New Hope Charter School

Minutes

Regular Meeting of the Governing Board

Date and Time

Monday January 26, 2026 at 4:30 PM

Location

New Hope Charter School (Main Office)

201 Jessie Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95838

Instructions for Presentations to the Board by Parents and Citizens

Agendas are available to all audience members at the meeting.

Any public records relating to an agenda item for an open session of the Board which are distributed to

all, or majority of all, of the Board members shall be available for public inspection at 201Jessie

Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95838.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, New Hope Charter

School may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require appropriate alternative modification of the agenda in order to participate in Board meetings are invited to contact Herinder Pegany, Executive Director, at hpegany@roblacharter.school

Members of the public attending a meeting conducted via teleconference need not give their name when entering the conference call.

If you have questions or need any assistance in participating in the New Hope Charter School Board meeting, please contact Herinder Pegany, Executive Director, at hpegany@roblacharter.school

Directors Present

Kim Howard (remote), Lisa Fong (remote)

Directors Absent

Ruben Reyes

Guests Present

Anjam Khan, Casey Jower (remote), Herinder Pegany, Marcy Kearney (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

Kim Howard called a meeting of the board of directors of New Hope Charter School to order on Monday Jan 26, 2026 at 4:33 PM.

B.

Record Attendance

C.

Approval of Agenda

Lisa Fong made a motion to approve 1/26/26 agenda.
Kim Howard seconded the motion.

4:34

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Consent Agenda

A.

Approve Prior Meeting Minutes: December 8, 2025

Lisa Fong made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting on 12-08-25.
Kim Howard seconded the motion.

4:35

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

III. Reports

A.

Fiscal Update: FY 2024-25 Consolidated Audit

Marcy Kearney of Christy White CPA went over the Consolidated Audit Report for the 24-25 school year, ended June 30, 2025.

 

Unmodified Opinion:

No significant deficiencies

No material weaknesses

No findings required to be reported

 

Summary: Clean audits for financial statements, federal, state

 

Sensitive disclosures: Notes 7 and 11 on relationship and loan with District

 

25-26 School year: Interim audits have been in process; Year-end audits will be phasing in, per Casey Jower.

 

Contract with Christy White will go through two more years (had signed a three-year contract).

B.

Executive Director Report: Update on New Hope Charter School

Herinder Pegany - Admin team has been in collaboration, sustainability with NHCS budget

  • Admin team has voluntarily reduced hours or salary, keep money in the classroom
  • Vendors - negotiations to reduce prices
  • Custodial services outside of district
  • Revenue - Four grants submitted successfully
    • New Schools Venture Funds - Moved NHCS to Round 2
  • Engaging with fundraising contacts from Jeff Kreiser
  • SpEd - School year prior, had two teachers. Currently, one teacher from outside vendor now case managing and working with paraprofessionals, negotiated as needed (not a full time position). Transparent on the shift with El Dorado SELPA.

 

NHCS 25-26 Mid-Year LCAP Report

  • Planned and Mid-Year Expenditures to meet Goals 1-3
  • Overall school action implementation status levels, number of actions fully and partially implemented

Mid-Year Metric Highlights:

  • Chronic absenteeism - 3% (decrease of 18% from 24-25)
  • Professional growth plans - 100% of staff
  • Average daily attendance - 95.3% (improved with Attendance Recovery during intersession)
  • Suspension - 4.8% (decrease of 5% from 24-25)
  • Credentialed teachers - 100%

 

What is in place for making academic progress, especially towards meeting ELA Standards? Lisa Fong

  • Data-driven instruction
  • Design interventions, focused small group instruction, WIN time
  • Progress-monitoring, daily assessment and observational data
  • Teachers - daily prep period, peer observation
  • Lisa will share recordings from Keys to Literacy - adolescent three-part series, as well as Amplify Science of Reading podcast (current season is a focus on reading comprehension)

IV. Discussion/Action Items

A.

Consideration and approval of Fiscal Year 2024-25 Consolidated Audit

Lisa Fong made a motion to approve.
Kim Howard seconded the motion.

5:21

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Consideration and approval of 2024-25 NHCS School Accountability Report Card (SARC)

Lisa Fong made a motion to approve.
Kim Howard seconded the motion.

5:22

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

Consideration and approval of Policy on Referral Protocols for Addressing Pupil Behavioral Health Concerns in grades 7–8.

  • SB 153
  • Modeled from CDE and El Dorado Charter SELPA
  • Anjam Khan - MTSS, follow process, clear and transparent among educators
    • SST process, Assessment process, ELD support
    • Transfer of process from Robla's elementary schools
    • Referral protocols will be integrated with current MTSS process
    • Relationships between staff help teachers get timely support from a variety of expertise/perspectives
Lisa Fong made a motion to approve.
Kim Howard seconded the motion.

5:32

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Consideration and approval of 2026-27 Academic Calendar for New Hope Charter School

  • Similar to 25-26 that staff collaborated on
  • Room to make up instructional minutes during intersession/intervention, if needed
  • How do breaks contribute to morale and success of students? Kim Howard
    • Teachers - have the opportunity for extra pay, focus on ELA/History, Math, plus paraprofessionals
    • Time is valuable for reteaching, depth
    • 40 students attended in Fall/October, 5 half-days, students make a break through. Spring - 1 week, Summer - 2 weeks. Students selected by invitation from teachers, families appreciate the time to recover learning.
Kim Howard made a motion to approve.
Lisa Fong seconded the motion.

5:38

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

E.

Discussion: NHCS Local Control & Accountability Plan (LCAP) Mid-Year Update

LCAP Mid-Year Report - Shifts in descriptors, reflects CDE

Peach column "Mid-year Outcome Data"

V. Future Business

A.

Requests from Board Members

None. Board appreciates the materials and details that have been shared for review in advance of the meeting.

VI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 5:43 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Fong