Public commenters, county staff and school leaders addressed a formal notice of violation issued to Central Academy of Arts and Technology (CAT), and the Kern County Board of Education voted to rescind that notice after hearing updated financial and enrollment information.

Cassidy Shepherd, a California School Employees Association representative, urged the board not to rescind, saying the charter had “ignored the county's countless attempts to bring CAT in compliance” and urging the board to consider “CAT’s mismanagement of taxpayer dollars and the school's many legal violations.”

Jonathan Medina, Kern County Superintendent of Schools staff, presented the county’s analysis of CAT’s response to the notice. Medina said the county’s principal fiscal concerns — insufficient cash flow, a negative ending fund balance and aggressive average daily attendance (ADA) assumptions — had been addressed in CAT’s revised plan, in part because of lender commitments, updated cash‑flow schedules and revised enrollment data. Medina stated, “we recommend the, recension of the notice of violation, and that would be our recommendation.”

Dr. Kendrick and CAT leadership described steps the school had taken: a revised multiyear funding plan, updated multiyear projections with conservative assumptions, governance improvements (including corrected board minutes and posted agendas), and operational changes intended to build reserves. Dr. Kendrick told the board, “As of today, we have 533 students registered for next year,” and said the school’s submitted plan forecasted a $600,000 surplus based on prior projections and that higher enrollment should increase that surplus.

Board members asked follow‑up questions about reconciled cash balances, accounts receivable composition and lender commitments. Medina said the back‑office provider had aligned financials and that anticipated federal monies and lender commitments were part of the receivables and financing plan; he confirmed a lender commitment to the reported financing amount.

After discussion, a motion to rescind the notice of violation was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote. Board members and the superintendent thanked county staff and CAT leadership for the collaborative work that led to the revised materials and the staff recommendation.

The action restores the board’s prior approval status for the charter, while several board members said they will continue monitoring enrollment and finances closely at the start of the school year.