The Catalyst Board of Directors approved the following minutes at their December 15, 2025 meeting:

December 15, 2025 Board meeting minutes

February 18, 2026 Academic Committee meeting minutes

February 27, 2026 Finance Committee meeting minutes

The Catalyst Board of Directors will hold a meeting March 9, 2026 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The agenda and meeting information are below. All Catalyst Board meetings are open to the public, with a public comment portion during the time below.

Location:

Catalyst Maria Charter School

6727 S. California Ave.

Chicago, Illinois 60629

AGENDA

*3:00-3:20- Welcome: Larry Williams, Chair and Gordon Hannon, CEO

• Review of agenda
• Review and vote for approval of December 15, 2025 Board of Directors meeting minutes, February 18, 2026 Academic Committee meeting minutes and February 27, 2026Finance Committee meeting minutes.
• Vote to approve Mitze Moore for a two- year renewal term on the Catalyst Board of Directors
• Vote to approve Julie Hendry for a three-year renewal term on the Catalyst Board of Directors and as member of the Academic Committee of the Board of Directors
• Vote to approve Rick Piwoworski for an initial three-year term on the Catalyst Board of Directors, Academic Committee of Board of Directors, and Finance Committee of Board of Directors

*3:20-3:30 - Public comment (limited to 2 minutes per speaker)

*3:30-3:45 - Finance and Strategic Issues Committee: Yuan-Ying Hsu

• YTD FY26
• Discussion on loan refinancing options
• Questions / discussion / due diligence on items related to Chicago Public Schools Financial and Organizational Compliance Indicators (Annual Audit, etc.)

*3:45-4:15 -Mission reflection- Ed Siderewicz, Sasha Fawaz, and Erika Whitehead- Catalyst core values

               -Introduction of Issac Sinnett with Ravinia partnership

*4:15-4:50 - Academic Committee: Dr. Catherine Burns 

• Charter agreement update
• Highlights of Academic Committee review of scholar and school data
  • Math performance
  • Chronic absenteeism
  • Instructional capacity and execution
• Data informing three-year strategic plans
• Questions / discussion / due diligence on items related to Chicago Public Schools Academic and Inclusive Programming & Equitable Systems domain indicators (ISBE Summative Designation, SPED and ELL compliance, ISS and OSS figures, etc.)

 *4:50 -5:00- Closure and next steps 

• Potential Board members next steps

 

The Catalyst Board of Directors' Finance Committee will hold a meeting on February 27, 2026 at 10:00 am to review YTD financial information. This meeting will be held by video conference- please contact Catalyst's Director of Administration Michael Kasang at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-897-5816 for conference call information.

The Catalyst Board of Directors' Academic Committee will hold a meeting on February 18, 2026 at 2:00 pm to review annual and YTD academic data. This meeting will be held by video conference- please contact Catalyst's Director of Administration Michael Kasang at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-897-5816 for conference call information.

The Catalyst school communities are excited to celebrate Black History Month throughout February! This provides opportunities to reflect, learn, and celebrate the powerful impact of Black history on our world!  We will share events throughout the month and hope you will join us in celebration!