Ms. Holley shared a special mission moment highlighting her students' achievement in mastering the writing of their first paragraph. These paragraphs were laminated and proudly displayed on the students' work wall to celebrate their progress.

Latonya Jackson provided a brief overview of the March financials, reporting that all indicators are being met and the net operating profit has been exceeded. She noted that the finance committee discussed lending readiness and the current financial position. Paul Greenwood will review the budget and present it to the board in April, with final approval expected in May.

The 2025–2026 school calendar was not approved at this meeting; however, updates and potential changes were discussed."

A proposed updated salary schedule was included in the board packet for discussion purposes. The goal was to ensure the schedule reflected the ARCH structure and included opportunities for incentivized teacher pay.

Dr. West provided a brief update on current enrollment, noting a slight decrease since the last meeting.

Mr. Stiles presented the most recent enrollment figures and the number of new applications. He discussed the need to readjust goals due to falling short of the targets set for March. He also outlined plans to intensify efforts and implement a focused campaign to meet the current enrollment goals.

Ms. Holley explained that, due to lower student enrollment and frequent mid-year transfers, it is necessary to adjust the school’s growth goals. Since growth is measured from the beginning to the end of the academic year, these enrollment fluctuations affect how student progress is assessed. As a result, revisions to both the overall achievement goals and driver metrics are being considered.

She also outlined four key levers for improving student outcomes, with a particular focus on utilizing exit ticket trackers during test preparation to target specific standards and skills identified through NWEA data. By disaggregating this data by cohort, the team aims to drive measurable gains in both achievement and growth by year’s end.

To support these efforts, Ms. Holley highlighted the use of fun and engaging strategies, such as a school-wide competition and a pep rally, to boost student motivation and improve attendance.

Dr. Russell-West provided an update on the Letter of Intent for 1601 Washington. Although the letter has been submitted, the process is currently on hold due to concerns about the school’s borrowing capacity in light of current enrollment levels. The team is actively working with EFS, a lender that specializes in supporting growing charter schools, to gain a clearer understanding of borrowing requirements. However, based on current projections, securing financing does not appear feasible at this time. Lending options are being explored for the next school year or beyond.

A test fit of the current facility was also completed to evaluate its ability to meet future needs. Additionally, the team visited 4324 Margaretta, a property owned by a local church. While the pastor is enthusiastic about having the space occupied, the building requires substantial investment. This opportunity is being considered carefully within the context of broader financial planning and facilities evaluation.

Dr. Russell-West also discussed updates to the school’s organizational chart, designed to improve efficiency and strengthen management structures. The goal is to fill key leadership positions by April and to hire the majority of the teaching staff by May, with the support of a consultant overseeing the hiring process.

Additionally, the proposal for the Pre-K expansion has been submitted and is currently awaiting approval. This expansion will increase the number of available seats, and the school plans to pursue grant funding to support the addition of new Pre-K classrooms.