Research Triangle High School
Minutes
RTHS Board of Directors Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday May 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Location
Research Triangle High School
3106 East NC Highway 54
Durham, North Carolina 27709
or
https://rthighschool.zoom.us/j/93566460638
Meeting ID: 935 6646 0638
Directors Present
A. Tobien (remote), C. Coia (remote), D. Requena (remote), E. Cunningham (remote), J. Berla (remote), J. Corn (remote), M. Dwomoh (remote), P. Thermitus (remote), S. Hunter (remote)
Directors Absent
A. Saviello, S. Khaliq
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
M. Dwomoh, P. Thermitus
Guests Present
A. Drake (remote), A. Griffin (remote), D. Thompson (remote), J. Goodwin (remote), Laura Chapman (remote), Roopali Shrivastava (remote), ShuDon Brown (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 May 20, 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 04-15-26.
J. Berla seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Dwomoh |
Absent
|
| S. Khaliq |
Absent
|
| C. Coia |
Aye
|
| E. Cunningham |
Aye
|
| A. Tobien |
Aye
|
| P. Thermitus |
Absent
|
| J. Corn |
Aye
|
| S. Hunter |
Aye
|
| D. Requena |
Aye
|
| A. Saviello |
Absent
|
| J. Berla |
Aye
|
III. Public Comments
A.
Open to all community members (students, family members, faculty and staff, community members, and others)
IV. Chief School Officer Report
A.
Executive Overview
A. Griffin provided an update on school highlights, details in attached agenda:
- Blood drive
- Robotics competition
- Art Events: Musical & Spring band concert
- Durham Bulls Game
- Senior Week - ongoing
Upcoming events:
- Visual Arts Showcase on 21May26
- Graduation on Friday 5Jun26 at Meymandi Concert Hall in downtown Raleigh starting at 6pm
- Board Members attending to let Alex / Akiba know to reserve seating
V. Finance Committee Report
A.
RTHS Monthly Financials and Other Business
M. Dwomoh arrived.
A. Drake provided an update on Finance Committee, details attached to the agenda:
- DSCR at 1.46 above the required 1.2
- Vacancies and recently filled positions
- Upcoming contracts
- Unallocated funds updates and proposals
Additionally, sports wrap up updates for the school.
S. Hunter made a motion to approve unallocated funds updates $30,288.
M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.
- $10,000 Staff Development Funds
- Administration Staff to National Charter School Conference in New Orleans
- $9,000 Athletics Uniforms/Equipment
- $11,288 AED Updates (safety)
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Berla |
Aye
|
| C. Coia |
Aye
|
| M. Dwomoh |
Aye
|
| S. Khaliq |
Absent
|
| P. Thermitus |
Absent
|
| J. Corn |
Aye
|
| S. Hunter |
Aye
|
| A. Tobien |
Aye
|
| D. Requena |
Aye
|
| E. Cunningham |
Aye
|
| A. Saviello |
Absent
|
M. Dwomoh made a motion to move into Executive Session for Personnel Matters.
S. Hunter seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
P. Thermitus arrived.
S. Hunter made a motion to approve contracts for:.
M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.
