Scholarship Prep
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday August 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Location
4070 Mission Ave.
Oceanside, CA, 92057
Zoom Meeting Information:
Meeting ID: 847 7579 6164
Passcode: 212359
Scholarship Prep Orange County (17th Street) - 1010 West 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Legacy Room
Scholarship Prep Orange County (Grand Ave) - 1821 N Grand Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Admin Office
Scholarship Prep Oceanside - 4070 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92057
Room 233
Scholarship Prep South Bay- 24910 S. Avalon Blvd., Wilmington, CA 90744
First-floor Kindergarten Classroom
Scholarship Prep Riverside County - 9707 Magnolia Ave. Riverside, CA 92503
Front Office
Scholarship Prep San Bernardino County - 20 W. 7th St. Upland, CA 91786
Admin Office
Additional Teleconference Location: 1902 West Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana CA 92703
Additional Teleconference Location: 3040 Fillmore Way #159, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
The meeting will be accessible via teleconference using the information listed above and at the locations above.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
The public is invited to address the Board during the meeting using the Zoom meeting information above, or from any of the teleconference locations. Alternatively, public comments can also be submitted via email to comments@scholarshipschools.org with “Public Comment for Board Meeting (on date of the Board Meeting)” in the subject line. The comment should include the name of the commenter, the Agenda Item number, and the topic that is to be discussed. Comments must be received by 12:30pm of the day before the scheduled Board Meeting and will be read during the meeting based upon time limitations. If the statement is not read online due to time limitations, the comments will be provided to the board members.
Members of the public may address the Board at regular meetings on agenda or non-agenda items that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board, and at special meetings on agenda items only. Speakers may be called in the order that requests are received, with speakers attending the meeting called prior to reading written comments submitted by email, or may be grouped by subject area. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker with no more than 15 minutes per single topic so that as many people as possible may be heard. . The Board may not take any action on matters discussed during the public testimony period that are not listed on the agenda.
Directors Present
C. Friedrichs (remote), J. Ing (remote), M. Toan (remote), P. Watson (remote)
Directors Absent
B. George
Guests Present
C. Nichols
I. Opening Items
A.
Quorum Check
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Pledge of Allegiance
D.
Reading of the Scholarship Prep Mission Statement
E.
Approval of the Agenda
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| P. Watson |
Aye
|
| C. Friedrichs |
Aye
|
| J. Ing |
Aye
|
| B. George |
Absent
|
| M. Toan |
Aye
|
F.
Invitation to Address the Board on Items on the Agenda
G.
Invitation to Address the Board on Items Not on the Agenda
II. Information Section
A.
Scholarship Prep - Orange County Campus Update
B.
Organization Update
Executive Director, Jason Watts, provided the organization update.
Enrollment Updates:
- 17th Street Campus: Enrollment growth highlighted
- Riverside Campus: original projection: 200 students, revised projection due to facility limitations was 95 students, actual enrollment after one-week delayed opening is 170 students.
- Oceanside and South Bay: Enrollment remains strong and consistent.
- Upland: Opened with 192 students.
Facilities & Campus Readiness
- Photos and updates shared from Riverside and Upland campuses.
- Highlighted murals and classroom environments as enrollment drivers and positive learning environments.
- Both Riverside and Upland campuses reported smooth first weeks of operations.
Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF) Presentation
- Scheduled for September 11th in Colorado. We are expecting to receive same-day feedback on whether the organization will be recommended for board approval (vote in October).
- If approved, funding for Inland Empire schools could begin as early as December.
- Jason also gave an overview the ten year growth plan and expansion strategy.
San Diego County Oversight Visit:
- Strong program implementation for vulnerable students.
- Positive growth outcomes for students with high needs.
- Special Education program commended
- Fiscal and business operations reported as sound; no reporting issues.
- Governance: Strong responsiveness and transparency with authorizers.
- Findings: No concerns or deficiencies identified; all oversight metrics were met.
III. Consent Calendar
A.
Approve the July 24th Regular Meeting Minutes
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| B. George |
Absent
|
| J. Ing |
Aye
|
| P. Watson |
Aye
|
| C. Friedrichs |
Aye
|
| M. Toan |
Aye
|
B.
Approve the August 8th Special Meeting Minutes
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| P. Watson |
Aye
|
| M. Toan |
Aye
|
| B. George |
Absent
|
| C. Friedrichs |
Aye
|
| J. Ing |
Aye
|
C.
Approve the Revised New School Stipend Policy
D.
