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STEM School Highlands Ranch

Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting

Monthly Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday August 18, 2026 at 5:30 PM

Location

8920 Barrons Blvd

P-TECH Room 112

Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

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Directors Present

A. Campbell (remote), C. Gustafson, C. West, C. Wroblewski (remote), E. Quigley, G. Kuppuswamy (remote), G. Wing, I. Kalra, R. Alleman (remote), R. Asberry (remote)

Directors Absent

D. Lomelino

Guests Present

A. Cardinal, L. Kovalesky, Laurie Veldhuizen (remote), M. Cartier, M. Pritchard (remote), 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 Aug 18, 2026 at 5:30 PM.

Ganesh joined at 5:40pm

Ronalea joined at 7:42pm

Richard joined late

Adelita left at 8:08pm

C.

Pledge of Allegiance

D.

Reciting of the Mission Statement

II. Approve Meeting Minutes

A.

Board Meeting June 2nd

E. Quigley made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on 06-02-26.
G. Wing seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Board Meeting June 12th

I. Kalra made a motion to approve the minutes from Annual Board Training on 06-12-26.
E. Quigley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Board Meeting Aug 12th

E. Quigley made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on 08-12-26.
C. Wroblewski seconded the motion.

Adelita and Collin abstained

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

III. STEM School Highlands Ranch Updates

A.

Executive Director Update

Lynann Kovalesky - ED Update

 

Beginning of year kickoff at Pirates Cove was a hit!

 

174 staff retained; 26 new staff welcomed

Staff retreat and team building 

 

Focus this year: 

  • Staff leadership development; 
  • Trusted & engaged community; 
  • Academic excellence

Some intentional changes: 

  • expanded access period
  • enhanced security
  • restructured offices
  • growth and class adjustments
  • stronger staff accountability

Upcoming events

  • Back to school secondary
  • Back to school elementary
  • Accelerator Fun Run

Enrollment Update 1598 actual current; 1517 projected for October 1st, 2026

Graduation date 2027: May 17th, Echo Park

IV. KOSON Schools

A.

CEO Update

CEO - Matt Cartier

 

Annual Goals and Focus for Koson and STEM School

  • Identity
  • Experience
  • Growth

HS Relocation

  • LOI for general contractors for Mineral building - update by Collin West
  • JHL and HCM were well organized and presented well 

Consultant Services - Ted Fujimoto

Deliverables by end of January

  • Koson Strategic Plan
  • Action Items for Board and Shared Services
  • Business plan for rural education 
  • Demographics 
  • Training

Discussion around need for consultants; capacity; timeline; national education landscape

 

B.

Mineral HS Project Update

E. Quigley made a motion to Confirm the preferred general contractor JHL and preferred architect HCM for the Mineral High School project.
G. Wing seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Approve Consultant Services

E. Quigley made a motion to Motion to approve the consultant services agreement with EF International for demographic analysis, strategic planning, Koson identity development, training, related travel, and additional consulting services, in a total amount not to exceed $53,500, of which $25,000 will be funded by the Colorado Schools Fund grant and the remaining amount will be funded from 26-27 annual budget. Any expenditure above the approved amount will require additional board authorization.
G. Wing seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Annual Goals for Board approval

I. Kalra made a motion to Koson Goals and STEM School Goals for 2025-2026.
E. Quigley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Present CEO Goals and Evaluation Strategy and Timeline

Presented by Erin Quigley - Summary of CEO Support & Evaluation process and timeline

 

CEO Goals:

  • Establish and operationalize the Koson Identity and Organizational Model
  • Build the Koson Operating System and Leadership Capacity to Deliver
  • Strengthen the STEM Flagship and Build Scalable Assets for Koson Growth

 

V. Consent Agenda

A.

Vote for Consent Agenda Items

I. Kalra made a motion to Approve consent agenda.
E. Quigley seconded the motion.

Approving formatted Final Student Parent Handbook for 2026/27

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Board Committee Updates

A.

Confirm Committee Assignments and Chairs

E. Quigley made a motion to approve Board committees as.
G. Wing seconded the motion.

Academic Excellence - Adelita (c), Ganesh 

CEO Support & Evaluation - Erin (c), Carla 

Facility and Security - Collin (c), Richard "AJ" 

Finance - Darrell (c), Gina 

Governance - Carla (c), Ronalea 

Strategic Plan/Growth - Ishmeet (c), Cory/Gina

    Networking and Outreach Task Force - all board members as available

Legal Task Force - Cory (c), Carla 

 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Finance Committee Update

Credit rating was upgraded to "stable"

VII. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session Discussions

E. Quigley made a motion to enter into executive session pursuant to CRS 24-6-402(4)(e)(I) to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations; develop strategy for negotiations; and instruct negotiators; and pursuant to CRS 24-6-402(4) (a) to discuss the purchase, acquisition, lease, transfer, or sale of any real, personal, or other property interest, all with regards to the pending charter school application appeal to the state board of education and related impacts to a pending real estate transaction and proposed real estate transaction.
G. Wing seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Wing
Aye
G. Kuppuswamy
Aye
C. Wroblewski
Aye
E. Quigley
Aye
D. Lomelino
Absent
A. Campbell
Absent
I. Kalra
Aye
C. West
Aye
C. Gustafson
Aye
R. Asberry
Aye
R. Alleman
Aye

Left public session at 8:11pm and started executive session at 8:19pm

B.

Ended executive session at 8:51pm

VIII. Board of Director's Updates

A.

Preview of Next Meeting

SAC: UIP for discussion

Board calendar

Discuss CEO Goals for approval in October

One pagers for subcommittees

Assessments for BOT

 

IX. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

G. Wing made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
E. Quigley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:58 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
I. Kalra
Documents used during the meeting
  • August Board Presentation 26_27.pdf
  • CEO Board Presentation 20260818.pptx.pdf
  • Ted Fujimoto Bio_August 2026 .pptx.pdf
  • 26-27 Koson and STEM Goals.pdf
  • Draft CEO Goals for 26-27.pdf
  • 2026-27 STEM Parent_Student Handbook.pdf

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