Aspire Capital Heights Academy leaders presented a turnaround plan and asked trustees to consider a short renewal window after district staff placed the petition in the low‑renewal tier.

Tony Selena and Sharon Johnson from Aspire described structural and programmatic changes: a new principal with 28 years' experience and a restructured administrative team, single‑subject instruction in the middle grades, targeted foundational literacy pilots in primary grades and a plan for individualized tutoring in grades 3–8. Principal Tamara Williams said the school has already changed scheduling and staffing and reported initial reductions in suspension and improvements in other climate indicators.

District staff explained the low‑renewal designation means the default assumption is non‑renewal unless the school demonstrates sufficient progress; in some cases the board may grant a two‑year renewal to allow the school to implement and show results. Aspire leaders said the network will provide financial and instructional supports, and regional and home‑office staff will backfill gaps in curriculum implementation, staffing and fiscal stewardship.

Public comment included parents and a current middle‑school student who testified in favor of renewal and cited visible improvements in communication, classroom size and student supports. The district will post its staff analysis in October and return to the board for a renewal decision in November; staff said the November vote will consider either a denial, a limited renewal (two years) with required metrics, or full renewal depending on evidence.

Ending: Trustees asked clarifying questions about enrollment, recruitment and the role of the home office in fiscal oversight and implementation. Aspire invited trustees to visit the campus and pledged to continue documenting progress through the staff review period.