Carla McCullough asked for closed session to be moved to the front of the agenda.

No public comment was noted.

There was nothing to report from the Board.

There was nothing to report from the CEO/Superintendent.

There was nothing to report from the Assistant Superintendents.

    Executive Director of Special Education Lynn Rodriguez report to the board that on February 6, 2026, two special education teachers participated in a full-day Level 2 Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training. During the session, they contributed a unique lens and provided specific questions to the larger group of trainees. Following this, on February 11, the team attended a webinar focused on the accessibility resources available for CAASPP testing.

There was nothing to report regarding facilities updates.

    Principal Naomi Lara provided the board a comprehensive update on school demographics, student performance, and recent campus activities. As of February 2026, the school serves a high-need student population, with 162 total students. Notably, 16% of students are current or former foster youth, 25% have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and 12% are experiencing homelessness. Attendance data shows that the 2025-26 average daily attendance (ADA) remains stable at 72.92%, showing significant improvement over historical lows during the 2020-2023 period.

    The presentation highlights several strategic partnerships and academic initiatives, most notably a collaboration with the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. This partnership involved a cross-sector learning exchange where RISE students in the CTE Health Sciences Pathway co-designed virtual patients to strengthen clinical reasoning skills. Other recent activities included a CSUDH college tour focusing on the Guardian Scholar Program and specialized training for staff in crisis prevention and CAASPP accessibility resources.

    Looking ahead, the school has established a clear assessment timeline for the spring, covering ELPAC, NWEA MAP, and CAASPP/CAST testing through June 2026. The school also welcomed five new staff members, referred to as "RISE Revolutionaries," including case managers, behavior interventionists, and paraeducators. The presentation concluded by celebrating these staff members and their commitment to trauma-informed models that help youth succeed.

    Principal Naomi Lara reported to the board that the Midyear LCAP Update for the 2025-26 school year highlights significant progress and ongoing challenges across five primary goals focused on academic achievement, school climate, and student outcomes. Attendance and graduation rates show positive trends, with 60% of students either maintaining high attendance or improving from the previous year, and the DASS 1-year cohort graduation rate increasing by 16.5% to 47.1%. Academic performance in ELA and Math, while still below standard, showed improvement on the 2025 CA School Dashboard, earning Orange ratings with increases of 70.8 points and 43.5 points, respectively.

    The school continues to prioritize a supportive environment, maintaining "Exemplary" ratings for facilities and high student safety survey results. Efforts in parent and educational partner engagement are strong, with 100% of surveyed families feeling welcome to participate in the school. For high-need student populations, the 5-year rolling average graduation rate reached 62% for foster youth and 81% for homeless students. However, midyear focus areas identify a cohort dropout rate concern, as 57% of students who withdrew prior to the end of Q2 were reported as dropouts or unaccounted for. To address these areas, the school is implementing targeted interventions, including credit recovery, specialized academic plans, and career education opportunities to improve overall college and career readiness.

    CFO Michael Amato provided a comprehensive financial update for RISE, noting that the organization is currently halfway through its fiscal year as of December 31st. Overall, the organization remains on track with its initial budget projections. The balance sheet reflects a strong cash position of $1.926 million, significantly higher than the $900,000 in reserves held at the start of the year. This surplus is primarily attributed to grant funding received but not yet spent, which is currently generating interest. Other balance sheet items, including $361,000 in accounts receivable and capital assets like the RISE van, remain within normal operating ranges.

    While the financials currently show a temporary decrease of just over $160,000, Amato explained this is a standard timing issue caused by front-loaded expenses in the first half of the year. He expects the year-end figures to reach a break-even point or better, especially as student enrollment and Average Daily Attendance (ADA) percentages are trending higher than his conservative forecasts. This positive trend is expected to result in a funding increase in the upcoming second interim report.

The approval of the minutes from the January 21, 2026 regular board meeting was tabled to the next board meeting.

The board moved into closed session at 6:11 PM.

The board returned from closed session at 6:44PM.