Allegiance STEAM Academy
Minutes
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
Date and Time
Monday March 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Location
ONSITE MEETING LOCATION:
5862 C Street
Chino, Ca. 91710
SATELLITE MEETING LOCATIONS:
7930 Locust Ave.
Fontana, Ca. 92336
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/91444391125
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD BY PARENTS AND CITIZENS
Allegiance STEAM Academy- Thrive charter schools (“Allegiance STEAM Academy”), also known as ASA Thrive, are direct-funded, independent, public charter schools operated by the Allegiance STEAM Academy nonprofit public benefit corporation and governed by Allegiance STEAM Academy, Incorporated corporate Board of Directors (“Board”). The purpose of a public meeting of the Board, is to conduct the affairs of Allegiance STEAM Academy in public. We are pleased that you are in attendance and hope you will visit these meetings often. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our school.
1. Agendas are available to all audience members at the meeting. Note that the order of business on this agenda may be changed without prior notice. For more information on this agenda, please contact Allegiance at: info@asathrive.org
2. “Request to Speak” forms are available to all audience members who wish to speak on any agenda items or under the general category of “Public Comments.” Members of the public who wish to speak are encouraged to complete a Request to Speak card to assist in organizing comments. Submitting a card is not required in order to address the Board.
3. “Public Comments” are set aside for members of the audience to comment. However, due to public meeting laws, the Board can only listen to your issue, not take action. The public is invited to address the Board regarding items listed on the agenda. Comments on an agenda item will be accepted during consideration of that item, or prior to consideration of the item in the case of a closed session item. Please turn in comment cards to the Board Secretary prior to the item you wish to speak on. Members of the public may join the meeting via Zoom (link above) and will be given an opportunity to speak. To provide public comment through Zoom, please use the ‘Raise Hand’ feature during the Public Comments section or when prompted by the Board President. These presentations are limited to three (3) minutes.
4. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, Allegiance STEAM Academy may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require disability-related accommodations or modifications to participate in the meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, should contact Sara Lopez, Chief Operations Officer, at sara.lopez@asathrive.org at least 24 hours before the meeting.
Directors Present
J. Kaakuahiwi, M. Jones, S. Bhojani, S. Odo, T. Stevens
Directors Absent
M. Casas, S. Thompson
Guests Present
C. Moreno, C. Valenta (remote), J. Dizon, K. Holt, S. Cognetta, S. Lazo, S. Lopez
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Approval of Agenda
Passed 5-0
Opposed
Abstained
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Kaakuahiwi |
Aye
|
| M. Casas |
Absent
|
| S. Bhojani |
Aye
|
| T. Stevens |
Aye
|
| M. Jones |
Aye
|
| S. Odo |
Aye
|
| S. Thompson |
Absent
|
D.
Pledge of Allegiance
E.
Reports
F.
Student Celebrations
Chino Student Celebrations
4th Grade Students, STEAM Teacher L. Cunningham
California Missions, cross curricular with homerooms
3D Designs and Printing
8th Grade, Visual Presentations in the Den - Gravitational Pull
G.
Public Comments
N/A
II. Items Scheduled for Consent
A.
Approve Minutes for February 10, 2026, Regular Board Meeting
Approved 5-0
Opposed
Abstained
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Odo |
Aye
|
| S. Bhojani |
Aye
|
| J. Kaakuahiwi |
Aye
|
| S. Thompson |
Absent
|
| M. Casas |
Absent
|
| M. Jones |
Aye
|
| T. Stevens |
Aye
|
B.
Approve Check Registrar
Passed 5-0
Opposed
Abstained
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Jones |
Aye
|
| S. Odo |
Aye
|
| M. Casas |
Absent
|
| S. Bhojani |
Aye
|
| T. Stevens |
Aye
|
| S. Thompson |
Absent
|
| J. Kaakuahiwi |
Aye
|
C.
Approve Check Registrar
Passed 5-0
Opposed
Abstained
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Bhojani |
Aye
|
| M. Jones |
Aye
|
| T. Stevens |
Aye
|
| S. Odo |
Aye
|
| M. Casas |
Absent
|
| S. Thompson |
Absent
|
| J. Kaakuahiwi |
Aye
|
III. Governance
A.
Board Member Term Expiration Update
Board members with pending term dates end of June
- S. Bhojani
- M. Jones
- S. Thompson
B.
Form 700 – Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) Filing Requirement Reminder
Form 700 to be sent electronically to Board Members and designated employees.
IV. Items Scheduled for Discussion, Action, Other Business
A.
