All new board members have received their training.

No request for Public Comments.

• Reviewed the Board Roles.
• Review the Board Communication
• Overview of questions to help establish conversation around Board Goals and Committee Goals

A meet-and-greet took place before the board meeting was called to order.

Roundtable introductions of who everyone is.

Highlights:

• Revamped Professional Development within the school, ensuring we build teachers up for the next stages of their careers, if that is what they want.
• Hired a new AP this year, and the new coaching program is going well.
• College applications still have interest, and Akirba has noticed a trend of students attending CC and then transferring to 4-year Universities. They are working on establishing an Alumni network. 
• Over 100 students showed up to the homecoming game!!!!
• Student and Staff morale is up. The Salary increase did receive positive feedback.

Teacher Working Conditions:

• ~79% response rate, roughly 30 teachers.
• Could use improvement, according to the state
  • Some teachers would want to work in another school, but it is an increase from ~61% to ~65%
  • Decrease in feeling comfortable raising issues and concerns.
  • Leadership's awareness of what is going on in my classroom is really low; the consensus was that it was related to access and availability.
  • No clarity on how involved we can actually be in determining the school budget.
• It could be useful to have an outside facilitator conduct a focus group without leadership present.
• Cheating and Skipping are concerns.
  • Cheating is in daily assignments related not cheating on test.

Facilities:

• We currently have an enrollment cap due to overage, leading to overflow into hallways.
• Big Priorities to consider
  • Adding 6 classrooms
  • Obtaining larger Storage rooms
  • Exceptional Children need 2 additional offices
  • At least 1 room for separate testing
  • Counseling suites
  • Flex space for a cafeteria. In need of more microwaves to heat food.
  • STEM LABS!!
  • Building is not ADA compliant.
• Idea to have a Board tour of the building.

Background was given on RTP history.

Review of RTP Future development planning.

Charter School Expansion: Options and Considerations:

• These are firms and non-profits that help with the construction of Charter Schools.
• Joy interviewed 4 firms, all seasoned groups that have built 20-70 schools across multiple states.
  • They are listed in the presentation attached to the agenda.
  • (RTHS Expansion 8.8.26.pdf)
• Nonprofits are more mission-driven and focus on supporting you and helping lower interest rates.
• Quotes range from $300-$450 per square foot for new-build construction.
• A gym averaged 12,000 square feet ($3.6 - $5.4 million)

Thoughts from the board

• A gym with a shop and STEM labs that could be externally accessible.
• We should revisit our school vision after Carolyn and Joy's recent research.
• Discussion of the size of the school. Is the current enrollment the right number?
• Larger class sizes for advanced courses.
• There is competition; it is not enough to just be STEM.
  • What is our differential?
    • We have students who are reaching out for internships.
• How do we engage the community?
• We could close the gap by making students a resource for industry.
• High School Internships.
• How can we improve our Marketing?
• We could reach out to company resource groups
• Enrollment helps with getting county funding.
  • We have to stay around 490 students for our bond.
• Could we expand with middle schoolers? Feed directly into the high school
  • We would get the same funding for an MS Student and HS Students.

• It would be great to have direction and a firm decision on expansion by the end of the school year.

Our Goals Themes (Preliminary --Rough Draft)

• Redefining or envisioning our mission and differentiation
• Discovering ways to engage the community

Let's see if we can schedule a work session in December.

• During the week before December 18th, 2026

If you have goal ideas, please send them to Steven, and he will share them at the next meeting.