Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas
Minutes
Coral Academy of Science Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday December 15, 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, Chan Lengsavath, Esq., Dr. Carryn Warren, Elizabeth Kazelskis, Feyzi Tandogan (remote), Melinda Kabar
Directors Absent
Brin Gibson
Guests Present
Andrea Shepard, CASLV Executive Assistant, Avery Hacker, CORE Construction Project Director , Bridget Johnson-Peevy, CASLV Chief People Officer, Cameron Tate, KNIT Architect Senior Project Specialist, David Hall, Esq., CASLV Legal Counsel, Dr. Ercan Aydogdu, CASLV Executive Director & CEO, Jorge Alarcon, CORE Construction, Mark Gardberg, Esq. CASLV Legal Counsel, Monica Patel, DMS Representative (remote), Nick Sarisahin, Nick Sarishahin, CASLV Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Selim Tanyeri, CASLV Chief Student Services Officer
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Public Comment
Ms. Diggins arrived at 4:41 pm.
II. Consent Agenda
A.
October 29, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes (For Possible Action)
B.
Eastgate Campus Playground Surface (For Possible Action)
C.
Amendment of the Civil Engineering Service Agreement for Nellis Campus Construction (For Possible Action)
D.
Purchase of additional Cameras for Nellis AFB Campus (For Possible Action)
E.
Approval of E-rate Contract (For Possible Action)
F.
Report of Purchases and Expenses Between $10,000 and $25,000 (Information)
Dr. Ercan explained the four purchases presented to the board which are higher than $10,000 and lower than $25,000.
III. Information/Discussion Items
A.
Facilities/Construction Update (Information)
Mr. Nick provided a comprehensive update on the improvement projects. Ms. Kazelskis commented that the improvements she has observed at Tamarus and Sandy Ridge are fantastic.
B.
Financial Update (Information)
Ms. Patel reviewed the financials through the end of November 2025 and noted that CASLV’s year-to-date performance remains well aligned with the approved budget. Revenue and expenditures are tracking appropriately, resulting in a year-to-date net surplus that reflects a strong financial position. This favorable outcome provides flexibility to support ongoing projects and organizational initiatives. Ms. Patel also reviewed the balance sheet and confirmed that the organization’s overall financial stability remains solid.
C.
Executive Director’s Progress Report (Information)
Dr. Ercan discussed CASLV's accomplishments and shared important updates regarding students and school clubs with the board.
End-of-Year Teacher & Staff Appreciation Celebration
- Event scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2026, at The M Resort.
- Sponsorships secured totaling $56,250, including Title, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze level partners.
Nellis AFB Campus Expansion
- Groundbreaking ceremony scheduled at 107 Stafford Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89115 on February 12. 2026.
- Ceremony to begin at 10:00 a.m.
Recognition & Honors
- Henderson principals from Coral Academy’s 5-Star campuses were honored at the Henderson State of the City event by Mayor Michelle Romero.
- Coral Academy was recognized in the Las Vegas Review Journal's Best of Las Vegas 2025, earning Gold awards for Best Elementary, Middle, and High School categories and a Silver award for Best Charter School category.
Student Academic Achievements
- Sandy Ridge AP Capstone Program: 30 students earned AP Capstone Diplomas and 3 students earned AP Seminar & Research Certificates.
- Congressional Awards: Idin T. received a Gold Medal; Julie K. and Roseana B. received Silver Medals.
- Roseana B. earned a full QuestBridge scholarship to Stanford University.
- Class of 2025 achieved a 99.4% graduation rate, with 77% of seniors earning an Advanced Diploma or higher.
Academic Competitions & Clubs
- Sandy Ridge Model UN earned Best Small Delegation at the MAVMIN IV Conference, with multiple individual student awards.
- Cadence and Windmill campuses' Speech & Debate teams earned multiple 1st–3rd place finishes at regional tournaments.
- Robotics teams across Cadence, Windmill, Centennial Hills, and Nellis AFB campuses earned Excellence, Teamwork, Design, and Skills awards, with several teams qualifying for the US Open Tournament in Iowa.
- Cadence campus Archery team placed seven students in the top ten at the Autumn Blues Tournament.
Athletics
- Sandy Ridge campus Middle School Soccer Team won the Valley Athletic Conference Championship.
- Windmill campus Elementary School Soccer Team won the Valley Athletic Conference Championship.
Community & Enrichment Events
- CASLV will sponsor the 2026 Block Kids Building Competition.
- Raiders Holiday Salute hosted at Nellis AFB campus with over 800 community members attending.
- Eastgate Campus celebrated the opening of a new playground through partnerships with KABOOM and the CarMax Foundation.
- Culture Nights, Friendsgiving, Veterans Day celebrations, talent shows, fall festivals, harvest festivals, and Trunk-or-Treat events were held across campuses.
- Students from the Cadence campus volunteered with the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation as part of community service efforts.
Educational Trips & Leadership Engagement
- Sandy Ridge and Cadence campuses' students participated in educational trips to Zion National Park.
