Soleil Academy

Minutes

Soleil Academy Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday May 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Location

12315 Thorson Ave Lynwood, CA. 90262 (Satellite Option: 3900 Agnes Ave. Lynwood, CA 90262)

 

OR

 

Join Zoom Meeting


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Meeting ID: 756 458 5437

Passcode: 155911

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Board Meeting will be held at 12315 Thorson Ave Lynwood, CA. 90262  and on zoom on the above date and time.  During the meeting, the Board will consider, discuss, and may take action upon any of the agenda items listed below.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT – Members of the public calling in or participating via Zoom will be given the opportunity to address the Board during the meeting.  Members of the public who wish to comment during the Board meeting may use the “raise hand” function on the Zoom platform to indicate their desire to speak at the beginning of consideration of that agenda item or during the period provided for comments from the public on non-agenda items.  Members of the public who wish to speak on any item are requested (but not required) to identify themselves and indicate on which agenda item they wish to speak. The Board will provide an opportunity for the public to speak on each agenda item for a maximum of three (3) minutes per person or six (6) minutes if a translation is required.

 

ACCESSIBILITY – If you need special assistance, disability-related modifications, translation, or other reasonable accommodations in order to participate in this meeting, please contact Gricelda Ramirez at (323) 409-0801. Notification at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting will enable Soleil Academy to make arrangements that will ensure accessibility.

Directors Present

J. Noel, K. Armstrong, S. Johnson, V. Gonzalez-Diaz, V. Reynolds

Directors Absent

L. Safa

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

S. Johnson

Ex Officio Members Present

B. Gutierrez, J. Kinoshita

Non Voting Members Present

B. Gutierrez, J. Kinoshita

Guests Present

M. Serrano, R. Avilez

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

J. Noel called a meeting of the board of directors of Soleil Academy to order on Wednesday May 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM.

B.

Record Attendance

S. Johnson arrived at 5:24 PM.

II. Closed Session

A.

Closed Session Summary

The board was given an update on existing litigation. Attorney Ted McNamara was present and no official actions were taken

III. Consent Agenda

A.

Minutes from 4/23/25 Soleil Academy Board Meeting

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve the minutes from 4/23/25 Soleil Academy Board Meeting Soleil Academy Board Meeting on 04-23-25.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Johnson
Absent
L. Safa
Absent

B.

Multi-Year Facilities Use Agreement w/ Lynwood Unified School District

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve Multi-Year Facilities Use Agreement w/ Lynwood Unified School District.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.

Approved pending minor correction of identified typo.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Soleil Student Technology Policy

V. Reynolds made a motion to Soleil Student Technology Policy.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Soleil Promotion & Retention Policy

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve Soleil Promotion & Retention Policy.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Soleil Title IX Policy

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve Soleil Title IX Policy.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Soleil Policy for Education for Homeless and Foster Youth

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve Soleil Policy for Education for Homeless and Foster Youth.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

ExEd Contracts for 25-26 SY

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve ExEd Contracts for 25-26 SY.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

H.

LaTechnet Contract for 25-26 SY

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve LaTechnet Contract for 25-26 SY.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

I.

Harbor Building Maintenance Contract for 25-26 SY

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve Harbor Building Maintenance Contract for 25-26 SY.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

J.

Total Education Solution Contract for 25-26 SY

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve Total Education Solution Contract for 25-26 SY.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

K.

Row Contract for 25-26 SY

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve Row Contract for 25-26 SY.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

L.

Kira Nashed Psychological & Educational Consult Corporation for 25-26 SY

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve Kira Nashed Psychological & Educational Consult Corporation for 25-26 SY.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

M.

Lingual Tree Contract for 25-26 SY

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve Lingual Tree Contract for 25-26 SY.
K. Armstrong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Management Update

A.

