American Dream Charter School

Minutes

ADCS Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting

Date and Time

Monday January 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM

Trustees Present

A. Cabrera (remote), L. Rojas (remote), P. Simon (remote), R. Espinal (remote), Z. Martinez (remote)

Trustees Absent

None

Guests Present

M. Melkonian (remote), N. Gallagher (remote), S. Espinal (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

L. Rojas called a meeting of the board of trustees of American Dream Charter School to order on Monday Jan 26, 2026 at 5:36 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

L. Rojas made a motion to approve the minutes from ADCS Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting on 12-15-25.
R. Espinal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Educational Success

A.

Benchmark 1: Student Performance

  • Friday, the 23rd, was the last day of marking period two, and marking period three starts tomorrow.
  • Last week, we also completed January Regents week.

B.

Benchmark 2: Teaching and Learning

Staff

  • We have a couple of transitions with staff, a mid-year transition, so both in and out.   
    • We were able to hire two new high school history teachers.
  • We have transitioned out a science teacher who left two weeks ago, and we have another teacher whose last day is this coming Friday.

C.

BENCHMARK 3: Culture, Climate, and Student and Family Engagement

Hearty party for the Middle School

  • Hardy party is happening on February 6.

Fiesta For First 

  • May 7th - May 14th
  • The Board needs until next month to decide how we will proceed.

III. Organizational Soundness

A.

BENCHMARK 4: Financial Condition

  • Financial Condition given by NG

B.

BENCHMARK 5: Financial Management

  • Attached to the agenda is the most recent financial report for review.

C.

BENCHMARK 6: Board Oversight and Governance:

  • ADS Closed today, 1/26, for weather reasons and safety. 
  • Winter break is from 2/16 to 2/20.
  • Board members will vote for a renewal term for Luz Maria Rojas, Board Chair, in our February board meeting. 

D.

BENCHMARK 7: Organizational Capacity

Uncertified teacher updates

  • Prior to the break, NG sent a series of emails to uncertified staff teachers about their certification status, requesting that they respond with updates on even small steps they've taken to obtain their certification. That's an ongoing process, we will have updates soon.

IV. Faithfulness to Charter & Law

A.

BENCHMARK 8: Mission and Key Design Elements

Applications

 

  • SY2627 Application Numbers:
    • 6th Grade - 43
    • 7th Grade - 6
    • 8th Grade - 3
    • 9th Grade - 131
    • 10th Grade - 11
    • 11th Grade - 8
    • 12th Grade - 5

Total: 207

 

  • Our Univision digital ads are going to start on 2/16, and our TV commercial is going to start on 3/1.

B.

BENCHMARK 9: Enrollment, Recruitment, and Retention

C.

BENCHMARK 10: Legal Compliance

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 5:53 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. Rojas