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Research Triangle High School

Minutes

RTHS Board of Directors Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday November 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Location

Directors Present

A. Saviello (remote), C. Coia (remote), D. Requena (remote), E. Cunningham (remote), J. Berla (remote), J. Corn (remote), P. Thermitus (remote), S. Hunter (remote), S. Khaliq (remote), T. Shahi (remote)

Directors Absent

A. Tobien, M. Dwomoh

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

P. Thermitus

Guests Present

A. Drake (remote), A. Griffin (remote), Mateen Firoz (remote), Yolanda Wintz (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 Nov 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM.

II. Approve Board Meeting Minutes

A.

Board Meeting Minutes

J. Corn made a motion to approve the minutes from RTHS Board of Directors Meeting on 10-15-25.
T. Shahi seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Shahi
Aye
C. Coia
Aye
A. Saviello
Aye
D. Requena
Aye
P. Thermitus
Absent
J. Corn
Aye
S. Hunter
Aye
S. Khaliq
Aye
M. Dwomoh
Absent
J. Berla
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
A. Tobien
Absent

B.

Board Meeting Minutes

C. Coia made a motion to approve the minutes from RTHS Board of Directors Executive Session on 10-15-25.
J. Corn seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Berla
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
C. Coia
Aye
S. Khaliq
Aye
D. Requena
Aye
P. Thermitus
Absent
M. Dwomoh
Absent
S. Hunter
Aye
J. Corn
Aye
A. Tobien
Absent
T. Shahi
Aye
A. Saviello
Aye
P. Thermitus arrived at 5:40 PM.

III. Public Comments

A.

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

No public comments.

IV. Chief School Officer Report

A.

Executive Overview

  • Akiba presented CSO Highlights: Raptober Fest, Senior Class Trip - Carowinds, RTHS Tennis Team Champions, Soccer Semifinals, Whiplash! Improv Performances, Food Pantry and FRL
  • Akiba shared upcoming events: Giving Tuesday Campaign, Student Performances: Winter Band Performance and Winter Play: A Midsummer Night's Dream, RTHS Staff Holiday Party

V. Finance Committee Report

A.

RTHS Monthly Financials and Other Business

  • The final Board audit letter and report (presented last month) is uploaded in meeting materials for Board review
  • Budget Update: The current surplus is projected at $165,554 (we have not received all info needed on local funding levels, but are starting to see it come in), increase to last month due to carryover IDEA (EC) funding from prior school year that will likely be absorbed in this calendar year
    • Unable to fully review unallocated funds due to unknown local funding commitments
  • Facilities Updates: new shrubs, prepared beds for additional Spring landscaping, identifying ways to create curb appeal in the incoming year (window clings/vinyls for branding)

VI. Governance Committee Report

A.

Governance Committee Business

J. Berla made a motion to Approve the 2025-26 Board Policy and Procedures Manual.
T. Shahi seconded the motion.

Elizabeth presented the 2025-26 Board Policy and Procedures Manual for approval

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Dwomoh
Absent
C. Coia
Aye
A. Tobien
Absent
S. Khaliq
Aye
D. Requena
Aye
J. Berla
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
P. Thermitus
Aye
A. Saviello
Aye
T. Shahi
Aye
J. Corn
Aye
S. Hunter
Aye
C. Coia made a motion to Approve the updated officers' slate: Chair - Steven Hunter, Vice Chair - Michael Dwomoh, and Interim Governance Chair - Elizabeth Cunningham.
P. Thermitus seconded the motion.

Officers' Slate (as of January 2026): 

      Chair: Steven Hunter

      Vice Chair: Michael Dwomoh

      Interim Governance Chair: Elizabeth Cunningham

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. Coia
Aye
D. Requena
Aye
J. Berla
Aye
T. Shahi
Aye
M. Dwomoh
Absent
A. Saviello
Aye
J. Corn
Aye
S. Khaliq
Aye
A. Tobien
Absent
S. Hunter
Aye
P. Thermitus
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
S. Hunter made a motion to Approve the removal of Mitch Babb as Board Member.
C. Coia seconded the motion.

Unable to participate further

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Berla
Aye
T. Shahi
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
S. Khaliq
Aye
S. Hunter
Aye
C. Coia
Aye
J. Corn
Aye
P. Thermitus
Aye
A. Tobien
Absent
D. Requena
Aye
A. Saviello
Aye
M. Dwomoh
Absent
  • Board recruitment urgent needs: Governance and Finance 
  • Focused on Board advancement/leadership with current board members

VII. Academic Excellence Committee Report

A.

Academic Excellence Business

  • School engagement team reported out on more engagement items for staff and students including: food trucks, book clubs, little free library, gym memberships, PD time to grade/plan, study day for students, test taking strategies
  • Reviewed attendance data and zeroed in on chronic absenteeism
    • 73/570 students are chronically absent; half of those are failing at least one class
    • RTHS is significantly less (better) than state/local averages
    • RTHS will provide more communication to familes help reduce these absences 

VIII. Development Committee Report

A.

Development Committee Business

  • Giving Tuesday Campaign
    • Completed video filming today
    • Fundraising goal $30K
    • Campaign info will begin to go out a week prior
    • Wrapping up marketing information 
  • Clarifying Contemporary Science Center is the same as RTHS
  • Board Member participation is critical
  • Other outstanding discussions:
    • Gift Card Fundraiser
    • Development staffing needs
    • Fundraising toolkit for grant opportunities
    • Non-fundraising development needs

IX. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

T. Shahi made a motion to Adjourn the meeting.
J. Berla seconded the motion.
The board VOTED 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 6:32 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
C. Coia