Research Triangle High School

Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday June 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Location

Join Zoom Meeting
https://rthighschool.zoom.us/j/93566460638

Meeting ID: 935 6646 0638

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Directors Present

A. Tobien (remote), C. Coia (remote), E. Cunningham (remote), J. Berla (remote), J. Corn (remote), M. Dwomoh (remote), P. Thermitus (remote), S. Hunter (remote), S. Rivers-Kobler (remote)

Directors Absent

D. Requena, M. Babb, S. Khaliq

Guests Present

A (remote), A. Drake (remote), A. Griffin (remote), A. Soulashinh (remote), Alan (remote), Ashar Nayyar (remote), Bekah (remote), Bianca Golden (remote), C. Klein-Gloria (remote), Christina Behringer (remote), D. Lewis (remote), D. Thompson (remote), Gawain Coombs (remote), Gus McKay (remote), Janice Bowers (remote), John-Paul Schick (remote), Journigan (remote), K. Cook (remote), Kai Kimura (remote), Kaitlyn Harrigan (remote), Karen Huang (remote), Kristen D'Uva (remote), Latesha Jackson (remote), Mike S (remote), Miranda Terry (remote), Nick (remote), P. Rodriguez (remote), Reed Terry (remote), Robin Chasse (remote), Ryan Churchill (remote), Sara (remote), Sarah (remote), Sebastian Schick (remote), Shayan (remote), Simon Huang (remote), Stacy Schick (remote), Sue Guior (remote), Sukaina (remote), T. Mills-Silver (remote), Tea H (remote), Tess Huang (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

E. Cunningham called a meeting of the board of directors of Research Triangle High School to order on Wednesday Jun 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM.

II. Approve Board Minutes

A.

Board Meeting Minutes

S. Hunter made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on 05-21-25.
M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Corn
Aye
P. Thermitus
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
C. Coia
Abstain
D. Requena
Absent
A. Tobien
Aye
M. Babb
Absent
S. Khaliq
Absent
J. Berla
Abstain
S. Rivers-Kobler
Abstain
S. Hunter
Aye
M. Dwomoh
Aye

B.

Executive Session Meeting Minutes

J. Corn made a motion to approve the minutes from RTHS Board of Directors Meeting Executive Session on 05-21-25.
S. Hunter seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
E. Cunningham
Aye
A. Tobien
Aye
M. Babb
Absent
D. Requena
Absent
C. Coia
Abstain
P. Thermitus
Abstain
S. Hunter
Aye
J. Corn
Aye
M. Dwomoh
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Abstain
S. Khaliq
Absent
J. Berla
Abstain

III. Public Comments

A.

Open to all community members (students, family members, faculty and staff, community members, and others)

Public comments from multiple students and parents were heard expressing their disappointment about Ms. Kaufman departure related to her academics as a science teacher and her dedication and support to the students.

IV. Chief School Officer Report

A.

Executive Overview

A. Griffin presented executive report, more details on the slides attached to the agenda:

  • School highlights
  • Teacher turnover data 2022-25 were reviewed for RTHS compared to Durham County, Wake County and NC State
    • Math and Science teacher retention continues to be difficult

V. Finance Committee Report

A.

RTHS Monthly Financials and Other Business

A. Drake provided an update on the finance committee, details on slides attached.

  • Budget update for 2024-25 school year, end of year
  • Update on allocation of year-end spending
  • Proposed additional expenditures
  • Service to covered ratio is good at 1.22 above required

Repair/replacement fund

  • required by RTHS bond, CNA - capital needs assessment, every 5 years
  • last one done in 2018
C. Coia made a motion to approve $60,288 for a one-time $1000 year-end bonus to all current full-time staff.
M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.

$1000 per staff plus required payroll expenditures

55 staff at RTHS

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Hunter
Aye
J. Corn
Aye
C. Coia
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Aye
M. Babb
Absent
A. Tobien
Aye
D. Requena
Absent
J. Berla
Aye
P. Thermitus
Aye
M. Dwomoh
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
S. Khaliq
Absent
S. Hunter made a motion to approve the amended RTHS 2024-25 budget as presented.
M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Babb
Absent
C. Coia
Aye
J. Berla
Aye
P. Thermitus
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
D. Requena
Absent
J. Corn
Aye
S. Khaliq
Absent
S. Hunter
Aye
A. Tobien
Aye
M. Dwomoh
Aye
C. Coia made a motion to change the CNA annual amount from $85,800 to $65,816.
M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Rivers-Kobler
Aye
J. Corn
Aye
M. Dwomoh
Aye
J. Berla
Aye
C. Coia
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
D. Requena
Absent
P. Thermitus
Aye
S. Khaliq
Absent
S. Hunter
Aye
A. Tobien
Aye
M. Babb
Absent
S. Hunter made a motion to move into executive session for personnel matters.
C. Coia seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

S. Rivers-Kobler made a motion to approve contract for Allen Apple as EC teacher and EC case manager.
S. Hunter seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Corn
Aye
P. Thermitus
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
M. Babb
Absent
M. Dwomoh
Aye
J. Berla
Aye
A. Tobien
Aye
S. Hunter
Aye
C. Coia
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Aye
D. Requena
Absent
S. Khaliq
Absent
C. Coia made a motion to approve Akiba Griffin contract as Chief School Officer for 2025-26 school year at RTHS.
M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Dwomoh
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Aye
S. Khaliq
Absent
C. Coia
Aye
A. Tobien
Aye
J. Corn
Aye
P. Thermitus
Aye
S. Hunter
Aye
J. Berla
Aye
D. Requena
Absent
M. Babb
Absent

VII. Governance Committee Report

A.

Governance Committee Business

C. Coia provided an update on the Governance committee:

  • Board membership
  • Finance Committee Chair replacements needed
  • Board member participation
  • Documents: 
    • Student and Employee Handbooks planned to circulate for review and board approval by end of June 2025
    • SOPs reviews ongoing and expected later to come to the board

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

C. Coia made a motion to adjourn the board meeting.
S. Hunter seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
A. Tobien