Board Members:

Adrienne Mason: Board Chairperson

Ach' (Sheila) Davis: Board Secretary

Tyrone Foster - Board Member 

Lisa White - Board Member

Ashley Duncan - Board Member

Nikki Chen - Board Member

Rhianna Johnson - Board Member

Rooted School Foundation/School Officials:

Steven Carney: Executive Director & School Leader - RSV

Adrienne Lee-Kernell - Assistant School Leader

Angie Lundgren - Director of Operations
 

BOARD SECRETARY TO READ PRIOR TO ALL PUBLIC COMMENT:

Our Public Comment period is for members of the public to address the board. Each member of the public may sign up to comment at the meeting and will be allotted three - five minutes. The board will listen, but may not directly respond to any comments. Please do not use specific student, teacher or administrator names in your comments as our meetings are open to the public and public record, and we must adhere to FERPA - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. As such, if your comment is about a private matter, please contact the board via email, or speak to the board chair privately.

The Board received strategic updates and presentations focused on school culture, governance best practices, and sector-wide opportunities. These sessions supported board learning, strengthened external partnerships, and provided insights to guide future planning.

Purpose:
To receive a strategic update and presentation from Excellent Schools Washington (ESWA) on their current initiatives, partnership opportunities, and available supports for charter schools in Washington. The presentation will highlight grant opportunities, growth planning support, and ESWA’s work in advancing equity and innovation in public education.

Presentation Overview:

Overview of ESWA's mission, priorities, and impact

Summary of current funding and grant initiatives, including planning support for school expansion

Resources and technical assistance available to charter schools

Opportunities for Rooted School Vancouver to engage with ESWA on sustainability and growth

Q&A and discussion with the Board

Rationale:
ESWA is a leading organization in supporting innovative public school models in Washington. Engaging with ESWA aligns with Rooted School Vancouver’s goals for long-term sustainability, equity-driven practice, and potential strategic expansion.

Purpose:
To hear from WA Charters on the current landscape of charter school policy, compliance, and sustainability in Washington State. The presentation will include key updates relevant to school leadership and board governance, opportunities for school support, and strategic guidance for Rooted School Vancouver’s growth and long-term planning.

Presentation Overview:

State of charter schools in Washington: current trends and challenges

Updates on policy and regulatory matters impacting charter schools

Board governance best practices and leadership development resources

Support services available from WA Charters

Strategic considerations for charter growth, sustainability, and accountability

Open Q&A and dialogue with the Board

Rationale:
WA Charters plays a critical role in ensuring the success and stability of public charter schools across Washington. This presentation supports Rooted School Vancouver’s board in staying informed, legally compliant, and strategically aligned with sector-wide developments.

Purpose:
To provide board members with an overview of effective governance practices for charter school boards in Washington State, as presented at the Washington State Charter School Governance Academy held on May 1, 2025. The presentation will support ongoing board development in areas of academic oversight, financial sustainability, and leadership accountability.

Presentation Overview:
Bellwether, a national nonprofit focused on educational equity, led the Governance Academy, offering key insights into:

Washington's charter school landscape at its 10-year mark

Effective board roles and responsibilities

Key compliance and oversight mechanisms

Strategies for improving student outcomes through governance

Challenges and opportunities within the charter sector

Purpose:
To complete the annual Board Self Evaluation using the BoardOnTrack Board Evaluation Survey. This activity supports reflection on governance practices, identifies opportunities for board development, and informs strategic planning for the upcoming year.
 

Overview:
Board members will individually complete the BoardOnTrack Self Evaluation Survey during this session. The results will be compiled and analyzed following the meeting to guide discussion at a subsequent session.

To provide a scheduled break for lunch and informal conversation among board members and staff. Lunch will be provided on-site. This break supports board wellness and collegial engagement during an intensive strategic planning session.

Purpose:
To provide board members and leadership team with time for rest, informal dialogue, and reflection midway through the board retreat. This unstructured time encourages relationship building and open conversation around emerging ideas from the morning sessions.
 

Notes:
Lunch will be catered. No formal board business or decisions will take place during this time.

