The Catalyst Board of Directors approved the following minutes at their May 18, 2025 meeting:

March 9, 2025 Board meeting minutes

May 14, 2026 Finance Committee meeting minutes

The Catalyst Board of Directors will hold a meeting May 18, 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.

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 March 9 15, 2025 Board of Directors meeting minutes and May 14, 2026Finance Committee meeting minutes.
• Vote to approve Larry Williams for a three-year renewal term as Chair of the Catalyst 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
• Questions / discussion / due diligence on items related to Chicago Public Schools Financial and Organizational Compliance Indicators (Annual Audit, etc.)
• Vote to approve delegation of the Finance Committee to review and approve FY27 budget

• Vote to approve terms set forth in loan term sheet provided by the Fifth Third Bank to Catalyst Schools dated April 30, 2026.

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

• Charter agreement update
• Proposed charter renewal redesign details from Chicago Public Schools
• Next steps for Academic Committee to review EOY outcomes
• 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.)

*4:00-4:15

• Ravinia / Catalyst MOU
• Mission moment: Ed Siderewicz

*4:15-4:55- Vote for motion to enter closed session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).

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

• Ensure all Board members complete Conflict of Interest questionnaire and mandated Board training hours.

The Catalyst Board of Directors' Finance Committee will hold a meeting on May 14, 2026 at 10:00 am to review FY26 YTD financial information, initial FY27 budget projections, and Fifth Third loan refinance terms. 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 approved the following minutes at their March 9, 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