Vallejo board approves five-year renewal for Griffin Academy High School with conditions

The Vallejo City Unified School District governing board voted 4–1 on Jan. 14 to approve a five-year renewal for Griffin Academy High School, approving the petition on the condition that the school submit a written addendum addressing multiple clarifications and improvements.

District staff told the board the charter qualifies as a “middle performing” school under state law and is therefore presumptively eligible for a five-year renewal, but staff identified several areas that must be clarified or corrected before the term begins on July 1, 2026. Christy Gardner, the district’s charter coordinator, said the petition contained inconsistent graduation-credit numbers (she flagged two different figures listed in the petition) and lacked clear job descriptions for counseling and wellness staff. Gardner also pointed to declines on the 2025 state dashboard for English learners — a drop of about 11.5% on one measure and 9.8% on the long-term indicator — and an elevated suspension rate in certain subgroups that the district wants addressed with concrete timelines and accountability steps.

“Griffin Academy High School is a middle performing school,” Gardner said in the staff presentation, and recommended that the board approve renewal while requiring an addendum that amends elements of the petition related to measurable student outcomes, governance, and employee qualifications.

Representatives of Griffin’s operator acknowledged the staff findings and committed to the addendum. Nick Driver, who identified himself as the school's superintendent, said the school agrees with many of the staff recommendations and will work with district staff to produce the requested documentation. “We are committed to provide” the addendum and an MOU, Driver told trustees.

Students from Griffin also spoke in favor of renewal. Yesenia Ortega Guzman, a senior and the school’s student board representative, described the school as a “safe place” with small classes and strong relationships between students and staff and urged trustees to approve the petition.

Trustee Fox moved to approve the renewal with the staff’s recommended conditions and Trustee Hodges seconded. Vice President Flores voted against the motion; President Amboy and Trustees Fox, Hodges and Young voted in favor. The board’s action requires Griffin to submit a written addendum addressing the items identified by staff prior to the charter term’s start; staff and Griffin said the addendum would be submitted and reviewed before 07/01/2026, with a district-requested deadline of June 30, 2026.

The addendum must clarify the graduation-credit requirement listed in the petition, define the role and credentials of counselors and wellness staff, provide a plan to address declines in English-learner outcomes, and include a timeline and accountability measures to reduce suspensions in identified subgroups. The district’s staff report also asked Griffin to provide greater clarity about governance (board selection and parent participation), employee qualifications and a plan for tracking college-and-career readiness metrics.

The board closed the public hearing following the vote. The petitioner and district staff said they would continue to meet and refine the addendum and return to the board if further actions are needed.