Board authorizes notices of violation for two charter operators, triggering revocation process steps

The Twin Rivers Unified School District board voted Tuesday to issue formal notices of violation to two charter operators — the California Innovative Career Academy (CICA, also referred to in materials as SECA) and Highlands Community Charter Schools (HCCS) — starting a statutory process that could lead to revocation if the charter schools do not remedy specified deficiencies.

District counsel and staff outlined alleged grounds for the notices, which the staff report describes as a mix of charter-condition violations and statutory problems: grade-level or location changes made without required approvals; deviations from the charter or MOU site lists; an outstanding independent audit for fiscal year 2023–24; credential misassignments; failure to document minimum instructional minutes for 2024–25; partnership-agreement violations (including the participation of non-students in a career-technical truck-driving program); and fiscal concerns tied to an expensive San Diego administrative suite and other lease/equipment issues at HCCS.

"This first step in the revocation process is what's before you — issuance of a notice of violation," the district attorney explained to trustees, noting the notice had been delivered to the charter operators more than 72 hours before the meeting. Staff recommended issuance to provide a remedy period and to preserve the district’s oversight obligations under the Education Code.

Trustees voted to issue both notices after staff said they would give the charters a reasonable period to address the items; staff indicated the remedy window extends through September 2026. The district stressed that issuance of a notice of violation does not itself revoke a charter but triggers a multistep process under the Education Code with multiple "off-ramps" for compliance. Staff said they will evaluate remedies and report back to the board on progress toward correction or a recommendation to move to revocation.

Public comment from charter representatives emphasized cooperation and a willingness to correct identified matters. The board’s action formalizes oversight steps and sets a compliance timeline; staff said they expect to receive remedial documentation before the remedy deadline and will report progress to the board.

Ending note: The board authorized staff to issue notices of violation and to monitor compliance during the remedy period. Further board action — including possible revocation — would follow if violations are not satisfactorily remedied.