Excel Academy will provide flexible, personalized learning through a customized course of study that will educate, motivate, and instill a love of learning in each individual student. Teachers and parents will join together to maintain high expectations and promote academic excellence for all students creating the next generation of leaders.
THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the order of consideration of matters on this agenda may be changed without prior notice.
REASONABLE LIMITATIONS MAY BE PLACED ON PUBLIC TESTIMONY
The Governing Board’s presiding officer reserves the right to impose reasonable time limits on public testimony to ensure that the agenda is completed.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY
Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in this meeting of the Governing Board may request assistance by contacting Excel Academy Charter Schools.
Agenda
Section Number
Topic Number
Details
Purpose
Presenter
Time
I.
Opening Items
10:15 AM
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
Steve Fraire
1 m
B.
Record Attendance
Steve Fraire
1 m
Roll Call:
William Hall, President
Michael Humphrey, Vice President
Steve Fraire, Clerk
Susan Houle, Member
Larry Alvarado, Member
II.
Pledge of Allegiance
III.
Approve/Adopt Agenda
10:17 AM
A.
Agenda
Vote
Steve Fraire
1 m
It is recommended the Board of Directors adopt as presented, the agenda for the Regular Board meeting of December 11, 2025.
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
IV.
Approve Minutes
10:18 AM
A.
Approve Minutes
Approve Minutes
Steve Fraire
1 m
Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting that was held on October 9, 2025.
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
Please submit a Request to Speak to the Board of Directors using the chat feature on the right hand side of the Zoom platform. Please state the agenda item number that you wish to address prior to the agenda item being called by the Board President. Not more than three (3) minutes are to be allotted to any one (1) speaker, and no more than twenty (20) minutes on the same subject. This portion of the agenda is for comments, recognitions and reports to the Board and is not intended to be a question and answer period. If you have questions for the Board, please provide the Board President with a written statement and an administrator will provide answers at a later date.
VI.
Correspondence/Proposals/Reports
10:20 AM
A.
School Highlights - Presented by Heidi Gasca, Superintendent/CEO
Items listed under Consent are considered routine and will be approved/adopted by a single motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items; however, any item may be removed from the Consent upon the request of any member of the Board, discussed, and acted upon separately.
A.
Consent - Board Governance
1. Approval of the Excel Academy Charter School Board Onboarding Checklist
2. Approval of the Board of Directors Manual Revisions
Approval of existing board policies revised, reviewed, and eliminated by staff for the 2025-2026 school year.
Board Policies: Revised
The following are current policies that have been revised to provide clarity or alignment with changes in law or procedures:
1000 Series - Community Relations
1010 - EA Civility Policy
1020 - EA School Sponsored Field Trips & Cultural Excursions Policy
1030 - EA Safe Operation of Schools (Infectious Disease) Policy
4000 Series - Personnel Services
4005 - EA Salary Determination Policy 4020 - EA Background Check Policy 4025 - EA Tuberculosis Risk Assessment and Examination Policy 4030 - EA Immigration Compliance Policy 4035 - EA Mandated Reporter - Child Abuse Policy 4045 - EA Professional Boundaries Policy 4055 - EA Internal Complaint Policy 4060 - EA Unlawful Harassment Discrimination Retaliation Policy and Complaint Form 4065 - EA Meal Period and Rest Break Policy
4070 - EA Lactation Accommodation Policy
4100 - EA Emoji Use Policy
4105 - EA Paid Sick Leave Policy
4125 - EA Victims of Crime Policy
4130 - EA Remote Work Policy
4145 - EA Professional Development Reimbursement Policy
4150 - EA Mileage Reimbursement Policy
4160 - EA Children of Teachers Policy
4165 - EA Employee Driving Policy
Board Policies: Reviewed
The following policies are being brought to the Board without changes for annual review.
