Rooted School - Washington
Minutes
Special Board Meeting - Board Retreat
Date and Time
Saturday June 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Location
Rooted School Vancouver
10401 NE Fourth Plain BLVD
Vancouver, WA 98662
Directors Present
A. Davis, A. Mason, L. White, N. Chen, R. Johnson, T. Foster
Directors Absent
A. Duncan
Guests Present
A. Lee-Kernell, A. Lundgren, S. Carney
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
II. Communications
A.
Welcome Community Members
B.
Initial Public Comment
No public comment was submitted.
III. Board Development
A.
Presentation from Excellent Schools Washington (ESWA)
Julie presented on ESWA’s mission to support underserved students through funding, technical assistance, and innovation. She emphasized high-impact investment strategies, charter growth opportunities, and the importance of clarity in leadership expectations, especially during CEO transitions.
B.
Presentation from Washington State Charter Schools Association (WA Charters)
Chris presented current advocacy priorities and legislative wins, including the $1,500 per pupil enrichment funding. She urged the board to engage policymakers and emphasized the value of board-level advocacy.
C.
Washington State Charter School Governance Academy Presentation Overview
Steven Carney and Adrienne Mason shared takeaways from the Charter School Governance Academy, including best practices in board oversight, performance monitoring, and the evolving legal landscape in Washington’s charter sector.
D.
Board Self Evaluation Using BoardOnTrack
Board members completed the BoardOnTrack self-evaluation. Results will be compiled and used to shape future development plans.
IV. Goal Setting
A.
Review of Johns Hopkins School Culture Survey Data
Steven Carney and Adrienne Lee-Kernell presented results from the Johns Hopkins survey. Key findings included gaps in student belonging and staff perceptions of leadership. The board discussed strategies to strengthen student-staff relationships, aiming for each student to have four adult connections.
B.
Review of Student Outcome Data
Steven Carney reviewed 2024–2025 student performance metrics. The board noted persistent achievement gaps and discussed focusing on experiential instruction and data-driven decision-making.
C.
Review of Board Self Evaluation
Adrienne Mason led a reflection on the BoardOnTrack survey results, identifying areas for improvement in engagement, meeting preparation, and strategic focus.
D.
Committee Breakout Sessions – Growth and Academic Goals
E.
Executive Session
At 2:24 PM, the Board entered Executive Session per RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) to evaluate the performance of a public employee. No action was taken.
The Board reconvened into open session at 3:54 PM.
V. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- Board to review and finalize expectations for new part-time ED role
- Steven and Adrienne to explore facility contract exit options with ESWA
- Academic Committee to propose attendance incentive models
- Board to evaluate extending meeting durations for deeper discussions
- Board members to increase pre-meeting engagement with materials
- Academic Committee to support data dashboard development
- Board to consider supplemental student success metrics
- Steven to share WA Charters advocacy playbook upon receipt
Adrienne Mason welcomed attendees.