October Board Meeting Minutes

October 20, 2025, 4:00-7:30 PM

Minutes Draft

Making Waves Academy

Minutes

October Board Meeting

Date and Time

Monday October 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM

Location

In-person at:

Making Waves Academy

4123 Lakeside Dr.

Richmond, CA 94806

And streaming on zoom:

https://mwacademy.zoom.us/j/87855022048?pwd=SVFZNGlTbVVHb1NFYUd2WWNTaW8wQT09
Passcode: 073032
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Webinar ID: 878 5502 2048
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International numbers available: https://mwacademy.zoom.us/u/keaPhEAWej

COMING SOON

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ para acceder a la agenda y portadas en español/CLICK HERE to access agenda and cover sheets in Spanish: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:b0d63deb-2b65-4e64-9482-9d332a156108
HAGA CLIC AQUI para acceder el reporte escolar/CLICK HERE to access the school board report in Spanish: https://bit.ly/4eLd72o

If you have questions about the board agenda and materials or you are in need of disability-related accommodations, please contact:
Si tiene preguntas sobre la agenda y materiales de la junta o necesita adaptaciones relacionadas con la discapacidad, comuníquese con:
Bryann Fitzpatrick at bfitzpatrick@mwacademy.org or (510) 994-6486.

Public Comment

The public may address the MWA Board regarding any item within the subject-matter jurisdiction of the MWA governing board.
Under Public Comment, members of the public may
- Comment on items on the agenda
- Comment on items not on the agenda
- Presentations are limited to two minutes each, or a total of twenty minutes for all speakers, or the two-minute limit may be shortened.
In accordance to the Brown Act, the MWA Board may listen to comments, but can neither discuss nor take action on the topics presented. Members of the board are very limited in their response to statements or questions by persons commenting on items not on the agenda.
Speakers may submit a request to speak before 9:00 AM on the day of the board meeting, fill out a comment card at the meeting, or raise their hand/use the raise hand function during the public comment sections of the meeting.
- If you would like to send your request to speak prior to the meeting, please email your request to bfitzpatrick@mwacademy.org in English or Spanish.
- Your submission should:
  - indicate if it is a general public comment for the beginning of the meeting or a comment for a specific agenda item (please include the item number).
  - include your name so that you can be called when it is your turn to speak.
- During the meeting, we will call your name and you should use the "raise hand" feature to identify yourself.
Under SB1036 the minutes from this meeting will omit student and parent names and other directory information, except as required by judicial order or federal law. If a parent/ legal guardian wishes a name be included, one must inform the board prior to their public comment.

Comentarios públicos

El público puede dirigirse a la Junta Directiva de la MWA con respecto a cualquier asunto dentro de la jurisdicción del tema materia por la Junta Directiva de la MWA.
Bajo comentario público, los miembros del público pueden:
- Hacer comentarios sobre los puntos del orden del día
- Hacer comentarios sobre puntos no incluidos en el orden del día
- Las presentaciones están limitadas a dos minutos cada una, o un total de veinte minutos para todos los oradores, o se puede acortar el límite de dos minutos.

• De acuerdo con la Ley Brown, la Junta Directiva de la MWA puede escuchar los comentarios, pero no discutirán ni tomarán medidas sobre los temas presentados. La respuesta de los miembros de la Junta Directiva a las declaraciones o preguntas de las personas que comentan temas que no figuran en el orden del día es muy limitada.

Mientras las reuniones se llevan a cabo virtualmente, los miembros del publico que desean hablar durante la junta pueden presentar una solicitud para hablar antes de las 9:00 a.m. del día de la reunión de la junta o usar la función de levantar la mano durante las secciones de comentarios públicos de la reunión.
- Si desea enviar su solicitud de uso de la palabra antes de la reunión, envíe su solicitud por correo electrónico a bfitzpatrick@mwacademy.org en inglés o español.
- En su solicitud:
  - Incluya su nombre para que pueda ser llamado cuando sea su turno de hablar.
  - indicar si es un comentario público general para el comienzo de la reunión o si es comentario público sobre un artículo específico del programa (incluya el número del artículo).
  - Durante la reunión, le llamaremos por su nombre y deberá utilizar la función de "levantar la mano" para identificarse.
En virtud de la SB1036, las actas de esta reunión omitirán los nombres de los estudiantes y padres y otra información del directorio, excepto cuando lo requiera la orden judicial o por la ley federal. Si un padre/tutor legal desea que se incluya un nombre, se debe informar a la junta antes de su comentario público.

