Board approves AMS to restart Nevada Prep, attaching deadlines for board, leader, budget and enrollment
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
The SPCSA approved Academies of Math and Science (AMS) as the restart provider for Nevada Preparatory Charter School, subject to preopening conditions and deadlines (board constitution, hiring a school leader, executed CMO contract, facility lease/purchase, and enrollment and budget milestones).
The State Public Charter School Authority voted Jan. 6 to approve Academies of Math and Science (AMS) as the restart operator for Nevada Preparatory Charter School, attaching a series of preopening conditions intended to protect students and the public fisc.
AMS representatives presented a phased "restart" plan: Phase 1 (stabilize/reset/rebuild) is already underway with on-the-ground staff and professional development; Phase 2 (explicit execution) will begin in summer with standard operating procedures and monitoring; Phase 3 (sustain and excel) aims to embed practices and reach target star ratings over time. Christina Winters, AMS’s chief academic officer, described weekly professional development, principal collaboration structures, and year-one academic targets that aim for measurable growth from the school’s current baseline.
AMS introduced local board candidates (Yolanda Mattiong, Lindsay Kilburn, Tiffany Howard) and described plans to hire an experienced turnaround principal and site-based leadership immediately. AMS’s CFO, Katie Dieterman, said the operator would submit a balanced budget that prioritizes building improvements and internal controls and implement segregation-of-duties and vendor oversight in existing systems.
The board’s approval was conditional and time-limited. The motion specified deadlines including: a fully constituted Nevada board by 04/01/2026; a publicly hired school leader by 05/01/2026; an approved CMO (charter management organization) contract by 06/01/2026; a fully executed lease or purchase agreement for the facility by 06/01/2026; a board-approved final budget by 06/08/2026 that reflects full enrollment; and an enrollment threshold of at least 400 students at the conclusion of the 2026 enrollment audit. Member Holmes Sutton moved approval with the stated conditions; Member Addis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
AMS said it has already begun parent and staff engagement in the local community and will subject current Nevada Prep staff to a rigorous rehire process. The motion requires AMS to complete the SPCSA preopening process, attend required trainings and meet documentation deadlines; staff will monitor those deliverables and report back to the board.
What happens next: AMS must meet the board’s conditions by the stated dates for the restart to proceed; the SPCSA will withhold full approval until all preopening requirements are satisfied.