No announcements were made. 

No public comments were made.

Board Chair Gilbert Lopez Jr. amends the agenda to add the Chief Executive Officer Report in the Business section as item D.

Director of Special Education, Chloe Gia says this contract is to provide speech services to Benito Juarez Elementary students. This contract covers providing in person speech services and this vendor is one that Benito Juarez Elementary have been partnering with last school year. Currently she has been having trouble with finding an in house speech therapist.

Vice Chair Nick Driver asks for clarification of the up to total amount and hourly rate.

Chloe Gia says the total listed in the contract is up to $180,000 and never exceeding that amount.

Edgar Quiroz asks how long the contract will last for.

Chloe Gia says the contract covers one whole school year and with a 20 day notice, the contract can be ended.

Elisa Gallegos ask how satisfied Benito Juarez Elementary was with the services.

Chloe Gia says last year at the start of the school year, Benito Juarez Elementary did not have a speech therapist and owed compensatory services. However Benito Juarez Elementary worked with Celebration Speech Group to provide speech services in a timely manner to all students with IEPs.

Chloe Gia says she has been actively recruiting for Ed Specialist. Currently she has been having trouble finding an Ed Specialist to fill the vacancy at Richmond Charter Academy and Benito Juarez Elementary. She says this revised contract is to accommodate the vacancies at the start of the school year until the positions are filled. This contract is not to exceed $1,200,000.

Edgar Quiroz asks if she is still actively recruiting these positions.

Chloe Gia says yes.

Mrs. Villa introduces Jamal Taylor as the new Director of Learning Systems and Instruction.

Jamal Taylor says the proposal is for students to have access to adaptive curriculum and learning. This program comes in three separate parts; Core Five adaptive learning for the students at Benito Juarez Elementary, Powerup that accelerates student learning in the 6th-12th grade learners, and English Language Arts. The subscription also provides professional learning for staff.

Nick Driver asks if the licenses are per school or per student.

Jamal Taylor says some licenses are per school and some are unlimited based on the student population per school site.

Elisa Gallegos asks why did Amethod choose Lexia Learning apart from relationship we have with them.

Jamal Taylor says they Lexia Learning is adaptive and supplements the burden of data reviewing. This program adapts to the students growth in real time.

Mrs. Villa shares her report covering topics on enrollment, current teacher vacancies, Deans and Leadership Institute at the San Francisco Bay University, Summit 2023, and shares that she will be stepping away from her role as the Chief Executive Officer to be the Chief Academic Officer. Mrs. Villa says she has informed her Home Office staff and Leaders and will be making a formal announcement to the teachers shortly. She is thankful for serving the organization for the past 18 years and thanks the board. The Board of Directors will be searching for a new Chief Executive Officer through a staffing firm.

Board Chair Gilbert Lopez Jr thanks Mrs. Villa for her dedication as the Chief Executive Officer these past 3 years.

Board returns from closed session at 8:36pm.

Board Chair Gilbert Lopez Jr. reports out after closed session saying after a long process of reflection and consideration, the AMPS Board of directors together with Mrs. Evelia Villa, AMPS’ CEO, has come to the determination that the organization will greatly benefit from a change in leadership. Mrs. Villa has identified herself as a strong advocate for education and academic excellence in the organization. Given her outstanding record of success, and her many years of service in an academic capacity, the board of AMPS is pleased to communicate that Mrs. Villa will be stepping into the role of CAO of AMPS. 

He says as a consequence, the Board has decided to retain the services of Edgility Consulting, an executive and leadership recruitment firm with extensive experience in charter school leadership recruitment and placement. In collaboration with the AMPS’ Board of Directors, AMPS’ current CEO Evelia Villa, AMPS staff and community at large, Edgility’s team will seek the best qualified candidates for consideration in order to lead and build upon the high educational standards which have distinguished the AMPS Charter school system for more than two decades. The Board of Directors and Ms. Villa looks forward to their collaboration with Edgility Consulting and, ultimately, the hiring of AMPS’ CEO/ Leader moving forward. More details and specifics about this process will follow in the near future. Should you have any questions, please contact gilopez@amethodschools.org. He says more details and specifics of the process to follow (i.e. time lines, etc).