Soleil Academy
Minutes
Soleil Academy Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday February 25, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Location
12315 Thorson Ave Lynwood, CA. 90262 (Satellite Option: 3900 Agnes Ave. Lynwood, CA 90262)
OR
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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Board Meeting will be held at 3900 Agnes 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
B. Weinstein-Sanders, E. Funes, K. Armstrong, S. Johnson
Directors Absent
L. Safa, V. Reynolds
Ex Officio Members Present
B. Gutierrez
Non Voting Members Present
B. Gutierrez
Guests Present
R. Avilez
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
II. Consent Agenda
A.
Minutes from 1/31/26 Soleil Academy Board Meeting
B.
Financial Audit Vendor
C.
Annual Review of Comprehensive School Safety Plan for the 26-27 School Year
R. Avilez reviewed the revisions that were made to the Safety Plan.
D.
Immigration Policies
R. Avilez provided context for the approval of the Immigration Policies.
E.
Amended 2026–2027 Academic Calendar
III. Finance Committee
A.
Review of Financials
A. Grant provided a pre-recorded presentation of the financial. He provided a high-level overview of enrollment and attendance trends and references the use and availability of restricted one-time funds. On the expense side, he highlighted a few areas where costs are running above budget, particularly related to staffing coverage and employee benefits. He also provided an overall outlook on the year-end financial position and cash balance.
B.
2nd Interim Report
R. Avilez presented the 2nd Interim Report, highlighting it is essentially a reflection of the financials presented in a different format.
C.
Updates
B. Gutierrez presented three potential goals: securing a facility reserve, increasing board financial understanding, and developing a framework for household-based budget planning. The board members expressing support for these objectives while requesting more specific cost details for facility options.
IV. Management Update
A.
Soleil Management Updates
R. Avilez reviewed enrollment and attendance, noting stable enrollment and an improved attendance rate compared to the previous year. He highlighted efforts by the operations team to strengthen attendance and mentioned that the academic calendar was aligned with other schools to help reduce scheduling conflicts. Chronic absenteeism monitor figures were reviewed, showing there is an improvement from last year.
The board was informed of upcoming events.
B.
LCAP Mid Year Update
B. Gutierrez presented mid-year student outcomes and implementation progress, highlighting improvements in chronic absenteeism, English learner performance, and academic achievement. She noted that while some areas such as EL performance remain a focus, the school has made significant gains in school climate and is meeting several MPO goals. She also discussed professional development efforts, family engagement structures, and budget allocation for initiatives targeting high-need student populations.
Other updates covered teacher credentialing progress, student assessment performance compared with the district, and current attendance trends. Beatriz also discussed how attendance has improved following challenges during the pandemic due to targeted interventions.
V. Academic Committee
A.
Updates
B. Gutierrez stated Soleil is engaging in progress monitoring and working on the spring testing plan, with academic outcomes to be discussed at the next meeting
VI. Governance
A.
Updates
B. Gutierrez reminded the group about an upcoming deadline for required form submissions and provided updates on renewal preparation, including policy work and plans for a mock renewal interview. Board goal updates were reviewed.
The board discussed several key topics, including the need for Mandated Reporter training and the upcoming board retreat. The Governance Committee has been working on tracking board effectiveness and refining retreat structures.
B.
Board Member Resignation
It was announced that Lyris Safa has resigned. The Board expressed gratitude for Safa's contributions to the board.
VII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
The board agreed to consider collapsing the March or April board meeting due to scheduling conflicts and to allow more time for reviewing finance committee materials.
R .Avilez provided context for the approval of the financial audit vendor- CLA.