Charter Renewal Plan (2026–27) –ASA Fontana
Discussion regarding plan implementation.
V. Finance
A.
FY26 Budget - ASA Chino
Passed 5-0
Opposed
Abstained
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Thompson |
Absent
|
| M. Casas |
Absent
|
| J. Kaakuahiwi |
Aye
|
| T. Stevens |
Aye
|
| S. Bhojani |
Aye
|
| M. Jones |
Aye
|
| S. Odo |
Aye
|
B.
FY26 Budget - ASA Fontana
Passed 5-0
Opposed
Abstained
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Thompson |
Absent
|
| T. Stevens |
Aye
|
| M. Jones |
Aye
|
| S. Odo |
Aye
|
| S. Bhojani |
Aye
|
| M. Casas |
Absent
|
| J. Kaakuahiwi |
Aye
|
C.
Approval of the 2025–26 Second Interim Financial Report - ASA Chino
Passed 5-0
Opposed
Abstained
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Odo |
Aye
|
| M. Jones |
Aye
|
| J. Kaakuahiwi |
Aye
|
| S. Bhojani |
Aye
|
| T. Stevens |
Aye
|
| S. Thompson |
Absent
|
| M. Casas |
Absent
|
D.
Approval of the 2025–26 Second Interim Financial Report - ASA Fontana
Passed 5-0
Opposed
Abstained
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| T. Stevens |
Aye
|
| J. Kaakuahiwi |
Aye
|
| S. Bhojani |
Aye
|
| M. Jones |
Aye
|
| S. Thompson |
Absent
|
| S. Odo |
Aye
|
| M. Casas |
Absent
|
VI. Communications
A.
Communications
M. Jones
Thank you to the students and parents for SLCs. Color Run coming up, everyone loves it. Field Trip stakeholder, excited about the opportunity. Welcome to the new staff in Chino and Fontana.
J. Kaakuahiwi
Student celebrations, thank you for coming out. Conference, California Charter School Association, it was nice to see staff present.
S. Bhojani
Thanks for all the hard work. Nice to see all the students and parents
S. Odo
Favorite part is the Student Led Celebrations. Thank you to the students, parents, and teachers. Great job to the leadership teams; kindness grams, clovers. 8th grade projects look amazing. Looking forward to the color run. Good luck to the students attending the Costa Rica trip, student and chaperones.
S. Cognetta
Thank you to the Board Members. Thank you to our staff for a robust report. Thank you to the entire staff about our candor; our students and families deserve that. Shout out to Optiva, Christian and Rodrigo for putting Board Meetings together.
T. Stevens
Appreciate the staff and putting the report together, following guidelines of transparency to stakeholders and community. Goal is always to get better! Discussion of renewal, goal is to reach the higher tiers. 8th grade projects look great. Keep our ASA family close; to Steve C. and his family, our organization stands behind you.
Chino Principal Holt and Fontana Principal Valenta reported on recent events at each site.
Dr. Cognetta, CEO, provided updates on enrollment, grants, facilities, and authorizers.
Principal - Chino, Kathleen Holt
PACK - Chino, Kathleen Holt
Discussed community events and teacher progress.
- School-wide service learning project, Student Led Celebrations, Chinese New Year celebration, Annual Crosstown Showdown between our two campuses. Completed second cycle of PLNs, spring walkthrough with Instructional Partners, began classroom walkthroughs for math focus. Trimester 2 awards assemblies, LCAP survey, Math Night, Gate testing, field trips, and spring break ELOP days.
- PACK is hosting Color Run, discussing hosting Someone Special event on campus
Principal - Fontana, Cyndi Valenta
PACK - Fontana, Cyndi Valenta
Discussed community events and teacher progress.
- Report cards, Thank you to Chino for hosting the Crosstown Showdown, Clover Challenge, Awards Assembly, celebrated Chinese New Year, PLNs, Instructional Partners visit, classroom walkthroughs, Math Night
- PACK hosted Fontana festival - theme is “One school, one culture”. Held the first Someone Special event,
Thank you to Mr. Casas for his donation.
CEO, S. Cognetta
Schools received special education annual determination letters from the California Department of Ed. Kicking off field trip improvement initiative. Staff Meeting scheduled for 26-27 budget forecast and compensation overview.
Thank you to BCM Group and Martin Casas, our board member, for their donation. Discussed attendance and enrollment updates, financials, grants, facilities updates. Fontana campus had a county fire prevention office visit, and received great feedback on the safety plan, and the facility. Staffing update: Vacancies and filled positions, recruitment events, employment letters. Review of trimester board focus area report.