RTHS Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

April 15, 2026, 5:30-7:00 PM

Minutes Approved

Research Triangle High School

Minutes

RTHS Board of Directors Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday April 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM

Location

https://rthighschool.zoom.us/j/93566460638

Meeting ID: 935 6646 0638

Directors Present

A. Saviello (remote), A. Tobien (remote), C. Coia (remote), J. Berla (remote), J. Corn (remote), M. Dwomoh (remote), P. Thermitus (remote), S. Hunter (remote), S. Khaliq (remote)

Directors Absent

D. Requena, E. Cunningham

Guests Present

A. Drake (remote), A. Griffin (remote), D. Thompson (remote), Laura Chapman (remote)

I. Opening Items

A. Record Attendance

B. Call the Meeting to Order

S. Hunter called a meeting of the board of directors of Research Triangle High School to order on Wednesday Apr 15, 2026 at 5:33 PM.

II. Approve Board Meeting Minutes

A. Board Meeting Minutes

C. Coia made a motion to approve the minutes from RTHS Board of Directors Meeting on 03-18-26.

A. Saviello seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
C. Coia	Aye
M. Dwomoh	Abstain
S. Hunter	Aye
D. Requena	Absent
J. Berla	Aye
A. Saviello	Aye
S. Khaliq	Aye
E. Cunningham	Absent
A. Tobien	Aye
P. Thermitus	Abstain
J. Corn	Aye

III. Public Comments

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

None

IV. Chief School Officer Report

A. Executive Overview

A. Griffin presented executive overview, details attached to the agenda:

admission updates
activities at school
Robotics heads to state competition
Upcoming activities: Prom and Musical

V. Finance Committee Report

A. RTHS Monthly Financials and Other Business

C. Coia and A. Drake provided an update on school funding and details attached to the agenda:

School funding
- Facility enhancement
- Support for staff and students
Audit
- Change of firm due to cost, proposals presented and references explained
2027 FY (Fiscal Year) budget proposal
- Assumption is the current year's funding
- Details presented on salary & their increase calculations - largest part of budget
- Service contracts above $25k planned for Board approval for May 2026
- Debt to Service Ratio met
Staff Bonus Proposal
- Retention bonus - levels determined by the years of service

Reminder Action to Board Members: to complete CoI _ Conflict of Interest form, it's part of the audit

J. Berla made a motion to approve the contract with Sharpe Patel as auditor and to complete tax form 990.

M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
P. Thermitus	Aye
D. Requena	Absent
J. Corn	Aye
S. Khaliq	Aye
M. Dwomoh	Aye
C. Coia	Aye
S. Hunter	Aye
A. Tobien	Aye
E. Cunningham	Absent
J. Berla	Aye
A. Saviello	Aye

S. Hunter made a motion to approve the 2027 Fiscal Year budget.

M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
P. Thermitus	Aye
S. Khaliq	Aye
J. Berla	Aye
E. Cunningham	Absent
D. Requena	Absent
M. Dwomoh	Aye
S. Hunter	Aye
C. Coia	Aye
J. Corn	Aye
A. Tobien	Aye
A. Saviello	Aye

S. Hunter made a motion to approve Staff Bonus Proposal.

A. Tobien seconded the motion.

as presented for contract renewal for 2026-27 school year based on tenure at RTHS

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
A. Tobien	Aye
J. Berla	Aye
M. Dwomoh	Aye
S. Hunter	Aye
S. Khaliq	Aye
P. Thermitus	Aye
E. Cunningham	Absent
D. Requena	Absent
C. Coia	Aye
A. Saviello	Aye
J. Corn	Aye

B. Executive Session

M. Dwomoh made a motion to move into executive session for personnel matters.

P. Thermitus seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C. Personnel Votes

A. Tobien made a motion to approve the contract for Annie Peterson as Instructional Coach.

J. Berla seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
A. Saviello	Aye
S. Hunter	Aye
J. Corn	Aye
M. Dwomoh	Aye
P. Thermitus	Aye
E. Cunningham	Absent
S. Khaliq	Aye
C. Coia	Aye
A. Tobien	Aye
J. Berla	Aye
D. Requena	Absent

