Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas
Minutes
Coral Academy of Science Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday September 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Location
8985 S. Eastern Ave. #375
Las Vegas, NV 89123
Posting of Agenda: This agenda has been posted at the following locations:
Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas (“CASLV”) Central Office, CASLV website at www.caslv.org, and Nevada Public Notice website at http://notice.nv.gov.
Format / Procedures / Rules: This is a notice of a public meeting held pursuant to NRS Chapter 241. Members of the public are invited to be present.
Certain items may be removed from open/public consideration if permitted or required by Nevada law. The Board may also (i) take agenda items out of order; (ii) combine two or more items for consideration; (iii) separate one item into multiple items; (iv) table an agenda item to a future meeting; and/or (v) remove an agenda item.
Reasonable efforts will be made to assist and accommodate persons with physical disabilities desiring to attend the meeting. Please contact Ms. Shepard at ashepard@coralacademylv.org at least 48 hours before the time of the meeting, if possible, so that reasonable arrangements may conveniently be made.
Please also contact Ms. Shepard if you would like a copy of the agenda and any public reference materials relating to agenda items. Those materials will also be available at the meeting location. Those materials would provide you with greater context and clarity as to the matters under discussion.
By law, no one may willfully disrupt the meeting to the extent that its orderly conduct becomes impractical.
All items are action or possible action items if denoted as such.
Directors Present
Ann Diggins (remote), Chan Lengsavath, Esq., Dr. Carryn Warren, Elizabeth Kazelskis, Feyzi Tandogan, Melinda Kabar
Directors Absent
Brin Gibson
Guests Present
Andrea Shepard, CASLV Executive Assistant, David Hall, Esq., CASLV Internal Legal Counsel, Dr. Ercan Aydogdu, CASLV Executive Director & CEO, Dr. Mustafa Gunozu, CASLV Chief Academic and School Officer, Jessica Paquin, CASLV School Safety, Security and Student Success Coordinator , Julene Ballard, CASLV Centennial Hills Assistant Principal, Mark Gardberg, Esq., CASLV External Legal Counsel, Monica Patel, DMS Representative (remote), Nick Sarishahin, CASLV Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Selim Tanyeri, CASLV Chief Student Services Officer
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
Ms. Diggins joined the meeting at 5:05 pm.
B.
Public Comment
There were no public comments.
II. Consent Agenda-Facility Finance Committee
A.
Centennial Hills Campus Shade Structure (For Possible Action)
B.
Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Accidents Insurance Renewal (For Possible Action)
C.
Approval of Additional Architect and Civil Engineering Service Request for Nellis Campus Expansion (For Possible Action)
III. Consent Agenda-Academic Committee
A.
Approval of District Student Learning Plan (Read by Grade 3) (For Possible Action)
B.
Amendment and Approval of SESS Contract for the 25-26 School Year (For Possible Action)
IV. Consent Agenda-Regular
A.
August 14, 2025 Special Board Meeting Minutes (For Possible Action)
B.
August 16, 2025 Board Retreat Meeting Minutes (For Possible Action)
C.
September 10, 2025 Finance & Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes (For Possible Action)
D.
September 18, 2025 Academic Committee Meeting (For Possible Action)
E.
Report of Purchases and Expenses Between $10,000 and $25,000 (Information)
V. Information/Discussion Items
A.
Financial Update (Information)
Ms. Patel reported that CASLV is off to a strong financial start through August 2025, with year-to-date revenues of approximately $9.75 million and expenses of $7.81 million. Revenues are tracking at 15% of annual projections, with federal funds not yet received and local revenues steady at 12%. Expenses are roughly 12% of the budget, with salaries and benefits at 10–11% and other categories running below budget. CASLV maintains a strong financial position with 106.41 days of unrestricted cash on hand, demonstrating disciplined expense management and stable cash flow.
B.
Executive Director’s Progress Report (Information)
Dr. Ercan discussed CASLV's accomplishments and shared important updates regarding students and school clubs with the board.
