8 and 9.
The policies we received are expiring shortly (August 10 & 12) so
16 please have the school request the updated policies if they have
been issued.
Globe carries Workers Compensation coverage. Please provide a This is included as Workers Compensation
17 Waiver of Subrogation endorsement along with an endorsement
that provides 45 days direct written notice to the district should the
policy be cancelled or non-renewed.

Globe also carries Educators Legal Liability/Employment Practices This is included as Educators Legal Liability
Liability, but the limit is $1,000,000. We require $2,000,000 along
with an endorsement showing DeKalb County School District and the
18 DeKalb County Board of Education are included as insureds.

Please provide the entire package policy; as there is no This is included as Crime Policy
19 documentation referencing automobile liability or crime coverages.

Please show evidence of the property insurance that the school is Included as Umbrella and Property Insurance
20 required to carry on the Heritage Drive location that they lease from
the district.

There is no reference made to umbrella liability insurance in the Included as Umbrella and Property Insurance
petition.
Again, there are details on pages 8 and 9 that are important as we
21 need to be sure district requirements are being included by the
insurer. Complete copies of the policies will go a long way toward
satisfying that issue.
Organizational Plan

Item Committee’s Feedback Petitioner’s Response
Provide an example of the recruitment strategies used to ensure Thank you for this question – and we’ve clarified our
22 that GLOBE has sufficient lead teachers who are native speakers of
relationships abroad on page 10 (23), highlighting our working
their language. Specifically, describe what an effective partnership
with the home country involves. (p. 10) relationship with Patrick Wallace from GADOE.

23 Please specify the efforts of the Governing Board and school Thank you – we have added clarifying language on page 15 (29).
leadership to improve student attendance. (p. 15)
Addendum

Addendum 1 - #5 – “Governing Board’s “written procedure for resolving conflicts”

GLOBE Academy - DCSD Board
Dispute Resolution Policy

Note: this is a DRAFT Policy and is pending review and vote by our GLOBE Board of Directors. This policy will be reviewed at our August
29, 2022 Board Meeting.
Introduction and Scope
The GLOBE Academy Board of Directors is committed to reaching a prompt and fair resolution of any disputes, conflicts, or disagreements that may arise
from time to time, and that may threaten the functioning of the board with the DeKalb County School District (DCSD). At the request of DCSD, this policy
shall be applied beginning with the 2022-23 Academic Year going forward and shall not apply to any prior academic years.
Policy
The GLOBE Academy Board of Directors encourages resolution of any issues or concerns that it may have related to DCSD at the earliest opportunity.
It is important that as issues do arise, they are dealt with in a fair and timely manner. While some conflicts will be resolved by an informal discussion between
the parties, others will need a process for successful resolution.
Procedure
a. The dispute will be set out in writing by the DATE Administration or a Board member and sent to the chair.
b. The chair will use his or her discretion to bring the issue to the next board regularly scheduled board meeting or call a
special meeting.
c. The matter should be discussed with all directors present, unless they have advised the chair, preferably in writing, that they are aware there is a
dispute resolution meeting being held and they are unable to attend.
d. The chair will call for a motion from the board (either in open or executive session depending on the issue) to proceed with submitting a request to
DCSD for mediation or otherwise to request a follow-up meeting. All directors present at the meeting will vote on the motion.
e. Mediation
1. Where mediation is sought, the mediator must be a person chosen by agreement between the parties.
2. The parties to the dispute must, in good faith, attempt to settle the dispute by mediation.
3. The mediator, in conducting the mediation, must:
a) give the parties to the mediation process every opportunity to be heard; and
b) allow due consideration by all parties of any written statement submitted by any party; and
c) ensure that natural justice is accorded to the parties to the dispute throughout the mediation process.
4. The mediator must not determine the dispute.
5. The mediation must be confidential and without prejudice.
6. If the mediation process does not result in the dispute being resolved, the parties may seek to resolve the dispute through further or at law.
Roles and Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the chair to ensure that:
Board members are aware of this policy;
Disputes are handled respectfully, confidentially, and in accordance with natural justice.
Addendum 2 – #10 “AC - Board Presentation - 2020”
Addendum 3 - #14 “Academic Committee Report”

Agenda Item