Soleil Management Updates

S. Johnson arrived at 5:24 PM.

New actions related to LCAP Goals

  • Goal 1: Cafecitos, Soleil Store, Bee a STAR Program
  • Goal 2: SBAC Testing
  • Goal 3: Know Your Rights Workshop, Community Schools Committee

Operations

  • Schoolwide attendance: 92.10% ADA for Month 10
    • Attendance recovery
      • Soleil will be implementing attendance recovery as an added intervention strategy against chronic absenteeism for the year 25-26.
      • Attendance recovery has been primarily available to District schools, but this year starting July 1, 2025 it will be made available to charter schools. 
      • We have identified 40 students who over the summer will be participating in summer school. These scholars were identified as chronically absent and needing academic supports. 
      • Generate ADA funding for the school and supports our Chronic Absenteeism rate/ Alternative rate will be published
    • Current enrollment is 373
    • 2025-26 New Student Enrollment
      • 147 interest forms received
      • 52 seats offered and accepted
    • 2025-26 New Student Registration
      • 9 fully completed
      • 37 pending additional documents
      • 8 not started
    • 25-26 Student Re-enrollment
      • 296 complete
      • 17 not submitted
      • 8 not returning
    • Re-enrollment strategies: Instagram, ParentSquare, Individual Calls
    • Parent Engagement
      • 5,287 hours of parent engagement for the school year!
      • Star Parent Celebration for 151 families who reach their goal of 20 hours or more.
    • Community Engagement Initiative (CEI Grant)
      • We were selected for cohort 6
      • This initiative provides training opportunities throughout 2 years and also provides schools with a total of 140k of unrestricted funds
    • Upcoming Events: Know Your Rights. Resource Fair, Kinder Culmination Ceremony, 5th Grade Culmination Ceremony, EOY Field Day

V. Governance Committee

A.

Updates

  • 2024-25 Financial Audit Timeline
    1. As part of our required audit procedures, our auditor is required to communicate the scope and timing of this year’s engagement to Soleil management and our board.  
    2. Important Deadlines: 
      1. Final Field Work Due 10/31
      2. Financial Information Due 9/15
      3. State Deadline for Filing 12/15
  • Form 700 (Conflict of Interest disclosure) - Extended due date: June 2.
    1. 50% board completion rate
  • Prospective Board Member - Completed on-campus tour with Executive Director, upcoming conversation with Board Chair
    1. Potential vote in June

B.

Declaration of Need

K. Armstrong made a motion to approve Declaration of Need.
J. Noel seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

2025-26 Board Meeting Calendar

V. Reynolds made a motion to approve 2025-26 Board Meeting Calendar.
J. Noel seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Board Self Evaluation

The board received a survey via Board On Track. Due Date is June 16

E.

Executive Director Evaluation

Will be completed at June Board Meeting

VI. Finance Committee

A.

Updates

B.

April Financials

Enrollment is currently six students below the budgeted target, while Average Daily Attendance (ADA) is 11.33 above the budget. The increase in LCFF Revenue is attributed to a higher In-Lieu of property tax rate.

 

The forecast includes restricted one-time funds, with a portion remaining available for use through fiscal year 2027–28. These remaining funds consist of allocations from Educator Effectiveness and the Learning Recovery Block Grant.

 

We have reduced the amount of Learning Recovery Block Grant revenue applied in the current forecast to preserve these funds for future school years.

 

Net income is currently projected to be positive, and year-end cash is expected to remain strong.

C.

Draft 2025-26 Budget

This draft is based on the preliminary state budget, but will be updated based on the governor's revisions and be ready by the next board meeting.

 

We were able to bring up a positive net income for the 25-26 school year. The team prioritized items such as curriculum, student materials, and instructional software. We were especially mindful about the usage of grants. A buffer was built into the SPED budget based on this year's cost. We were also able to push off usage of the some of the Learning Recovery Grant to later years. Budgeted enrollment is being moderately increased based on trends that we are seeing.

VII. Academic Committee

A.

Updates

i-Ready Highlights

  • 48% of scholars made Typical Growth (1 year of growth)
  • 19% of students made 2 years’ growth (Stretch Growth)
  • Grades K-3 outperformed Grades 4 & 5 
  • 72% of 3rd graders improved their tier placement from BOY to EOY
  • 54% of students are one grade level below 

Key Findings:

  • Targeted Supports for grades 4 & 5 
  • Focus on moving students one level below to grade level. 
  • Push for greater stretch growth in Grades 2-5

Next year's priority plan will likely include development of content experts and responsive teaching

VIII. 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 6:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
J. Noel