- NDE 2024–2025 NSPF Star Ratings: Cadence Middle: improved to 5 stars (+1). Centennial Elementary: 5 stars (no change), Centennial Middle: 5 stars (no change), Eastgate Elementary: improved to 5 stars (+1), Sandy Ridge High: 5 stars (no change), Sandy Ridge Middle: improved to 5 stars (+2), Tamarus Elementary: improved to 5 stars (+1). Windmill Middle: 5 stars (no change), Nellis AFB Middle: dropped to 4 stars (–1), Cadence Elementary: 3 stars (no change), Windmill Elementary: 3 stars (no change), Nellis AFB Elementary: 2 stars (no change). Highlights: Title I campuses (Cadence Middle and Eastgate Elementary) achieved 5-star ratings. Even the neighboring charter schools having similar demographics received either 2 or 3 star ratings. Centennial Hills earned 5-star ratings in both Elementary and Middle School. Sandy Ridge Middle improved from 3-star to 5-star, now matching Sandy Ridge High. Eastgate and Tamarus both improved to 5-star ratings. Overall, CASLV’s number of 5-star schools increased from 5 to 8. Windmill Middle achieved 5 stars. Nellis AFB Middle achieved 4 stars. 5-Star Celebrations Scheduled: Sept 25, 9 am – Eastgate (Mayor Romero & Senator Buck attending), Sept 30, 9 am – Centennial Hills (Governor Lombardo & Senator Buck attending), Oct 3, 9 am – Sandy Ridge (Mayor Romero & Councilwoman Larson attending), Oct 3, 1 pm – Tamarus (event scheduled)
- New Board President: CASLV announced Chan Lengsavath, Esq. as the new Board President. Dr. Ercan shared a feature of the announcement in Nevada Business Magazine.
- Cognia System Accreditation: Membership onboarding process completed for the Cognia system accreditation for all 7 campuses. Cognia is recognized globally for educational quality and continuous improvement. Next steps on full accreditation journey underway.
- Nevada MTSS Recognition: Centennial Hills – Diamond, Eastgate – Platinum, Nellis AFB – Gold, Cadence – Silver
- U.S. News & World Report 2025 Rankings (Sandy Ridge Campus): #1 Best HS in Henderson, #1 Best Charter School in Nevada, #4 Best HS in Las Vegas, #5 Best HS in Nevada (only non-selective public school in top five), , #106 Best Charter High School in the Nation, and #565 Best High School in the Nation.
- Student Achievements: Sandy Ridge juniors Cason N. and Zoe K. appointed to the Nevada Youth Legislature. Student Ty T. recognized at Stanford’s Japan Day 2025 for research on Japanese–Southeast Asian Relations.
- Back to School Night (Centennial Hills): Parents engaged with teachers and toured classrooms.
- Book Fair (Cadence): Encouraged literacy with themed activities and student participation.
- Fresh Produce Giveaway (Cadence): 9,000 pounds of food which was received from Three Square distributed to the families with student volunteers.
- Fun Run (Centennial Hills): Community-wide event with strong participation and support.
- Next Meeting: October 29, 2025, 4:30 pm at Central Office.
Mr. Gardberg remarked that the news shared was extraordinary, noting that many of his other clients would be thrilled to achieve similar results. He emphasized how fortunate the board is to be seeing such outstanding outcomes. The board concurred and expressed appreciation for the positive update.
VI. Discussion & Possible Action Items- Contracts, Purchases, and Procurements
A.
AB 245 (2023) Power-Based Violence MOU (For Possible Action)
The board reviewed the annual contract between CASLV and Safe House. This agreement provides resources, referrals, and training to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, and teen dating violence. CASLV will provide a link on its website and refer families to Safe House as needed. It was also noted that the agreement has been extended to a two-year term.
B.
Approval of Eastgate Campus Front Entry Remodeling Architect (For Possible Action)
Mr. Nick explained that the proposal is to contract with LGA Architects for $94,000 in design services, to be funded through the Eastgate Bond Financing. The scope of work includes safety improvements, accessibility upgrades, and the addition of classroom space. Two bids were received, with LGA submitting the lowest.
C.
Eastgate Facility Purchase Transaction (For Possible Action)
Dr. Ercan provided an update, previously shared at the Finance & Facilities Committee meeting and included in those minutes, indicating that the school plans to purchase a parcel of road from the City of Henderson (COH). He also included a timeline outlining the steps and schedule for the purchase.
