STEM School Highlands Ranch

Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting

Monthly Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday January 6, 2026 at 5:30 PM

Location

8920 Barrons Blvd

P-TECH Mechatronics Room

Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://zoom.us/j/95825391000?pwd=msncIVBra97QrHttP6dmqMTMcpbaV9.1 

Passcode:771384

Directors Present

A. Campbell (remote), C. Gustafson, C. Wroblewski (remote), D. Lomelino (remote), E. Quigley, G. Wing, I. Kalra, K. Leung, R. Lukez

Directors Absent

None

Guests Present

A. Cardinal, Chris Damour, L. Kovalesky (remote), Laurie Veldhuizen, M. Cartier, Maura Ridder, Michelle Gasser (remote), Ryan Alsup, S. Milner

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

C. Gustafson called a meeting of the board of directors of STEM School Highlands Ranch to order on Tuesday Jan 6, 2026 at 5:30 PM.

C.

Pledge of Allegiance

D.

Reciting of the Mission Statement

II. Approve Meeting Minutes

A.

Board Meeting December 2nd

R. Lukez made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on 12-02-25.
K. Leung seconded the motion.

EQ and GW abstained

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
I. Kalra
Aye
E. Quigley
Abstain
A. Campbell
Aye
C. Wroblewski
Aye
R. Lukez
Aye
D. Lomelino
Aye
G. Wing
Abstain
C. Gustafson
Aye
K. Leung
Aye

III. STEM School Highlands Ranch Updates

A.

Executive Director Update

New 1st grade teacher - Ashley Scott

New SRO - Deputy Monti

 

Staff Alumni event - close to 70 people, great community building with former colleagues/students

 

Shared Staff Survey Results - lower rates of response because of timing; questions have changed; will dig into trend data for last 3 years and aggregate comments. Areas of strength and growth will be discussed further.

 

Shared SAC Survey Results - majority positive responses for academics/curriculum, student/parent experience, and communication with staff. Areas of strength and growth will be added to priorities going forward.

 

Enrollment update current year and next year

 

B.

Student Advisory Committee

Moved to next month - students were not able to be here tonight

IV. KOSON Schools

A.

2024/25 Financial Audit Report

Mr. Hinkle presented summary of audit process and report - will be updated on Financial Transparency page on STEM website

B.

CIO Update

Playground update - Chris Damour

  • January 2025 kickoff with 
  • March 2025 county/metro district meeting
  • April 2025 civil engineer assessment
  • June 2025 initial plans submitted to county
  • Sent plans to Fire Department- had some concerns, made adjustments and resubmitted, but needs additional edits
  • This week will resubmit revised plan, but no firm timeline 

 

Homeschool and HS Relocation updates - Matt Cartier

 

Student led showcase on 4/23

Community Night to Ignite 4/25

C.

Policy Updates

Draft Enrollment Policy for STEM School Highlands Ranch to align to updated process - discussion around prioritizing applicants

Draft Enrollment policy for Homeschool - separate

Comments/Questions to be forwarded to governance policy

D.

CIO Mid Year Review Report

Update on CEO Employment Agreement and Support and Evaluation committee

E.

Draft Renewal CIO Employment Agreement

Highlight proposed changes for Board discussion for CEO Employment Agreement

Change title from CIO to CEO

Multi year agreement with a TABOR clause

Compensation structure for multi-year

At will vs. termination clause

V. Public Comment

A.

Public Comment Sign up link

Ms. Susan Graham: parent and teacher at STEM provided comment on cell phone policy and effects on community

VI. Consent Agenda

A.

Vote for Consent Agenda Items

K. Leung made a motion to approve consent agenda.
G. Wing seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VII. Board Committee Updates

A.

Academic Excellence Committee Updates

PSAT/SAT data will be ongoing discussion

RACI chart

Curriculum approval process and policy discussions ongoing

Will bring to board when ready

B.

CIO Support & Evaluation Committee Updates

C.

Finance Committee Update

Skyward demo and approval process for expenses

New auditor for next year

Discussion about board meetings moving

D.

Governance Committee Update

Policy updates and discussions

Proposed Bylaws updates will be part of working session discussions next week. 

 

E.

Growth Task Force Update

Growth Task Force One Pager - open to suggestions for next year

Future Preschool opportunity - ongoing discussion

VIII. Executive Session

A.

Convene Executive Session - CIO Contract Renewal Negotiations

R. Lukez made a motion to to move to executive session in accordance with CRS 24-6-402(4)(e)(I) for determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations; developing strategy for negotiations; and instructing negotiations regarding CIO employment agreement renewal terms.
G. Wing seconded the motion.

8:35 pm

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Wing
Aye
E. Quigley
Aye
R. Lukez
Aye
I. Kalra
Aye
C. Wroblewski
Aye
K. Leung
Aye
D. Lomelino
Aye
C. Gustafson
Aye
A. Campbell
Aye

Executive Session from 8:45 pm to 9:25 pm.

AC did not join executive session

KL left at 8:57pm

IK left at 9:20pm

DL left at 9:21 pm

CW left at 9:25 pm.

IX. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

G. Wing made a motion to adjourn at 9:25 pm.
E. Quigley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. Gustafson
Aye
C. Wroblewski
Absent
I. Kalra
Absent
A. Campbell
Absent
K. Leung
Absent
E. Quigley
Aye
R. Lukez
Aye
G. Wing
Aye
D. Lomelino
Absent
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
C. Gustafson
Documents used during the meeting
  • January Board Presentation 25_26.pdf
  • CIO Board Presentation 20260106.pdf
  • Policy_Enrollment_2026_Draft.pdf
  • NEW - Policy_Home School Enrichment Enrollment_2026_Draft.pdf
  • S_E_Presentation_on_Mid-Year_Check-In.pdf
  • Presentation - Draft CEO Renewal Agreement.pdf
  • Academic_Excellence One Pager_2025-2026.pdf
  • Growth Task Force One Pager 2025-26.pdf
  • Policy_IT-Student Data Privacy_2022.pdf
  • Policy_Electronic Device Monitoring_2022.pdf
  • Staff HandBook V7.pdf