Rick welcomed the new board for 2025, including new officers: Blake Baldwin, Secretary; Josh Castro, Treasurer. 

Jill noted that the documents listed under the Policy Adoption section of the Consent Agenda were not amended, as indicated in the agenda. Instead, the five existing documents required a vote for re-adoption to meet compliance requirements for the upcoming year.

No public comment was requested. 

Aaron Hansen – STEM Instructor

Aaron Hansen presented an overview of his educational and professional journey that led him to Pinnacles Prep and shared details about the school's 3-year scaffolded STEM program, which is accessible to all students.

• 6th Grade: Scholars are introduced to basic computer science, including hardwiring and foundational soft skills in the field.
   
• 7th Grade: The focus shifts to robotics, where students engage in building and programming robotic cars. Aaron noted that the robotics curriculum was revamped last year to include more complex sensors, enhancing the robots' operational capabilities.
   
• 8th Grade: Scholars engage in pre-design and modeling, sketching ideas and using CAD software to create and fabricate 3D models. Aaron brought examples of scholars’ 3D printed models to share with the Board. He is also working to update the 8th-grade curriculum to better meet the needs of the current group of scholars.

Rick inquired whether the curriculum aligns with "Project Lead the Way," and Aaron confirmed that each grade's curriculum is either directly aligned with or builds upon the "Project Lead the Way" framework.

In closing, Aaron noted to the board that teachers are more than educational instructors; teachers support their students holistically by providing mentorship, emotional support, and guidance, helping them navigate both academic challenges and personal growth.

Rick noted that the Principal Report is always separately printed and included in the agenda, and emphasized the importance of the Board reviewing the detailed information it contains.

Rick inquired about the inclusion of MAPS data for the High School in the Principal Report. Jill responded that additional scholars need to complete testing before this data can be included but assured the Board that preliminary High School data would be available in October.

Rick also asked whether Pinnacles will join the Excellence Schools Washington advocacy group. Jill explained that there are no immediate plans to participate but highlighted several other resources available to Pinnacles, including:

• WA Charter School Commission: Provides strategic consultation, technical assistance, site visits, and family focus groups.
   
• WA Charters Association: Offers leadership and advocacy guidance for state legislative engagement.
   
• School Ops: Provides a strong schools bulletin, compliance calendar, resource library, and access to various third-party organizational memberships.
   
• Gates Foundation: Partners with Pinnacles to provide instructional support, a $50,000 Attuned contract to enhance school culture, and additional resources.

Enrollment Updates as noted in the Principal Report:

• 6th grade: 41
• 7th grade: 65
• 8th grade: 67
• 9th grade: 35
• 10th grade: 33
   
• Total: 239 (budget is for 244)

Jill reported that Humanities instructor, Bree Gask-Wilson, will be resigning. Bree will be staying through the end of September and is currently co-teaching with a successor, Hannah Grosvenor. 

A new Sped IA has been hired for 1:1.

Before discussing goals for New Year, Jill provided an update about scholar behavior. Many scholars who attended school through the pandemic still have lingering challenges associated with that experience. 

Jill reported the following School Leader Goals to the Board:

RALLYING CRY

Jill explained that our vision is 100% of scholars will meet grade-level reading and math competencies (with accommodations or modifications)

School Leader SMART Performance Goals

• Smart Goal 1:  Academic Growth 
  • Working with a master-based learning consortium to support this work. Each competency has 3-6 performance indicators. "Proficient" is achieved by earning 75% or more of each of those indicators. 
    • Goals with protocols is that our instruction matches the rigors of higher education. 
    • PEAK Intervention groups focus on scholars at 20% level or below in reading and match, as well as those who are highly capable (95th percentile and above).
       
• Smart Goal 2: School Culture
  • Weekly staff meetings
  • Six week school wide culture plan and PD alignment
  • Coaching feedback for all teachers
  • Teacher evaluation system based on culture proficiencies
     
• Smart Goal 3: Organizational Health
  • New enrollment strategic plan
    • Recruit 60 scholars at a minimum and how to prepare for this goal
  • High School strategic plan

Commission Contract School Specific Goals

• Academic
  • Middle School: 50% of students meet growth goal on the NWEA MAP Assessment in both reading and math
  • High School: 50% of students meet growth goal on the NWEA MAP Assessment in both reading and math
     
• Organizational
  • 80% of scholars indicate they feel safety, belonging, and have a growth mindset in their diverse school environment as measured by the Kelvin SEL Survey. 

Before discussing the goals for the new year, Jill provided an update on scholar behavior, noting that many scholars who attended school through the pandemic still face challenges stemming from that experience, though this trend dissipates in the lower grades, which were not impacted by the pandemic in the same way.

Jill then presented the following School Leader Goals to the Board:
 

• Rallying Cry: The vision for the school is that 100% of scholars will meet grade-level reading and math competencies, with necessary accommodations or modifications.

School Leader SMART Performance Goals:

Academic Growth:
 

• The school is partnering with a mastery-based learning consortium to support academic growth.
   
• Each competency has 3-6 performance indicators, and scholars must achieve 75% or more on each to be considered "proficient."
   
• The goal is to ensure that instruction aligns with the rigor of higher education.
   
• PEAK Intervention groups focus on scholars performing in the bottom 20% in reading and math, as well as those in the top 5% (95th percentile and above).

School Culture:
 

• Weekly staff meetings.
   
• A six-week school-wide culture plan with aligned professional development.
   
• Regular coaching feedback for all teachers.
   
• A teacher evaluation system based on culture proficiency metrics.

Organizational Health:
 

• A new enrollment strategic plan, with a goal to recruit a minimum of 60 scholars.
   
• Development of a High School strategic plan.

Commission Contract School-Specific Goals:

Academic:
 

• Middle School: 50% of students will meet their growth goal on the NWEA MAP Assessment in both reading and math.
   
• High School: 50% of students will meet their growth goal on the NWEA MAP Assessment in both reading and math.

Organizational:
 

• 80% of scholars will indicate they feel safe, have a sense of belonging, and possess a growth mindset in their diverse school environment, as measured by the Kelvin SEL Survey.

Josh Castro, board treasurer, reviewed our monthly financial dashboard. All categories but "expenditures to date as a % of overall budget" are in the green.

Expenditures status is yellow; we are 8% over the expenditure budget. This will continue to be reviewed and monitored. 

Rick reported on new members of the Governance Committee. 

Rick discussed board member compliance training requirements. The board must complete 4 key trainings annually. Rick is assigning these trainings for Board members to complete independently and requested each board member return an attestation form once trainings have been completed. 

Rick requested that each board member complete the "board assessment" in board of track within the next week. 

Rick confirmed the date and time for the board retreat, which will take place following the next board meeting on Wednesday, October 16th. The meeting will begin at 4 pm at the Mercantile and conclude between 8-9pm. 

Blake Baldwin provided a summary of Articles 12, 13, and 15 of the Commission Contract.

Rick again noted the upcoming retreat and board meeting.

Rick also reminded the board of the Pinnacles Fall Fundraising Gala on November 14th at 6:30 pm. We've set a goal of raising $40,000 for the development budget this year. 

Oscar shared the Crepe House will be contributing a percentage of their proceeds on 9/25/24 to Pinnacles Prep.