The Catalyst Board of Directors approved the following minutes at their September 28, 2026 meeting:

May 8, 2026 Board meeting minutes

June 16, 2026 Finance Committee meeting minutes

September 9, 2026 Academic Committee meeting minutes

September 15, 2026 Finance Committee meeting minutes

The Catalyst Board of Directors will hold a meeting September 28, 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 Circle Rock Charter School

5608 W. Washington Blvd.

Chicago, Illinois 60644

AGENDA

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

• Review of agenda
• Review and vote for approval of May 18, 2026 Board of Directors meeting minutes, June 16, 2026 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes, September 9, 2026 Academic Committee Meeting Minutes; and September 15, 2026 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

• Vote for approval of May 18, 2026 Board of Directors closed session minutes. Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21), if closed session minutes are to be discussed, the Board must vote for motion to enter closed session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).

• Vote to approve Terry Toth for a three-year renewal term on the Catalyst Board of Directors

*3:20-3:30 -Succession Committee update: Dr. Catherine Burns

*3:45-4:00 - Academic Committee: Dr. Catherine Burns

• Proposed updated Academic Accountability details from Chicago Public Schools
• SY 2026-27 opening priorities across Catalyst Circle Rock (CCR), Catalyst Maria Elementary (CME), and Catalyst Maria High School (CMHS)
• Review of two-year IAR trend data
• School-level Big Rocks (academic and cultural)
• SY 2026-27 strategic focus statements and key results
• ISBE summative designation context

*4:00-4:15- Public comment (limited to 2 minutes per speaker)

*4:15-4:30 - Finance and Strategic Issues Committee: Yuan-Ying Hsu

• FY26 preliminary financial update
• Review of updated CPS Financial Accountability metrics
• FY27 YTD
• Questions / discussion / due diligence on items related to Chicago Public Schools Financial and Organizational Compliance Indicators (Annual Audit, etc.)

*4:30-4:55

• Mission moment: Director of Mission and Partnerships Erika Whitehead
• 20^th Anniversary Celebration November 5, 2026 update

*4:55 -5:00- Closure and next steps

• Ensure all Board members complete mandated Board training hours.

The Catalyst Board of Directors' Finance Committee will hold a meeting on September 15, 2026 at 2:00 pm to review FY26 preliminary financials, updated CPS Financial Accountability metrics and FY27 YTD.

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 September 9, 2026 at 3:00 pm to review the schools’ academic performance. This will include CPS Priority Metrics, ISBE metrics, progress against SY25/26 strategics plans and goals, and SY26-27 strategic plans and goals.

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.

We are honored that Catalyst Circle Rock was one of three schools to receive a grant from Invest for Kids!  CCR was selected from Invest for Kids’ largest applicant pool to date, following several months of consideration and due diligence. The grant will be applied to developing a STEM lab and programming for scholars, staff and the CCR community!

The Invest for Kids organization is dedicated to supporting highly impactful nonprofit organizations that serve Chicago area youth in low-income circumstances, with $23 million in grants provided to date.  We are incredibly grateful to Invest for Kids for their partnership and support of our scholars and school community!