Governance and sustainability are intimately linked; the long-term sustainability of a charter school rests with its governing board.  In order to assure the school’s success, the governing board will meet the following objectives:

Act as a policy-setting board delegating the management of day-to-day operations to the Chief Executive Officer;

Set the strategic vision for the school;

Make decisions based on what is best for the students at the school;

Ensure the school acts in a fiscally responsible manner at all times;

Make certain there is an ongoing training program to educate parents and other prospective board members in the work and responsibility of the governing board so that there are always knowledgeable individuals able to assume a vacant board position.

 – CLA Charter 2003

Decision Making

Two principles underlie all significant decisions made by the board and Community Leadership Academy’s administration: (i) all actions should fall within the parameters of the vision and mission statements; and (ii) Community Leadership Academy is a noble leadership organization dedicated to social justice in education ensuring all students’ academic success.

Accordingly, in making any significant decision the board and administration shall consider the decision in the context of the Community Leadership Academy vision and mission statements and with focus on the students’ best interest, always keeping in mind that they are the recipients of product the school provides.

Click here for Student Privacy and Protection information.

Current Board Members

Our Board comprises individuals with diverse life experiences, some of which include: living in the community, being parents of students who attend the Schools, working in corporate America, teaching, special education, construction, and law enforcement. Our Board is extremely diverse, and our backgrounds provide a wide range of perspectives. The members of this Board faithfully serve the Schools and work hard to provide the children of Commerce City the opportunity to receive a quality education.

Jeff Smith, President: Mr. Smith has served on the Board of Directors since 2010. A 43-year resident of Commerce City, Colorado, presently a resident of Lakewood, Colorado. He is a former Lieutenant of the Commerce City Police Department and was elected to serve on the Adams County School District 14 board in 1985. Since that time he was appointed to serve twice to fill emergency vacancies; the most recent appointment was in 2007. Mr. Smith recently retired from his position as Captain of the Detentions Division for the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office.

Nancy Brooks, Secretary: Ms. Brooks holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Baker University. She currently serves on the Thornton Community Chorus Board and has served on the Board of Directors for the past 6 years. Ms. Brooks taught in Colorado public schools for 11 years. She is a mother of two high school students who attend VPA and wants what is best for her children as well as other children of Commerce City.

Jeff Reed, Director: Mr. Reed has served on the board of directors since 2010 and earned a degree in Construction Management from Colorado State University. He is president of Agora West Real Estate Group, Inc. and has worked on over 40 charter school facility projects as Owner’s Representative. He also serves as vice president for the Community Leadership Academy Building Corporation.

Vacant, Director:

If you would like to contact the Community Leadership Academy, Inc. Board of Directors, please send your correspondence to:
Attn: Board of Directors
6880 Holly Street
Commerce City, CO  80022

Email: jsmith@clacharter.org

Board Meetings

Board Meetings are generally held the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:00-2:30 P.M. The public is welcome to attend as observers. If you wish to address the Board, there is a time for public comment (limited to 3 minutes per speaker). Please see the agenda for when this occurs.

CLA/VPA Public Participation at Board Meetings guidance  Audience Comment Card 

CLA/VPA Complaint/Grievance Process

Agendas are posted no later than 24 hours before each meeting.

Pursuant to Section 24-6-402(2)(c), C.R.S., notices of meetings of the Board of Directors for Community Leadership Academy shall be posted at the front entrance window of Community Leadership Academy PK-5, 6880 Holly Street, Commerce City, CO 80022. Meeting notices may additionally be posted at Victory Preparatory Academy MS/HS, 5701 Quebec Street, Commerce City, CO 80022 and/or published on the organization’s website, www.clacharter.org. Reasonable effort will be made to keep the website current with board meeting notices and posting of minutes.

Board Minutes are taken at every Board meeting but must be approved at the following meeting before they are posted. This is why minutes are not posted immediately following a Board meeting.

Archive meeting agendas and minutes can be found here.

Accountability Committee

In 2009, the State of Colorado passed SB 09-163, the Education Accountability Act. This legislation mandates that every public school have a School Accountability Committee (SAC). In 2013, the state passed SB 13-193, legislation focused on increasing parent engagement in public school, which added to the statutory responsibilities of the SAC. The purpose of the SAC is to inform, encourage and provide opportunities for parents and community members to be involved in the planning and evaluation of the school’s instructional program and quality improvement processes through a process that conforms to guidelines, policies, and statutes from the state of Colorado, Charter School Institute, and CLA’s Charter.

Minutes

March 22, 2017 Minutes

January 19, 2018 Minutes

April 20, 2018 Minutes

November 2, 2018 Minutes

May 20, 2019 Minutes

November 8, 2019 Minutes

February 21, 2020 Minutes

September 25, 2020 Minutes

January 29, 2021 Minutes

March 31, 2021 Minutes

May 25, 2021 Minutes

September 17, 2021 Minutes