Mr. Gardberg provided a comprehensive review:
Purchase & Sale Agreement: Due diligence revealed no major site issues.
Loan Approval: Terms with EFF were reviewed; anticipated rate approx. 5.2%. The Board authorized Dr. Ercan and Mr. Gardberg to finalize the loan documents.
Neighbor Agreement: Settlement finalized providing permanent separation, landscaping, and elimination of cross-access disputes.
City of Henderson Parcel: Commitment received to sell roadway parcel; appraisal pending.
The board inquired about the binding nature of the COH's letter of intent and risks if sale were delayed. Mr. Gardberg explained contingencies protect CASLV's deposit.
D.
Amendment of the CMAR Pre-Construction Services Agreement for CASLV Nellis Campus Expansion (For Possible Action)
Mr. Nick explained that this request pertains to critical equipment required for the upcoming CASLV Nellis Campus expansion project. Due to significant lead times, 41 weeks for the switchgear and 37 weeks for the transformer, it is recommended that these items be purchased in advance to ensure the project stays on schedule which has already been delayed for 12 months. Approval of this amendment will authorize CORE Construction to proceed with the purchase of the switchgear and transformer prior to final approval of the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). Mr. Nick noted that the total cost of $573,452 will be fully covered by a USAF/DOD grant and will not impact CASLV’s budget.
VII. Discussion/Possible Action Items-Governance/Policies/Finance
A.
2025-2026 Progressive Discipline Plan Based on Restorative Practices (For Possible Action)
Ms. Paquin explained that this is an annual requirement, and that the State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) and Nevada Department of Education (NDE) have introduced new compliance components. The purpose of the update is to ensure alignment with these revised standards. Key additions include a new section on victims’ rights, requirements for parent and student signatures, provisions for continued education during suspension, and an appeal process. There is also a new placeholder section for IEP placement considerations.
A lengthy discussion followed regarding whether victims should be informed of the disciplinary actions taken. Dr. Warren noted that several students have unenrolled after feeling that justice was not served.
B.
Board Committee Structure and Chairs of Committees (For Possible Action)
Mr. Lengsavath explained that, since being elevated to Board President, he would like to delegate some of the committee leadership responsibilities. He currently chairs both the Finance & Facilities Committee and the Governance Committee, in addition to handling all expulsion hearings. While he is willing to continue serving on the committees, he expressed a desire for others to take on the role of chair. Ms. Diggins volunteered to chair the Finance & Facilities Committee, and Ms. Kazelskis agreed to chair the Governance Committee. Mr. Tandogan confirmed his participation on the Governance Committee. Mr. Lengsavath noted that he will continue handling expulsion hearings.
C.
Charter Amendments to Request Updating the Mission Statement and Revising Nellis Campus Enrollment Cap due to Delay on the Expansion (For Possible Action)
Dr. Ercan explained that two charter amendments need to be submitted to the SPCSA. The first one is amendment of the mission statement. The second one relates to a delay in the Nellis campus construction. Due to delay of the supplies like the electrical switch gear, the building will not be ready in time for Fall 2026 opening. Therefore, previously approved enrollment cap increase will be deferred.
D.
Student Records Retention Policy (For Possible Action)
Mr. Nick explained that this is a compliance measure intended to ensure consistency and adherence to regulations, and noted that it has been reviewed by CASLV's internal counsel.
E.
Update of Strategic Plan (For Possible Action)
Dr. Ercan provided updates on several key areas, including progress toward student achievement goals, enrollment growth and retention efforts, staff retention and satisfaction levels, and ACT score benchmarks. He also informed the board on the outcome of the set goals on the strategic plan metrics.
Ms. Diggins commented that the data was very helpful, and the board concurred.
VIII. Closed (Non-Meeting) Sessions
A.
Expulsion of Student(s) (Information, Discussion)
A. Tabled
IX. Potential Action(s) (For Possible Action)
A.
Expulsion Recommendation(s) for Student(s) (re: item VII. A) (For Possible Action)
A. Tabled
X. Public Comments (Information)
A.
Public Comment
There were no public comments.
Call to order was followed by Roll Call and the Pledge of Allegiance