- Elizabeth Stabenow _ new Science Teacher
- Mechia DuPree _ contract updated from 11 months to 12 months
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Requena |
Aye
|
| A. Saviello |
Absent
|
| P. Thermitus |
Aye
|
| J. Berla |
Aye
|
| M. Dwomoh |
Aye
|
| S. Hunter |
Aye
|
| E. Cunningham |
Aye
|
| C. Coia |
Aye
|
| J. Corn |
Aye
|
| A. Tobien |
Aye
|
| S. Khaliq |
Absent
|
A. Tobien made a motion to approve the contract for cleaning services with United Maintence Corporation.
J. Berla seconded the motion.
- Provided Change to United Maintence Corporation from Triad Total Care
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| A. Saviello |
Absent
|
| C. Coia |
Aye
|
| J. Berla |
Aye
|
| D. Requena |
Aye
|
| J. Corn |
Aye
|
| S. Hunter |
Aye
|
| A. Tobien |
Aye
|
| M. Dwomoh |
Aye
|
| P. Thermitus |
Aye
|
| E. Cunningham |
Aye
|
| S. Khaliq |
Absent
|
J. Berla made a motion to approve the contract for transportation services with Elite Transit for 2026-27.
M. Dwomoh seconded the motion.
- we have used them previously
- no other companies found for bidding
- coordinate the bus maintenance
- no increase on the price for this school year
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| E. Cunningham |
Aye
|
| A. Saviello |
Absent
|
| A. Tobien |
Aye
|
| S. Hunter |
Aye
|
| M. Dwomoh |
Aye
|
| J. Berla |
Aye
|
| D. Requena |
Aye
|
| C. Coia |
Aye
|
| P. Thermitus |
Aye
|
| J. Corn |
Aye
|
| S. Khaliq |
Absent
|
VI. Governance Committee Report
A.
Governance Committee Business
E.Cunningham provided an update on the Governance Committee, details on the agenda:
- update on Conflict of Interest Policy
- 2026-27 Members and Board of Directors
- 5 board members transitioning out of the board
- leadership positions
- 4 proposed new members to the board of directors
- recruitment ongoing for additional 3-4 board members and encourage to provide potential candidates
C. Coia made a motion to approve the update to the RTHS Board of Directors Policy and Procedures Manual with an amendment to the Conflict of Interest Policy.
S. Hunter seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Corn |
Aye
|
| J. Berla |
Aye
|
| D. Requena |
Aye
|
| S. Hunter |
Aye
|
| A. Tobien |
Aye
|
| C. Coia |
Aye
|
| A. Saviello |
Absent
|
| M. Dwomoh |
Aye
|
| E. Cunningham |
Aye
|
| P. Thermitus |
Aye
|
| S. Khaliq |
Absent
|
M. Dwomoh made a motion to approve 4 new members to the RTHS Board of Directors.
J. Berla seconded the motion.
- Dr. ShuDon Brown _ Governance
- Joy Goodwin (parent) _ Development
- Roopali Shrivastava (parent) _ Finance
- Dr. Kelly Daughtry Broccio _ Academics
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Berla |
Aye
|
| A. Saviello |
Absent
|
| A. Tobien |
Aye
|
| C. Coia |
Aye
|
| D. Requena |
Aye
|
| J. Corn |
Aye
|
| S. Hunter |
Aye
|
| E. Cunningham |
Aye
|
| P. Thermitus |
Aye
|
| S. Khaliq |
Absent
|
| M. Dwomoh |
Aye
|
VII. Academic Excellence Committee Report
A.
Academic Excellence Business
J. Corn and A. Griffin provided an update on academic excellence, details in agenda:
- State Survey _ Teacher's Working Conditions Survey
- by annual to all teachers in the State of North Carolina
- high participation rate, has been running for a few years
- ~100 items
- deeper dive at upcoming Board Retreat
- SET team will use data to goal set
- summary provided at board meeting
- Retention
- Managing student conduct
- Safety & Wellbeing
- Facilities & Resources
- Leadership & Support
VIII. Development Committee Report
A.
Development Committee Business
D. Requena and A.Griffin provided an update:
- Donor appreciation luncheon 21May26
- Funds collected 2025-26 to be spent in internal items like science labs desks
- Fundraising shifting to on-going giving vs one-time giving
- Upcoming year: clearer mission of the fundraising and starting earlier than Giving Tuesday
IX. Other Business Matters
A.
As needed
- Next Board meeting 17Jun26
- No board meeting in July 2026
- Check - Board Meeting Reminders Configuration in BoT
X. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
M. Dwomoh made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
A. Tobien 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 6:43 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
A. Tobien
None