If you have questions about the board agenda and materials or you are in need of disability-related
accommodations, please contact:
Si tiene preguntas sobre la agenda y materiales de la junta o necesita adaptaciones relacionadas con la
discapacidad, comuníquese con:

Bryann Fitzpatrick at bfitzpatrick@mwacademy.org or (510) 994-6486.
Please note that all agenda times are estimates.
Tenga en cuenta que todos los horarios de la agenda son estimaciones.

Directors Present

Alicia Malet Klein, Amy Obinyan, Enrique Romero, Esther Hugo (remote), Felicia Selva, Margaret Watson

Directors Absent

Janis Glover

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

Enrique Romero

Guests Present

Bryann Fitzpatrick

I. Opening Items

A. Call the Meeting to Order

Alicia Malet Klein called a meeting of the board of directors of Making Waves Academy to order on Monday Oct 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM.

B. Record Attendance

II. Closed Session

A. Public Employee Performance Evaluation

Enrique Romero arrived at 4:07 PM.

No action was taken.

B. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release

Former employee's request to join the closed session was denied following consultation with legal counsel. No action was taken.

III. Additional Opening Items

A. Remarks by Board President

Focus Areas: Critical Learners

Instructional approaches to support teaching practice and student achievement.
Strategies to address student behavior and current data on suspensions
Strategic Plan update
Positive data trends

WASC/LCAP Goal:

Goal 1 - Support for All Learners
Goal 3 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

B. Public Comment

Board president reviewed Brown Act-related restrictions in place around public comment and discussing confidential personnel matters.

Several MWA parent/guardians and students, spoke to advocate for a former teacher, Isaiah Wilson, to be brought back on staff after a recent termination citing their experiences with said teacher. Mr. Wilson also spoke.

IV. Standing Reports

A. Mission Connection

Video showing several teachers talk about the impact of instructional coaching on their practices inside and outside of the classroom.

B. ASB Update

ASB students spoke on recent student activities including the US Fall Club Fair, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, and upcoming events. They also spoke on a potential grant opportunity.

C. Deep Dive: Critical Learners

The Special Education and EL teams shared strong progress, including a new middle school inclusion model, clearer, standardized IEPs to better communicate student needs to classroom teachers, expanded ELD using English 3D, and higher student and parent engagement. Upcoming priorities include building an robust RTI/MTSS team, enhancing ELPAC preparation, and promoting multilingualism through initiatives like the Seal of Bi-literacy. The Board commended the rapid progress and focus on building strong systems.

D. Q&A on Written School Report

The board praised the thorough school report, highlighting vertical alignment meetings, the 50% grading floor for non-summative work, and the new Get Focused, Stay Focused program. Coaching efforts and restorative practices were noted for supporting student growth and reducing suspensions. Marlin Academy’s project-based learning and early career exploration were also recognized.

E. Q&A on Chief Executive Officer Report (CEO)

The board praised the CEO report for engaging student challenges, clear priorities, and effective testing practices. They also discussed expanding the book challenge through library partnerships and highlighted ongoing support for concurrent and dual enrollment opportunities.

F. Q&A on Chief Operating Officer Report (COO)

The board praised the COO report for gathering feedback, focusing on communication and collaboration, and making teacher-centered decisions. They also discussed upcoming recruitment for the upper school director and efforts to improve digital skills onboarding for staff.

G. Q&A on Written Finance Report

Acknowledgement that October is off-cycle for state finance document compliance and the report provided monthly updates only. No questions were asked.

H. Break

V. Non-Action Items

A. Board Work and Advisory Committee Updates

The board president provider a reminder that ethics and Brown Act training must be completed by January 1, 2026. Brief update was provided on the Culture and Climate committee. CIRAC/WASC report will come in April. Student board member, Valeria Serrano, proposed a student-alumni networking initiative, including career exposure, which was met with strong support and encouragement from the board.

B. Strategic Plan Update

The board reviewed the strategic plan update, focusing on Engine 1 and Engine 2, with discussion on integrating student input and career exposure opportunities. Board members highlighted the importance of hands-on learning, CTE courses, and maintaining connections between strategic planning and day-to-day student experiences.

VI. Action Items