C. Coia made a motion to approve salary proposal for upcoming school year 2026-27.

P. Thermitus seconded the motion.

Classroom Faculty - Position

Anderle, Sarah - English

Baese, Katherine - Math

Baker, Katherine - World Languages

Balazs, Elizabeth - English

Boucher, Samantha - English

Bush, Christopher - Math/Arts

Butera, Steve - Computer Science/Assessment

Cherukuri, Deepthi - Math

Corey, Samantha - Arts

Crockett, McKenna - Social Studies

DeVito, Anthony - Health/PE

Douglas, Antonyo - Math/Instructional Coach

Dowman, Diane - Science

Edwards, Josh - Math

Fields-Carey, Leatha - English

Fisk, Kaitlyn - Science

Genesky, Eric - English

Godwin, Tiz - Social Studies

Hess, Sue - World Languages

Hopkins, Ash - Math

Jeffries, Susan - Social Studies

Keene, Alder - Arts

Latour, Danielle - Science

Lee, Susie - Math

Myers-Perry, Neal - Social Studies

Nix, Shana - Social Studies

Oatsvall, Neil - Social Studies

Peterson, Annemarie - Science/Instructional Coach

Price, Walter - Social Studies

Pullen, Barksdale - Math/Instructional Coach

Sadhwani, Jayshree - World Languages

Sherrill, Grant - Science

Soulasinh,Angelina - Arts

Sun, Emily - English

Vander Zwaag, Charles - English

Vincent, Kenneth - Health/PE

Williams, Denise - Science

Witherspoon, Angela - Math

Apple, Ellen - EC Teacher

DuPree, Mechia - EC Coordinator

Majors-Nelson, Margaret - EC Teacher

Krol, Jade - EC Teacher

Counselor

Overman, Sarah - Director of College/Career Advising

Cook, Kristen - School Counselor

Headen, Donya - School Counselor

Gloria, Cornelius - IT Director

Liotta, Jay - Digital Director/Athletic Director

Support

Harris, Sandra - Front Desk (hourly, non-exempt)

Lewis, Deirdre - Student Services Coordinator

Rainey, Christian -Officer Manager

Leadership

Drake, Alex - Chief Operations Officer

Griffin, Akiba - Chief School Officer

Rodriguez, Priscilla - Assistant Principal

Thompson, Dezra - Dean of Culture

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
M. Dwomoh	Aye
C. Coia	Aye
P. Thermitus	Aye
A. Tobien	Aye
S. Khaliq	Aye
J. Corn	Aye
D. Requena	Absent
A. Saviello	Aye
S. Hunter	Aye
E. Cunningham	Absent
J. Berla	Aye

VI. Governance Committee Report

A. Governance Committee Business

S. Hunter provided an update on governance:

Annual evaluation survey is about to start
Handbooks/policies upcoming in May-Jun
3 Potential Board Member Interviews & recruitment
Board leadership roles for upcoming school year

VII. Academic Excellence Committee Report

A. Academic Excellence Business

J. Corn and A. Griffin presented on the academic excellence, details in agenda.

SET update - focus on wellness
Deep dive data on post-secondary plans for the students
- rise on enrollment for 2-year colleges
TWC _ teacher working conditions survey
- 75% response rate

VIII. Development Committee Report

A. Development Committee Business

A.Griffin presented on the development committee details attached on the agenda

fundraising campaign close to target

IX. Other Business Matters

A. As needed

Teacher Appreciation Week — Board to provide breakfast on May 6 set up at 7:30am
Board Member Donation
- corporate donation expect 90% board members
May 19 - Meeting First Robotics
Next Steps

X. Closing Items

A. Adjourn Meeting

M. Dwomoh made a motion to adjourn the meeting.

J. Berla 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 7:09 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

A. Tobien