No public comments were noted.

The Board expressed its appreciation to the school executive team and site leadership for their thoughtful and comprehensive presentation at the Wiseburn school meeting regarding the material revision hearing. Board members acknowledged the clarity, preparation, and professionalism demonstrated throughout the presentation, noting that the information provided allowed for a thorough understanding of the proposed revisions and their intended impact on students and the broader school community.

The Board also commended the leadership team for their responsiveness to questions and their commitment to transparency and continuous improvement. Members shared their gratitude for the collaborative approach taken to engage RISE community stakeholders.

Superintendent/CEO Matt Wunder provided a brief update highlighting ongoing organizational priorities and progress across RISE. He expressed appreciation for the executive team and school leadership teams, recognizing their tireless focus and dedication in preparing for upcoming charter reauthorization presentations. The CEO emphasized that this work reflects a strong commitment to accountability, continuous improvement, and ensuring high-quality outcomes for students, while reinforcing confidence in the schools’ readiness for the reauthorization process.

Assistant Superintendents Erin Whalen and Michelle Rainey reported to the school board that the RISE team is making strong progress with state testing, sharing that 62% of students have already completed their assessments. They acknowledged the collective effort of staff and partners in preparing for the upcoming charter reauthorization presentations, noting the level of coordination and commitment across the team. The Assistant Superintendents also expressed gratitude to board members for their continued advocacy and support of RISE, recognizing their important role in advancing the school’s mission.

Executive Director of Special Education Lynn Rodriguez informed the board that the Special Education department has been busy responding to multiple records requests. Additionally, she let the board know that RISE recently went through a CIM review and the school was found to be in compliance.

Assistant Superintendent Vincente Bravo updated the board on the progress that the facilities dept. has been making in preparing for upcoming events such as graduation.  He explained that his department remains ready should anything be needed.

Principal Naomi Lara provided a comprehensive overview of RISE High’s current status, highlighting student demographics, attendance trends, assessment updates, and upcoming school activities. She explained that the school currently serves 166 students, including notable populations of youth with foster care involvement (15%), students experiencing homelessness (13%), and students with individualized education needs (25% with IEPs), along with 20% identified as English Learners. Principal Lara also reviewed multi-year attendance data, emphasizing a strong recovery from pandemic-related declines, with the 2025–26 school year showing consistent attendance rates in the low-to-mid 70% range—an encouraging improvement compared to previous years. She outlined upcoming spring assessments, including CAASPP, CAST, ELPAC, and NWEA testing beginning in late April, underscoring the school’s focus on monitoring academic progress. Additionally, she shared updates on the Quarter 4 launch, outcomes from the Foster Youth Services Program (FSP) site visit, and plans for upcoming senior events and celebrations. Principal Lara concluded by recognizing team achievements and welcoming a new members of the school, reflecting both the school’s progress and its strong sense of community.

CFO Michael Amato reported to the board that the February financial report reflects an overall stable and positive financial position for the organization, with no immediate concerns. The balance sheet shows a strong cash position, driven largely by approximately $1.6 million in deferred revenue from grant funds that have been received but not yet spent. While cash levels are temporarily high, they are expected to decrease as planned expenses are incurred throughout the remainder of the year. Accounts receivable, at $337,000, remains within a normal and manageable range. Despite a temporary year-to-date deficit of about $270,000, the organization is on track to meet its goal of ending the year slightly above break-even, with a projected surplus of around $8,000. Reserve levels remain solid, expected to increase slightly from $911,000 to approximately $915,000–$920,000 by year-end.

On the revenue side, Mr. Amato reported that improved attendance has had a positive financial impact. Actual average daily attendance (ADA) came in higher than projected (109.15 vs. 106.5), resulting in an estimated $50,000 increase in funding. This allows the organization to rely less on restricted grant funds, preserving those resources—such as approximately $310,000 in ERC funds—for future use. Expenses are tracking as expected, and no significant variances have been identified. While planning for next year’s budget is still underway and dependent on program and authorization decisions, leadership expressed confidence that there will be no financial stability issues moving forward. Overall, the organization is maintaining healthy reserves, managing expenses effectively, and benefiting from stronger-than-expected revenue performance.

The board moved into closed session at 6:57PM to discuss pending litigation.

The board reconvened from closed session at 7:24PM with nothing to report.