Abner Soto-Henry

The meeting commenced with quorum being established and was formally opened. Key discussions included updates on facilities, noting the school's opening in its new location and pending occupancy for the second phase. Enrollment figures were reviewed, showing an increase to 202 students, with specific demographics noted, including that 1 out of 3 students is unhoused. Updates were provided on grants and partnerships, including new IT support and progress on fundraising goals. Attendance rates were reported as high for an adult school, and three students from the Medical Assistant pathway already graduated. The financial report for August 2025 was presented, forecasting the cash balance and discussing anticipated spending and maturing Certificate of Deposit investments. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to Board Governance Planning, discussing the restructuring of committees, including sunsetting ad hoc committees, maintaining standing committees (Governance, Finance, Audit), and activating a Program committee, with roles and chairs assigned for these groups. The discussion also covered identifying future board member strengths and the Board Chair's potential future stepping down.

The meeting included the introduction of Dean D'Angelo, a prospective trustee, followed by his unanimous election to the Board of Trustees, with a subsequent suggestion to recruit more persons of color for future trustee roles. The Career Academy review highlighted exceptional student and staff resilience during the pandemic, significant media attention, the recognition of an IT teacher as 2021 Certiport Teacher of the Year, and meeting or exceeding most SY20-21 goals, including significant academic gains. It was noted that all charter goals have been met ahead of the 10-year charter review. The Executive Director's update confirmed current enrollment stability, several pending grant applications, and the school's reopening with flexible instruction options. Strategic planning was addressed by assigning responsibility for goal updates. Governance matters included the unanimous approval of Open Meeting Procedures and a by-law change. The financial report ending 8/31/2021 showed a positive fiscal standing with YTD income below budget due to grant scheduling variance, expenses under budget, a $2.3M cash balance, and a healthy debt ratio. The FY 2021 audit is scheduled to commence shortly, with members appointed to the audit committee.

The meeting included a review and presentation of the financial report for the period ending October 31, noting a projected annual loss but sufficient cash reserves. The Audit Committee report by SB & Company was summarized and approved. A discussion on cash management led to the unanimous approval of a proposed investment strategy, including the consideration of a cash sweep account and certificates of deposit, to protect cash balances exceeding FDIC insurability limits. In committee updates, the Strategic Planning committee recommended the release of the RFP for the strategic plan, with an addition regarding branding and trustee engagement; this motion was approved. A proposal to extend the age limit for served students was discussed, noting that it would require a charter amendment and that responses suggest a preference for afternoon classes. The Executive Director's update confirmed exceeding the enrollment goal, the upcoming submission of the financial audit report, reconsideration of the COVID mask policy in January, and being on track for 30 student graduates.

The meeting included a financial report for the period ending February 28, 2021, which showed a cash balance of $2.4 million and a debt ratio of 31%, noting that grant revenue lagged budget expectations due to reimbursement timing. The board discussed the academy's experience with reopening on April 19, noting the current cohort sizes and mitigation strategies in place for in-person instruction, with no final decision made regarding the continuation of virtual instruction. Board members reviewed and set goals focused primarily on securing internships and addressing advocacy needs. The Executive Director update covered providing support to students regarding recent national events, and efforts to reconcile school by-laws with the OMA, as well as lobbying for funding parity with K-12 schools. Other topics included an adult education roundtable scheduling, attendance rising twelve points between November 2020 and March 2021, and ongoing positive work in marketing, communications, and fundraising.

The primary purpose of this special meeting was to approve the update to the CMO agreement, which had been presented during the previous board meeting on December 3, 2020. A motion was made and unanimously passed to approve the CMO agreement with the Latin American Youth Center, which included a 5% increase, adjusting the total agreement value from $167,000 to $175,000.