KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools

Minutes

KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools Board of Trustees Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday December 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM

A regular meeting of the KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools Board of Trustees in joint session with regular meetings of the KIPP Philadelphia Charter School Board of Trustees, KIPP DuBois Charter School Board of Trustees, KIPP West Philadelphia Charter School Board of Trustees, KIPP North Philadelphia Charter School Board of Trustees, and KIPP Catto Charter School Board of Trustees with Board President Bernard Cummings presiding.

Trustees Present

A. Aerts, A. Fullard, A. Keyes, A. Wheeler, B. Cummings, C. Hardie-Langston, D. Tucker Harrison, K. Jones, T. Smith

Trustees Absent

None

Guests Present

Bridget Looram, C. Benson, C. Williams, Katie Owen, N. Wiltshire, P. Hennessy, R. Vieira, S. Wilson Jones, She'Neil Spence

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

B. Cummings called a meeting of the board of trustees of KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools to order on Wednesday Dec 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM.

C.

Approve November 12, 2025 Minutes

A. Aerts made a motion to approve the minutes from KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools Board of Trustees Meeting on 11-12-25.
A. Wheeler seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Roll Call Vote: Budget Reforecast

D. Tucker Harrison made a motion to Ratify the Budget Reforecast.
A. Wheeler seconded the motion.

The adoption of the budget includes growth for KPOC upper grades, contingent upon board approval.

 

Update: The board approved the KPOC upper grades, 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. Hardie-Langston
Aye
A. Keyes
Aye
B. Cummings
Aye
A. Fullard
Aye
D. Tucker Harrison
Aye
T. Smith
Aye
K. Jones
Aye
A. Wheeler
Aye
A. Aerts
Aye

II. Welcome & CEO Report

A.

Welcome

B. Cummings welcomed the board and staff and moved to N. Wiltshire's CEO report.

B.

CEO Report

N. Wiltshire started her report by welcoming new staff members B. Looram and K. Owen. She then shared updates on community engagement initiatives across schools, including initiatives addressing food insecurity and resource fairs.

 

N. Wiltshire then gave an update on KDCA, sharing their dual enrollment ceremony celebration and the KDCA band performance at the Parkside Business Tech Center's annual holiday toy drive.

 

N. Wiltshire then highlighted  J. Lee for being the first charter school teacher accepted into the Philadelphia Writing Project. Her work will focus on the intersection of Black history and education, including a 6th grade unit on Black Philadelphia history through the KIPP Philly story.

 

N. Wiltshire then continued her presentation by highlighting our advocacy day at City Hall with families, and the recognition for our advocacy efforts by the KIPP national network.

 

N. Wiltshire concluded by giving an update on the strategic plan.

III. CONSENT AGENDA

B.

Vote to Approve December ESAs

D. Tucker Harrison made a motion to Approve the December ESAs.
A. Keyes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Executive Session

The board entered into Executive Session to discuss a legal matter at 2:31pm and exited Executive Session at 2:52pm. No votes were taken during the Executive Session.

D.

Vote: Go, No Go

D. Tucker Harrison made a motion to approve the KPOC upper grades.
K. Jones seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Aerts
Aye
K. Jones
Aye
A. Wheeler
Aye
A. Fullard
Aye
A. Keyes
Aye
C. Hardie-Langston
Aye
D. Tucker Harrison
Aye
B. Cummings
Aye
T. Smith
Aye

IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.

School Health Committee

K. Jones shared the draft committee goals, aligned to the strategic plan. The proposed committee goals are focused on supporting the team in three key areas: strengthening data-informed instruction and culture and climate systems, as well as deepening partnerships with families and communities.

B.

Development Committee

N. Wiltshire shared the progress-to-goals, pending grants and asks, and upcoming engagement plans.

C.

Finance Committee

D. Tucker-Harrison shared an update on committee goals.

 

L. Li shared insight on budget variances YTD.

D.

Governance Committee

A. Aerts shared an update on the board recruitment process and shared potential areas of need in terms of skill. S. Wilson-Jones asked the committee to ensure that the skills are aligned to future needs over the life of the strategic plan. 

 

A. Aerts then requested that staff share the governance portion of the renewal framework for the board to review this term. K. Jones suggested doing a self-assessment aligned to the governance section of the framework,

 

 

E.

Audit Committee

B. Cummings made a motion to Approve the one-year auditor extension.
C. Hardie-Langston seconded the motion.

A. Wheeler shared that the audit committee will also have proposed FY26 goals to present to the board. 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. Information

A.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

B.

New Business

There was no new business.

C.

Old Business

There was no old business.

D.

Announcements

C. Benson reminded the board about the KWPP recital at the Kimmel Center.

VI. 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 3:32 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
B. Cummings