Washington Latin board annual meeting - Jun 2026 Minutes

June 11, 2026, 5:30-8:00 PM

Minutes Draft

Washington Latin

Minutes

Washington Latin board annual meeting - Jun 2026

@ 2nd St Campus

Date and Time

Thursday June 11, 2026 at 5:30 PM

Location

@ 2nd St Campus

Directors Present

A. Huston, A. Zachariah, B. Williams-Kief, E. Paisner, F. Perera, K. Merritt, L. Rucker, M. Yeager

Directors Absent

C. McFadgion, P. Jayachandran, R. Brooks, S. Angus, Z. Berte

Guests Present

C. Gifford, D. Smith, E. Moussa, G. Izurieta, Julia Toews, L. Chia, P. Anderson

I. Dinner/Socializing

A. Catered Meal in 2nd Street Ground Floor Classroom

The board socialized during the optional dinner prior to the board meeting.

II. Opening Items

A. Record Attendance

B. Call the Meeting to Order

K. Merritt called a meeting of the board of directors of Washington Latin to order on Thursday Jun 11, 2026 at 5:30 PM.

C. Approve Minutes

Motion to approve the minutes from Washington Latin board spring retreat @ 2nd St Campus - Apr 2026 on 04-21-26.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
C. McFadgion	Absent
B. Williams-Kief	Aye
K. Merritt	Aye
Z. Berte	Absent
R. Brooks	Absent
F. Perera	Aye
E. Paisner	Aye
M. Yeager	Aye
A. Huston	Aye
L. Rucker	Aye
P. Jayachandran	Absent
S. Angus	Absent
A. Zachariah	Aye

III. The Latin Way Moment

A. Reflecting on The Latin Way in action in SY25-26

The recent 20th anniversary celebration gala and valediction(s) were highlighted as a testament to THE LATIN WAY in action.

IV. College Counseling Report

A. SY25-26 Report from Director of College Counseling

The 2nd St CCO (College Counseling Office) underwent a transition at the start of SY25/26. Julia Toews (Director Of College Counseling at 2nd St) gave an overview of the 2nd St CCO goals and outcomes for the current school year. The 2nd St class of 2026 all graduated and 100% were accepted to 2yr and/or 4yr colleges. The board was briefed on trends in college admission.

V. LEA Report

A. Executive Report

Over 300 guests attended the 20th anniversary gala celebration.

Generally, the enrollment demand at DC public charter schools is declining. WLPCS remains unaffected.

Keeping long-serving faculty members was discussed.

VI. Finance

A. FY27 Budget

Geovanna Izurieta presented the FY27 budget in detail. The budget has a positive net operating income. It is conservative, taking into cosideration the funding gap that persists between DCPS and DC public charter schools. The board was asked to vote on the approval of the FY27 (SY26/27) operating budget.

A MULTI YEAR TEACHER COMPENSATION INITIATIVE was discussed as a compensation strategy.

M. Yeager made a motion to approve the FY27 operating budget.

F. Perera seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
L. Rucker	Aye
Z. Berte	Absent
B. Williams-Kief	Aye
A. Huston	Aye
K. Merritt	Aye
P. Jayachandran	Absent
E. Paisner	Aye
C. McFadgion	Absent
A. Zachariah	Aye
F. Perera	Aye
S. Angus	Absent
R. Brooks	Absent
M. Yeager	Aye

VII. Fundraising

A. Looking back and looking forward

Margie Yeager spoke about the current status of fundraising, and emphasized board engagement.

WLPCS received a grant from NSVF (New Schools Venture Fund) to support the sharing of THE LATIN WAY.

Bacchanalia and the dedication of the Hunter Rawlings Reading Room @ AJC were well attended by families and friends, but the funds raised did not meet expectations.

Every board member was encouraged to review the BOARDS THAT RAISE fundraising presentation.