1000 Series - Community Relations
1025 - EA Uniform Complaint Policy
1035 - EA Access to Public Records Policy
4000 Series - Personnel Services
4000 - EA Concepts & Roles
4010 - EA At-Will Policy
4015 - EA Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
4040 - EA Corporal Punishment Policy
4050 - EA Whistleblower Policy
4080 - EA Acceptable Use of Technology Policy
4075 - EA Drug, Alcohol, Smoke Free Workplace Policy
4085 - EA Payroll Withholdings Policy
4090 - EA Cobra Policy
4095 - EA Handling Heavy Items Policy
4110 - EA Pregnancy Disability Leave Policy
4115 - EA FMLA Policy
4125 - EA Victims of Crime Policy
Items in the consent agenda are considered routine and will be approved/adopted by a single motion.
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
Approval of 2025-2026 EACS First Interim Financial Report
Vote
Joe Sorrera
10 m
It is recommended the Board approve the 2025-2026 EACS First Interim Financial Report for Excel Academy Charter Schools, Helendale (#2073) and Warner (#2053).
Fiscal Impact: As indicated by the 2025-26 Financial Reporting Documents First Interim Report
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
Approval of the Charter Tech Services (CTS) Agreement
Vote
Heidi Gasca
6 m
It is recommended the Board approve the Charter Tech Services (CTS) for the 2025-26 School Year for Excel Academy Charter Schools, Helendale (#2073) and Warner (#2053).
Fiscal Impact: $245,520.00
Warner (#2053): $152,222.40
Helendale (#2073): $93,297.60
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
Approval of School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)
Vote
Jenny Craig
7 m
It is recommended that the Board approve the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for Excel Academy Charter School, Helendale (#2073), Warner (#2053).
Fiscal Impact: N/A
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
Approval of of 1st Day School Supplies Boxes Remainder
Vote
Heidi Gasca
2 m
It is recommended the Board approve the 1st Day School Supplies Boxes for the 2025-26 School Year for Excel Academy Charter Schools, Helendale (#2073) and Warner (#2053).
Fiscal Impact: $27,078.24
Warner (#2053): $16,788.51
Helendale (#2073): $10,289.73
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
Organizational Structure - Annual Meeting of the Board
11:06 AM
A.
Election of the Excel Academy Charter Schools Board Officer: President
Vote
Heidi Gasca
2 m
In accordance with the Third Amended Bylaws of Excel Academy Charter Schools, Article VI, Board of Directors, Section 7.02, Election of the Board Officers, it is recommended the Board of Directors conduct the election for the following officer positions:
The Board will take action to elect the Board President.
Election: Board President: ___________
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
B.
Election of the Excel Academy Charter Schools Board Officer: Vice President
Vote
Heidi Gasca
2 m
In accordance with the Third Amended Bylaws of Excel Academy Charter Schools, Article VI, Board of Directors, Section 7.02, Election of the Board Officers, it is recommended the Board of Directors conduct the election for the following officer positions:
The Board will take action to elect the Board Vice President.
Election: Board Vice President: ______________
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
C.
Election of the Excel Academy Charter Schools Board Officer: Clerk
Vote
Heidi Gasca
2 m
In accordance with the Third Amended Bylaws of Excel Academy Charter Schools, Article VI, Board of Directors, Section 7.02, Election of the Board Officers, it is recommended the Board of Directors conduct the election for the following officer positions:
The Board will take action to elect the Board Clerk.
Election: Board Clerk: ______________
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
D.
Full Board Action in Lieu of Audit Committee, Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Vote
Heidi Gasca
2 m
An annual independent financial audit of the books and records of Excel Academy Charter School will be conducted as required by Education Code Sections 47605(c)(5)(I) and 47605(m).
It is recommended the Excel Academy Charter Schools Governing Board oversee the selection of an independent auditor and the completion of an annual audit of the school'sfinancial affairs as a full Board.
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
XII.
Calendar
The next scheduled Regular Board Meeting will be held both in person and virtually on January 8, 2026.
XIII.
Board Comments
XIV.
CEO Comments
XV.
Closing Items
11:14 AM
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Vote
Steve Fraire
1 m
Roll Call Vote:
William Hall
Michael Humphrey
Steve Fraire
Susan Houle
Larry Alvarado
Moved by ______ Seconded by ______ Ayes _____ Nays _____ Absent _____
