No members of the public.

The board formally acknowledged the departure of Chris Taylor, expressing immense gratitude for his service. Lida, Carla, and Tom all lauded his diligent contributions, particularly how his non-education background brought a valuable, fresh perspective, focusing on metrics and impactful changes. Chris was presented with a small token of appreciation. He shared that it had been an honor to serve and that contributing to the lives of the students, who reminded him of himself, brought him great pleasure. Chris affirmed his need to depart but expressed a desire to remain in touch and participate remotely when possible. Matthew Wunder also later mentioned the possibility of Chris remaining on the board pending legal review.

Matthew Wunder had no updates to report, other than the potential for Chris Taylor to remain on the board.

Board Meeting Preparations and Curriculum: Naomi is finalizing plans for the upcoming board meeting on August 13th, where they will present on curriculum instruction and an overview of their "Road to Renewal" with major benchmarks. This will be a more comprehensive presentation, especially for new board members.

Enrollment and Outreach Efforts: Current enrollment stands at approximately 136 students. Nine additional prospective students from the referral list have submitted applications, bringing the total to 145. To boost numbers, information sessions will be held at both the Richstone site (July 22nd) and A Place Called Home (next Thursday), and application support will be provided for re-enrollment. They are actively exploring multiple strategies to increase enrollment.

Operational Adjustments and Virtual Support: Carla McCullough raised the need for a contingency plan. Naomi is collaborating with Michelle to rework processes using Subject.com to enhance fully virtual and asynchronous models. They've also revised the bell schedule to build in more instructional time and dedicated periods for asynchronous/remote student support, aiming for a sustainable schedule where teachers can support virtual learners. They are also working with Sharefest to provide virtual mentorship on Wednesdays.

Capacity: Naomi clarified that the APCH site has an in-person capacity of 50-60 students (100-130 virtually), while the Richstone site can accommodate a maximum of 85 students (45 preferred on-site) for in-person/virtual learning.

Fiscal Year End (June 30, 2025): Preliminary unaudited actuals are close to second interim projections, showing a net increase to net assets of approximately $113,000. Final numbers will be presented in August.

Grant Funding: The Deutsch Foundation awarded an $80,000 grant for general operating support, geared towards increasing enrollment and addressing chronic absenteeism. This grant was not in the 2025-2026 budget but will be incorporated through revision.

State Funding: Everything is on track for 2025-2026 state funding. There is a one-month payment deferral from June 1st to July 1st, 2026, which will not affect their financial situation. They continue to monitor potential impacts from wildfire costs and federal funding changes, and are watching AB 84 and SB 441 regarding non-classroom-based schools.

Federal Title Funds: The federal government intends to withhold Title I, II, and IV funds. While this is being challenged in court (with ten states sponsoring a bill), Michael views it as a temporary withholding. The $60,000 in question will not impact cash flow, as it's a small percentage of the overall $4 million budget. Lida requested a historical distribution schedule for Title funds at the next meeting. Michael reiterated that while the budget may need revision, it is not reliant on federal funds, ensuring cash flow stability.

New Site Exploration: No new updates on the potential new site. Michael will provide an update at the next meeting.

Transportation and Vehicle Maintenance: All current van maintenance, including tire care and full point inspections, is up to date, preparing them for the next year.

Vehicle Expansion: They are exploring the acquisition of two new vans, one for RISE and another for 201, due to high demand for athletics, field trips, real-world learning, internships, and student transportation.

Cost-Effectiveness: Vicente highlighted the cost-effectiveness of using vans for transportation compared to renting buses and is analyzing the savings. More staff members are also being trained as drivers.

This item will be deferred and tabled until the August 13th agenda for revisiting then, pending further legal clarification regarding Chris Taylor's potential continued participation.