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Excel Academy Rhode Island

Board of Trustees Meeting

Published on August 29, 2026 at 12:56 AM EDT

Date and Time

Wednesday September 2, 2026 at 6:00 PM EDT

Location

Excel Academy Rhode Island High School

291 Westminster St., 5th Floor

Providence, RI 02903

Meeting notice posted publicly on 8/29/26.

 

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 6:00 PM
  A. Record Attendance Discuss Arthur Kaynor
  B. Call the Meeting to Order Discuss Channavy Chhay 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 June 2, 2026  
II. Academic Oversight
 

N/A - No discussion or voting topics at this meeting. We encourage all Board members to attend the Academic Oversight Committee meeting on Monday, November 9 at 5:30pm.

  
III. CEO Report 6:03 PM
  A. CEO Report Discuss Owen Stearns 15 m
   
  • Updates on the start of the school year, high school launch, fundraising, real estate, and Board recruitment
  • Excel's Board recruitment overview and Board Member JD are attached for reference.
  
IV. Real Estate 6:18 PM
  A. Approve Real Estate Resolutions Vote Arthur Kaynor 3 m
   
  • Vote to approve Stage 2 Necessity of School Construction Application Resolutions.
  
V. Governance 6:21 PM
  A. Authorize Treasurer to submit annual report filing Vote Arthur Kaynor 1 m
   
  • Vote to re-authorize the Treasurer to submit filings with the Rhode Island Secretary of State on behalf of the organization reflecting its current information and membership, including annual report filings between February 1 and May 1 and any other mid-year filings that may be necessary.
  
  B. Annual Review of Executive Session Minutes Vote Arthur Kaynor 1 m
   
  • Vote to determine, following review, that the executive-session minutes dated January 30, 2025 should continue to be sealed and withheld from public disclosure because the student-privacy and school-safety considerations supporting nondisclosure remain applicable, subject to future review as required by law.
  
  C. Ratify Annual Policies, Manuals, and Handbooks; Approve Civil Law Enforcement Policy Vote Arthur Kaynor 15 m
   
  • Vote to ratify the SY26-27 policies, manuals, and handbooks listed in the enclosed annual review protocol and available here, subject to any necessary edits or corrections.
  • Vote to approve the Policy and Public Procedures for Interactions with Civil Law Enforcement.
  • Receive annual training on the Board’s role under the Title IX Policy.
  
  D. Approve Updated Leadership Evaluation Protocols Vote Arthur Kaynor 5 m
   
  • Vote to approve updated Head of School and CEO & CMO Evaluation Protocols.
  • Note: the updates clarify roles and maintain alignment across Excel’s three Boards. There are no notable changes to the Excel RI Board’s role.
  • Next step: complete input survey by Wednesday, September 16.
  
  E. Renew CMO Agreement Vote Arthur Kaynor & Chiv Heng 10 m
   
  • Vote to approve the renewed CMO Agreement and Services and Fee Addendum between Excel Academy Rhode Island and Friends of Excel Academy Charter Schools, Inc., authorize the Treasurer to approve any non-substantive or authorizer-required revisions, and execute the final agreements on behalf of the Board, provided that the agreement will become effective only upon charter renewal, with the agreement's term conforming to the renewal term approved by the Rhode Island Council of Elementary & Secondary Education.

Notes:

  • This is a routine renewal that does not change the fundamental relationship between Excel RI and Friends. The management fee decreases from 14% to 12.25%, as planned.
  • A summary of changes is attached.
  • The agreement was reviewed by the Excel RI and Friends of Excel Treasurers and independent counsel for each Board.
  
  F. Update on Charter Renewal Process & Timeline Discuss Arthur Kaynor 2 m
VI. Finance 6:55 PM
  A. Approve Banking Resolutions Vote Aaron Stelson 3 m
   
  • Vote to approve resolutions authorizing new banking and investment accounts, subject to Treasurer approval.
  
  B. FYI - Reminder about FY26 Annual Audit FYI Arthur Kaynor
   

Excel MA & Friends of Excel Audit Review & Approval Meeting

  • Thursday, Oct. 22 via Teams, 8:30-10am
  • Excel RI FC optionally attending for informational and collaborative purposes

 

Excel RI Audit Review & Approval Meeting

  • Wednesday, Dec. 2 at CSEA, 5:30-7pm
  • Excel MA & Friends FC optionally attending for informational and collaborative purposes
  
VII. Board Engagement
 

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

  
VIII. Other Business
 

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

  
IX. Closing Items 6:58 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Channavy Chhay 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.