- Senator Carrie Buck and Rear Admiral Joaquin J. Martinez de Pinillos visited Sandy Ridge and Cadence campuses respectively to engage with students.
Next Meeting
January 21, 2026, at 4:30 p.m., Central Office.
IV. Discussion & Possible Action Items- Contracts, Purchases, and Procurements
A.
Construction Company Contract and Construction Guaranteed Maximum Price for Nellis Campus Expansion Project (GMP) (For Possible Action)
Mr. Nick explained that, as the Board is aware, the team has been working on the overall design and construction Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for over a year. Mr. Tate with KNIT Architects, presented the overall design and final GMP to the Board. Mr. Nick noted that once the GMP is approved, construction will begin. The construction process is anticipated to start at the end of January and will take approximately two years to complete.
Mr. Tate provided a progress update to inform the Board of the current status of the design. He confirmed that all programmed spaces have been maintained and that all classroom sizes are consistent with the final design and GMP. The Board reviewed professional renderings of various spaces, including outdoor areas featuring ample shading, vegetation, and artificial turf consistent with current design trends across the valley. Renderings of classrooms and student common areas were also presented, along with a full gymnasium featuring six basketball courts, volleyball capability, and telescopic bleachers. A new cafeteria with a full kitchen is included in the project.
Mr. Tate also reviewed plans to remodel the existing building, including the addition of canopies and entrance modifications to improve traffic separation. Outdoor play areas were discussed in detail, including the addition of enhanced shading. Additional site elements were reviewed, such as the stop-and-go lane, a roundabout serving the entire campus, kitchen delivery zones, and outdoor classroom areas organized by grade level.
Mr. Tate explained that during the early design phase, KNIT Architects completed the programming and, during the design development phase, engaged CORE Construction for pre-design construction services. The initial estimated project budget was $66.5 million. After evaluating cost escalation and project priorities, the team reduced the budget to $63 million without eliminating any scope or key programming elements. Between the 95% design phase and the GMP package, the budget was further reduced to $56.3 million for the final GMP. Mr. Tate noted that this amount aligns with available grant funding and maintains all programmed scope, with minor adjustments such as scaling back some landscaping.
To address acoustic considerations associated with the campus’s location on the base, an acoustic engineer was engaged to integrate sound-mitigating features into the building materials. Mr. Tate explained that this approach resulted in both improved acoustic performance and cost savings. He emphasized that the mitigation of aircraft noise will create a noticeable improvement in the learning environment.
Mr. Lengsavath referenced the Finance & Facilities Committee presentation and noted that there were significant changes to the gymnasium and cafeteria areas. Mr. Tate provided additional clarification and details regarding those changes. Mr. Tate and Mr. Hacker also responded to various questions from Board members and reviewed the timeline/summary schedule in detail.
B.
CASLV End-of-Year Teacher and Staff Celebration Venue Payment (For Possible Action)
Dr. Ercan explained that the venue secured for the event is a better option due to several factors, including its location and parking availability. Additionally, a significant discount was negotiated, which is expected to lower overall costs this year and result in a reduced cost per staff guest. Attendance for staff members will be provided at no cost; however, guests attending with staff members will be charged. An application was submitted for a venue credit of up to $50,000, though it is anticipated that the final amount will be less. Dr. Ercan requested approval for expenses up to $60,000.
Dr. Ercan also informed the Board that $56,250 in sponsorships has already been secured, and with the addition of Howard & Howard’s donation, total sponsorship support is expected to be approximately $66,000. The event is planned for a minimum of 350 attendees, with the venue having the capacity to accommodate up to 500 if needed.
V. Discussion/Possible Action Items-Governance/Policies/Finance
A.
Nellis AFB Campus Return to Good Standing (For Possible Action)
Dr. Ercan informed the Board that both Mr. Lengsavath and Dr. Ercan received a letter from the State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) stating that the notice of breach has been removed and CASLV is now in full good standing.
The SPCSA invited CASLV to attend its Board meeting, which Dr. Ercan attended remotely. Dr. Ercan explained that the star rating is based on the Nevada Department of Education’s (NDE) Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF), while the SPCSA uses its own academic framework. Under the SPCSA framework, 50 points are allocated for NSPF scores; CASLV Nellis AFB campus received 28.9 points. Schools are also compared to neighborhood schools for academic performance, for which the rubric allows up to 15 points; CASLV Nellis AFB campus received the full 15 points.
Dr. Ercan also reviewed the SPCSA reduction criteria for chronic absenteeism. CASLV Nellis AFB campus received 5 out of 5 points, as chronic absenteeism was reduced from 11.5% to 6.3%. Under SPCSA regulations, if a school receives a three-star rating or meets the standards of SPCSA's Academic Performance Framework, the notice of breach is removed. Dr. Ercan was pleased to report that the breach of contract has been removed and CASLV is now in full good standing.
Information only, no action taken.
VI. Public Comments (Information)
A.
Public Comment
No public comments.
No public comment.