Purpose:
To collaboratively establish strategic goals for the 2025–2026 academic year that align with Rooted School Vancouver’s mission, priorities, and long-term sustainability. This session will be informed by board evaluations, recent school performance data, and leadership input.

Purpose:
To present and analyze the results from the 2024–2025 Johns Hopkins School Culture Survey administered to students, staff, and families. The review will highlight key trends in perceptions of school climate, safety, belonging, and engagement to inform strategic planning and school improvement initiatives.

Discussion Points:

Areas of strength across stakeholder feedback

Identified gaps or concerns (e.g., student sense of belonging, staff perceptions of leadership, family-school communication)

Comparison to previous survey cycles (if applicable)

Implications for staffing, culture initiatives, and student support programs

Board input on goals and priorities to address areas of concern

Rationale:
Rooted School Vancouver’s commitment to equity, safety, and a supportive learning environment includes regularly evaluating school culture from multiple perspectives. The survey results offer critical insights to guide responsive planning and continuous improvement.

Purpose:
To analyze Rooted School Vancouver’s student academic performance data for the 2024–2025 school year, including key indicators such as growth, proficiency, course completion, and college and career readiness. This data will inform goal setting for academic priorities in 2025–2026.

Overview:
The Executive Director will present student outcome metrics, highlighting performance trends, achievement gaps, and alignment with Rooted’s mission to prepare students for college and careers. The Board will discuss how to translate findings into actionable academic and equity-focused goals for the year ahead.

Purpose:
To examine the results of the 2025 Board Self Evaluation, completed through the BoardOnTrack survey tool, and use the findings to shape governance goals and board development priorities for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Overview:
A summary of the evaluation will be presented, highlighting trends in board performance, areas of strength, and opportunities for improvement. Board members will discuss the implications of the findings and identify strategic governance goals aligned with effective oversight and long-term sustainability.

Purpose:
To engage Board Committees in focused planning using student outcome data, survey results, and board evaluation findings to draft growth and academic excellence goals for the 2025–2026 school year.
 

Overview:
Board members will divide into the Governance & Growth Committee and the Academic Excellence Committee. Each group will analyze relevant data, identify strategic priorities, and propose draft goals for their respective focus areas. These drafts will be presented in a future full board meeting for approval and integration into the strategic plan.
 

Facilitators:

Governance & Growth: Adrienne Mason

Academic Excellence: Steven Carney

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Governance & Growth Committee Protocol (Facilitator: Adrienne Mason)

Focus Areas:

Board performance and governance improvement.

Organizational sustainability and financial health.

School growth and expansion strategies (including facilities and enrollment targets).

Discussion Prompts:

What are the most critical governance and sustainability priorities identified in the evaluation?

Based on projected enrollment and financial health, what growth goals are realistic and impactful?

How can the board strengthen its leadership pipeline and stakeholder engagement?

Deliverable:

Draft 2–3 goals addressing board governance, financial resilience, and organizational growth.

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Academic Excellence Committee Protocol (Facilitator: Steven Carney)

Focus Areas:

Student academic performance and outcome data.

Instructional quality and program design.

College and career readiness, including credential attainment.

Discussion Prompts:

What academic gaps or areas of growth stand out in the student data?

What programming adjustments or support systems could accelerate student achievement?

How can staff development or instructional focus areas improve outcomes?

Deliverable:

Draft 2–3 goals related to academic achievement, instructional improvement, and student support systems.

Purpose:
The Board of Directors will enter into Executive Session in accordance with RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) to evaluate the performance of a public employee. This session is permitted under the Open Public Meetings Act and will be closed to the public.

Legal Reference:
RCW 42.30.110(1)(g): "To evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee..."

Statement for the Record (to be read aloud before entering):
“The Board will now convene into Executive Session to evaluate the performance of a public employee as authorized under RCW 42.30.110(1)(g). The session is expected to last approximately 60 minutes. No action will be taken during the Executive Session, and the Board will reconvene in open session at its conclusion.”

Reentry:
Following the Executive Session, the Board will return to the public session and document the time of reentry.