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Excel Academy Rhode Island

Board of Trustees Meeting

Published on April 6, 2026 at 3:22 PM EDT

Date and Time

Thursday April 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM EDT

Location

Center for Southeast Asians

270 Elmwood Ave

Providence, RI 02907

Meeting notice posted publicly on 4/3/26.

 

Please note: All items listed on the agenda are subject to a possible vote by the Board of Trustees. 

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 5:30 PM
  A. Record Attendance Discuss Arthur Kaynor
  B. Call the Meeting to Order Discuss Brett Smiley 1 m
  C. Public Comment Discuss Arthur Kaynor 1 m
  D. Approve Prior Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Arthur Kaynor 1 m
    Approve minutes for Board of Trustees Meeting on February 4, 2026  
II. Academic Oversight 5:33 PM
  A. High School Planning Updates Discuss Kate Ring 20 m
  B. Preview of Academic Oversight Committee / SIT Meeting FYI Arthur Kaynor 1 m
   

Please note that the Academic Oversight Committee and School Improvement Team will meet on April 15th to review and update the school's LEA Strategic Plan. All Board members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

  
III. Governance 5:54 PM
  A. Approve New Board Member: Jenna Silver Vote Liz Giordano 10 m
  B. Approve Updated Enrollment Policy Vote Arthur Kaynor 5 m
   
  • Vote to approve updated enrollment policy with any necessary edits or corrections, including any that may be required by RIDE.
  
  C. XLRI Charter Renewal Update FYI Arthur Kaynor 1 m
   

Timeline:

  • March 25: Application and all supporting documents submitted
  • April 15-17: Renewal Inspection Site Visit
    • Thank you to Channavy, Chiv, Frangely, and Jamie for representing the Board!
  • Summer: RIDE's draft renewal recommendation and opportunity for Excel to respond
  • Fall: Council of Education meeting to vote on RIDE's recommendation
  
  D. Reminder: Annual Disclosures FYI Arthur Kaynor 1 m
   

Reminder: The RI Ethics Commission sends your annual disclosure forms via mail, and the forms are due back to the Ethics Commission by the last Friday in April (4.24.26). You can submit your disclosures online. Please contact Arthur Kaynor if you have not received your disclosure paperwork yet or have questions about completing this requirement. Thank you!

  
IV. Real Estate 6:11 PM
  A. Real Estate Updates & Votes Discuss Real Estate Team 20 m
   
  • Real Estate Updates
  • Real Estate Votes:
    • Ratify enclosed Purchase & Sale Agreement.
    • Approve increasing the initial budget for diligence and design on the high school facility and a related gym project from $500k to $750k.
    • Approve a budget of up to $4M for land acquisition (see confidential memo and attached resolutions).
    • Approve a budget of up to $1.5M for construction necessary for Summer 2026 occupancy.
      • This budget will be reduced if construction is only for temporary swing space.
      • Excel RI will likely finance this construction directly with recently received grant funding.
  
V. Finance 6:31 PM
  A. Ratify CSP Grant Application & Reimbursement Requests Vote Arthur Kaynor 2 m
   
  • Authorize the Chair to submit a CSP (Charter School Program) application on behalf of the Excel Academy Rhode Island Board.
  • Authorize the CEO and Director of Development & Governance to submit CSP grant reimbursement requests on behalf of Excel Academy Rhode Island.
  
  B. FY27 Budget Process Update FYI Arthur Kaynor 1 m
   

Please note that the Finance Committee will be meeting on April 15th to review a draft budget for FY27 (School Year 26-27). Non-Committee Board members are welcome to participate each year in the school's budget planning process. Please reach out to Arthur Kaynor if you would like to meet with a member of the Finance Team to learn more about the budget. Following the Finance Committee meeting, a budget proposal memo will be circulated to Excel's three Boards in advance of their May and June meetings when each Board will vote to approve its respective budget for FY27.

  
VI. Board Engagement & Development 6:34 PM
  A. Upcoming Events Discuss Arthur Kaynor 1 m
   

Campus Visit Schedule

  • 10/28 (RI) and 10/22 (MA)
  • 11/17 (MA)
  • 1/26 (RI) and 1/28 (MA)
  • 2/3 (MA), 2/9 (RI), 2/10 (MA) with Rep. Tyler, 2/12/26 with City Councilor, 2/26 (MA)
  • 3/9 (MA)
  • 3/18 (RI)
  • Scheduling additional dates - please stay tuned!

Other Events

  • 9/9/25 - MCPSA Board Training on Advocacy in MA
  • 9/16/25 - RIEC Voter Registration Campaign Kick-Off, 5-7pm at Roger Williams Park Casino in Providence
  • 9/30/25 - Joint Committee on Education Hearing on various bills in MA
  • 10/25/25 - 2nd Annual Family Community Resource Fair, 12:00 PM-3:00 PM at Excel Academy Charter High School
  • 11/12/25 - MA Legislative Hearing on various bills
  • 1/29/26 - Charter 101 Zoom Session
  • 2/3/26 - MA Commissioner Assembly at XLHS
  • 2/6/26 - Excel MA Board meeting with Annual CAPS Update (XLRI & Friends Board members invited optionally)
  • 3/17/26 - Charter 101 Zoom Session (thank you for co-hosting, Liz!)
  • 3/25/26 - Foundation Site Visit to XLHS
  • 4/7/26 - Foundation Site Visit to XLHS
  • 4/15/26-4/17/26 - RIDE Site Visit to XLRI
  • 5/29/26 - Signing Day Ceremony at XLHS, 10:45-11:45am
  • 6/2/26 - Board Dinner in Rhode Island at 7:15pm
  • 6/11/26 - XLHS Graduation Ceremony at Leader Bank Pavilion, 5-7pm
  
VII. Other Business
 

N/A - No voting or discussion topics at this meeting.

  
VIII. Closing Items 6:35 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Brett Smiley 1 m

The public is welcome to attend any meeting of the Board of Trustees or its subcommittees. If communication assistance (readers/ interpreters/captions) or any other accommodations are needed to ensure equal participation, please contact Arthur Kaynor at akaynor@excelacademy.org at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting. Any changes in the agenda will be posted on Excel Academy Charter School’s website, Excel’s principal place of business, and will be electronically filed with the Secretary of State at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting. If you would like to attend a Board meeting and provide public comment, please sign up 48 hours in advance here: https://forms.gle/7315BJ7v1bHGGh2Q9.

 

Excel Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, country of ancestral origin, or veteran status in administration of its admissions or educational policies, curricular programs, other school-administered programs, or in its hiring and employment practices in accordance with applicable federal, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island laws and regulations.