VIII. Deep Dive: Governance

A. New Governor Recommendation

Aswathi Zachariah (re)introduced Julia Porter who was not able to attend the meeting today but had met with several board members via ZOOM. The board voted to elect Julia Porter to the WLPCS board effective immediately.

B. Williams-Kief made a motion to elect Julia Porter (effective immediately) to the Washington Latin board of governors.

M. Yeager seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
C. McFadgion	Absent
E. Paisner	Aye
P. Jayachandran	Absent
Z. Berte	Absent
S. Angus	Absent
B. Williams-Kief	Aye
R. Brooks	Absent
A. Zachariah	Aye
A. Huston	Aye
K. Merritt	Aye
F. Perera	Aye
M. Yeager	Aye
L. Rucker	Aye

B. Term Renewals

Fabiana Perera's first term as a board member ends on 30 Jun 2026. The board voted to renew Fabiana Perera board term for (term 2) another 3 years.

M. Yeager made a motion to renew Fabiana Perera board term for (term 2) another 3 years.

E. Paisner seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
F. Perera	Aye
Z. Berte	Absent
R. Brooks	Absent
S. Angus	Absent
M. Yeager	Aye
A. Huston	Aye
A. Zachariah	Aye
C. McFadgion	Absent
E. Paisner	Aye
K. Merritt	Aye
B. Williams-Kief	Aye
L. Rucker	Aye
P. Jayachandran	Absent

C. Officer elections

The board voted to approve the slate of officers for SY26/27. The officers are the same. There is a provision in the bylaws that allows Ken Merritt (emeritus) to continue to serve as President for another year.

President : Ken Merritt

Vice President : Brendan Williams-Kief

Secretary : Aswathi Zachariah

Treasurer : Elizabeth Paisner

A. Zachariah made a motion to approve the slate of officers for SY26/27.

F. Perera seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
B. Williams-Kief	Aye
C. McFadgion	Absent
M. Yeager	Aye
S. Angus	Absent
Z. Berte	Absent
E. Paisner	Aye
A. Zachariah	Aye
A. Huston	Aye
F. Perera	Aye
L. Rucker	Aye
R. Brooks	Absent
P. Jayachandran	Absent
K. Merritt	Aye

D. Farewell to Carl McFadgion

WLPCS thanked Carl McFadgion whose board tenure is ending.

IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION

A. Closed meeting to the public

K. Merritt made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss a HR / Labor Relations matter.

B. Williams-Kief seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
C. McFadgion	Absent
E. Paisner	Aye
K. Merritt	Aye
S. Angus	Absent
Z. Berte	Absent
M. Yeager	Aye
A. Zachariah	Aye
L. Rucker	Aye
F. Perera	Aye
A. Huston	Aye
R. Brooks	Absent
B. Williams-Kief	Aye
P. Jayachandran	Absent

The board discussed a HR / Labor Relations matter during executive session.

K. Merritt made a motion to to exit from executive session.

B. Williams-Kief seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
Z. Berte	Absent
A. Huston	Aye
K. Merritt	Aye
S. Angus	Absent
M. Yeager	Aye
F. Perera	Aye
B. Williams-Kief	Aye
R. Brooks	Absent
C. McFadgion	Absent
L. Rucker	Aye
E. Paisner	Aye
A. Zachariah	Aye
P. Jayachandran	Absent

X. Closing Items

A. Upcoming activities

The 2nd St class of 2026 graduation will be held at UDC on Jun 15 Mon at noon.

B. Adjourn Meeting

Motion to adjourn the meeting.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
B. Williams-Kief	Aye
R. Brooks	Absent
E. Paisner	Aye
P. Jayachandran	Absent
A. Zachariah	Aye
C. McFadgion	Absent
L. Rucker	Aye
Z. Berte	Absent
F. Perera	Aye
A. Huston	Aye
S. Angus	Absent
K. Merritt	Aye
M. Yeager	Aye

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

L. Chia

This meeting is governed by the Open Meetings Act. Please address any questions or complaints arising under this meeting to the Office of Open Government at opengovoffice@dc.gov