Principal Elizabeth Stone and a couple of students from ASB presented the campus update. Topics discussed include monthly pep rallies, the annual winter wellness event, repairs made to the football field over winter break, the upcoming semester awards on January 23, friendship spirit week in February, and a rock and roll themed school dance in March with an alumni as the DJ. 

Executive Director, Jason Watts, provided the organization update. 

San Bernardino Campus Update: The conditional use permit has been submitted and the plans have been approved by the Upland Fire Department. We are waiting to hear back from the city on the planning commission meeting date and potentially a public hearing.

Riverside Campus Update: Demolition has begun, and the project is still on track to open next fall.

Charter School Growth Fund: Previously, the organization decided to step back due to their preference for supporting single-state organizations. We have re-engaged with them, have submitted a large documentation package, and awaiting next steps.

Silicon Schools Fund: We had a successful tour of the 17th Street campus, and Silicon Schools Fund showed interest in supporting the growth of the Riverside school, planning to potentially provide $600,000 over five years. We expect a decision next month.

The New Home Office Space: The new space is in downtown Santa Ana and the team is waiting for internet activation. The move is expected at the end of this month. The location is closer to community partners and provides room for future growth.

Enrollment Update: Enrollment is strong across all school sites. Jason gave a lot of credit  to the hard work of school staff. The Oceanside site exceeded budgeted enrollment and ADA, Orange County's enrollment and ADA remains strong is stable despite challenges with transiency and rising rents, and the South Bay site has maintained consistency and quickly replaced disenrolled students. 

Board Chair, Charles Friedrichs, asked for clarification about the attendance rates of 97%, 99%, and 99%, and how they relate to the current 88% attendance figure. Jason confirmed that 97.06% of students at Scholarship Prep Oceanside are attending school every day on average. However, this attendance figure includes independent study days, which are counted in the overall 88% rate. While not all students are physically present every day, these numbers still reflect strong attendance. 

Tracy Haberman at Charter Impact provided the financial update. This presentation included updates and highlights for the Oceanside, Orange County, and South Bay school sites as well as an update on all bond covenants, which are all projected to be met.

Charles asked if the school receives special education matching funds or reimbursements if their special education costs. Tracy explained that special education funding is based on average daily attendance and while there are additional funding sources for high-incidence disabilities (such as for deaf or blind students), these amounts are very low and do not significantly offset the actual expenses for special education. Therefore, the school must essentially cover these increased costs themselves.

Charles reminded the board that they need to start planning Jason's annual evaluation for the year, with a goal of completing it by May to wrap up the year smoothly. There is discussion about the process, and it is suggested that the surveys used in the evaluation should be reviewed to ensure the board is comfortable with the questions and content.

Pete Watson asked about the independent study process for absentees and if teachers are customizing makeup work for missed lessons. There is concern about the burden on teachers to create individual assignments, and the idea of resource-sharing across all the school sites is proposed as a potential solution to reduce teacher workload. The team acknowledged the effort involved and is exploring ways to make the process more efficient.

Maribel Toan asked about any wraparound services that may be available for displaced kids. The team discussed the increasing need for support for displaced families, especially those affected by housing insecurity or natural disasters. The foundation has been helping with needs like security deposits, basic household items, and rent assistance. They have raised over $40,000 to directly support students, staff, and families. The foundation also works on ensuring long-term sustainability, including financial literacy programs for families. The team is actively monitoring the situation in Orange County, where an influx of people is expected to drive up rent prices, and they are ready to support families in need, especially at the South Bay campus. Updates on the foundation’s activities will continue to be provided to the board.