Approve the Student Recruiter Job Description
E.
Approve the Revised Fiscal Policies and Procedures Manual
F.
Approve the Revised Classified Compensation Plan
G.
Approve the Revised Certificated Compensation Plan
H.
Approve the Revised Administrative Compensation Plan
I.
Approve the Revised Independent Study Master Agreement
J.
Approve the Purchase of Turf from Scholarship Prep - Oceanside to Scholarship Prep - Orange County
K.
Approve the Scholarship Prep - South Bay Comprehensive School Safety Plan
L.
Approve the Scholarship Prep - San Bernardino County Comprehensive School Safety Plan
M.
Approved the Revised AR/AP Coordinator Job Description
N.
Approval of Consent Calendar
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| C. Friedrichs |
Aye
|
| P. Watson |
Aye
|
| B. George |
Absent
|
| J. Ing |
Aye
|
| M. Toan |
Aye
|
IV. Closed Session
A.
Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Gov. Code § 54957) Title: Executive Director
The Board entered the closed session at 2:23 pm.
B.
Closed session to discuss real property negotiations regarding lease of property in Riverside, California.
V. Return to Open Session
A.
Report Out of Closed Session, if any
Board President, Charles Friedrichs, reported out of close session at 3:20 pm. There was nothing to report out of closed session.
VI. Action Items
A.
Approve the 2025-26 Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators for Scholarship Prep - San Bernardino County
Jason Watts explained that this declaration is a yearly process required by San Bernardino County. The declaration authorizes Scholarship Prep to use a provisional documents in cases where a credentialed candidate cannot be found. This process applies when there is a deficiency in the candidate pool. The declaration certifies that Scholarship Prep has made reasonable efforts to recruit, documented those efforts, and identified specific areas of need.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Ing |
Aye
|
| B. George |
Absent
|
| P. Watson |
Aye
|
| C. Friedrichs |
Aye
|
| M. Toan |
Aye
|
B.
Approve the resolution authorizing an intraorganizational loan from Scholarship Prep - Orange County to Scholarship Prep - Riverside County
Jason Sitomer from Charter Impact provided an overview of state funding for new schools. He explained that the state pays on a lag, with no first apportionment until October (PENSEC advance apportionment), followed by another in December. Existing schools receive their first 7 months of funding based on prior-year attendance, but new schools do not have prior-year data, resulting in uneven funding.
To address this gap for Riverside, a loan is being proposed from Orange County, which has available cash reserves.
The loan would be structured with a fair return rate for Orange County and a favorable interest rate for Riverside. Board president, Charles Friedrichs, asked about how we have been able to pay loans back a lot faster than three or four years. Jason noted that if Riverside grows enrollment from 200 students this year to 300 next year and 400 the following year, funding for the first 7 months of each year will always be based on the prior year’s lower attendance, creating temporary underfunding. This underfunding may last until enrollment reaches a sustainable scale (target of 500 students). Depending on how quickly you get up to scale, it may take several years before the school's in a place to be able to pay this back.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| C. Friedrichs |
Aye
|
| J. Ing |
Aye
|
| B. George |
Absent
|
| M. Toan |
Aye
|
| P. Watson |
Aye
|
C.
Approve the resolution authorizing an intraorganizational loan from Scholarship Prep - Orange County to Scholarship Prep - San Bernardino County
Charles asked if this was the same process, and Jason Sitomer confirmed that it is the same process, same amount. There is nothing noteworthy or different between the two schools, just identical situations.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Ing |
Aye
|
| P. Watson |
Aye
|
| B. George |
Absent
|
| M. Toan |
Aye
|
| C. Friedrichs |
Aye
|
D.
Resignation of Peter Watson from the Scholarship Prep Board of Directors
Charles asked why a vote was required for the resignation and if it was simply a formality, and Jason Watts clarified that accepting a resignation is a formal process that requires a board vote.
The board members expressed their appreciation and gratitude to Pete for his contributions, perspectives, and camaraderie. Pete reciprocated, expressing that he valued his time on the Board.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Ing |
Aye
|
| B. George |
Absent
|
| P. Watson |
Abstain
|
| C. Friedrichs |
Aye
|
| M. Toan |
Aye
|
Dr. Nicholas Sessions, Orange County Principal, provided the Orange County Campus Update.
Enrollment & Staffing
Facilities
Programs & Electives
Vision & Goals
Staff Engagement & Culture
Dr. Sessions expressed pride in the team and excitement for accomplishments in the year ahead.