The Academy of Alameda Charter School Board

Minutes

Special Board Meeting

Voting on Unaudited Actuals

Date and Time

Tuesday September 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Location

The Academy of Alameda

401 Pacific Ave

Alameda, CA 94501

Room 203

Directors Present

A. Price, C. Robie, D. Forbes, J. Laird, K. McCoy, R. Rentschler

Directors Absent

W. Schaff

Guests Present

C. Chilcott, N. Stewart (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

D. Forbes called a meeting of the board of directors of The Academy of Alameda Charter School Board to order on Tuesday Sep 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM.

B.

Record Attendance

C.

The Board Reviews The Academy of Alameda's Mission and Envisioned Future Statements

Jen Laird read the Mission and Envisioned Future Statements

II. Consent Agenda

A.

Approve Minutes from June Board Meeting

David requested these minutes, Item A, be pulled from the consent calendar due to the names and terms of the board members not being included for the board members voted on at the June 12, 2025 board meeting. These minutes were pulled and will be corrected and added to the September 25, 2025 Board Meeting Consent Calendar.

B.

Approve Draft Meeting Minutes

C. Robie made a motion to approve the minutes from AoA Board Retreat on 08-18-25.
A. Price seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Approve Draft Meeting Minutes

C. Robie made a motion to approve the minutes from AoA Board Retreat on 08-19-25.
A. Price seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Vote on Check Registers

C. Robie made a motion to approve the consent calendar items B-E.
A. Price seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Vote on Credit Card Statement

C. Robie made a motion to approve the consent calendar items B-E.
A. Price seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Vote on Consent Calendar

C. Robie made a motion to approve the consent calendar items B-E.
A. Price seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

III. Board Communication

A.

Vote on the FY25 Unaudited Actuals

Naomi reviewed the FY 25 Unaudited Actuals for the board.

 

David asked if AoA still has an issue with a previous audit done by AoA's prior auditing firm Baker Tilly. Christine and Naomi verified that the 21-22 Audit had been rejected and returned twice. Each time AoA has sent it to Baker Tilly to fix the issue, Baker Tilly "fixes" the issue, resubmits it, and then AoA receives a letter a year later saying the audit has not been accepted. This has happened twice with the latest letter of rejection being received by AoA in June 2025 and resubmitted by Baker Tilly in July 2025. 

R. Rentschler made a motion to Approve the FY 25 Unaudited Actuals.
A. Price seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Vote on Suicide Prevention Policy

C. Robie made a motion to Approve the minimally revised Suicide Prevention Policy.
J. Laird seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Vote on the Instruction on Controversial Topics Policy

C. Robie made a motion to the Amended Instruction on Controversial Topics Policy.
J. Laird seconded the motion.

Christine explained this was a new policy which will be part of the employee handbook offering guidance to teachers/staff on delivering instruction (or having guest speakers who speak on) potentially controversial topics.

 

Carole suggested in section #9, there was a sentence needing revising from "When a guest speaker is invited to make a presentation related to a controversial issue, the School requires that the Executive Director, or designee be notified of this policy and the expectations and goals regarding the instruction." to "When a guest speaker is invited to make a presentation related to a controversial issue, the School requires that the Executive Director, or designee be notified of the speaker & issue and that they notify the speaker of this policy and the expectations and goals regarding the instruction." 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Closing Items

A.

Upcoming Board Meetings

The upcoming board meeting on September 25, 2025 will start at 5:30pm to accommodate an additional discussion on a draft of the school's identity sentence created by the school leadership team, and have Mike Mizzoni from Board on Track, who facilitated the AoA Board Retreat where this work began, in attendance. Due to this time adjustment, the Student Success Committee will meet from 4:00-5:15pm that day.

 

Amy and Randy will not be in attendance at the September 25 board meeting.

 

 

B.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 5:58 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
C. Chilcott