At its September monthly meeting, the Andrew Wilson board discussed various revenue streams and fundraising endeavors to pay for its after-school programs.

Board member Nancy Marshall said the scheduled fundraiser on October 23 might be cancelled because some donors and participants cited time constraints due to involvement in upcoming local and national elections on November 6.

Consequently, the board brainstormed several fundraising alternatives. Most notably, board member Derek Rabb suggested hosting a concert on school grounds. As a community-driven school, a concert event would draw interest from the entire Broadmoor neighborhood.

Funds raised from such event would help grow Wilson’s after-school programs, which are open to Andrew Wilson students as well as others in the Broadmoor community.

The board’s fundraising committee will meet next month to further discuss the issue.

In other agenda items, Principal Logan Crowe briefed the board on enrollment figures, recent grant applications and upcoming renovations due to damage from Hurricane Isaac.

Wilson has partnered with McDonogh City Park Academy, Morris Jeff Community School and New Orleans Science and Mathematics High to apply for Louisiana’s Believe and Include, a $4 million competitive state grant program that funds academic services for students with disabilities.

If the application is successful, each school would receive $50,000.

In addition, Crowe announced that Wilson currently has 619 students, which is close to its enrollment goal. Student attendance rate is 90 percent, with no suspensions and expulsions as of date.

Also, Wilson is one of ten schools and charter management organizations that partners with NOLA TIF, a teacher incentive fund that rewards outstanding teachers and administrators in New Orleans.

Teachers and administrators at participating NOLA TIF schools will be eligible for performance-based bonuses: a maximum of $2500 for teachers, $5000 for assistant principals and $10,000 for principals.

On facility issues, Director of Operations Darius Munchak said all low-level rooms, especially the cafeteria and administrative offices, were flooded during Hurricane Isaac. Plans are afoot for renovations to guard against future flood damage.

Lastly, the board approved Sarah Baird as its newest member. Baird works with the Louisiana Charter School Association and will serve as board secretary.

The board later went into a brief executive session to discuss negotiations with respect to a prospective litigation concerning the school.

The 90-minute meeting was adjourned shortly after.

The next board meeting is October 23 at 6:30 p.m.