Board approves five-year renewals and MOUs for two charter schools

The Modesto City Schools Board of Trustees voted Feb. 10 to renew the charters for Aspire University Charter Schools and Connecting Waters Charter Central Valley for five‑year terms beginning July 1, 2026, and to approve updated memoranda of understanding between each charter and the district.

Steve Hurst, the district’s director of state and federal programs, presented staff reviews of both petitions and said each petition “meets all statutory requirements” and demonstrated academic viability, legal compliance and sound fiscal and operational practices. Hurst recommended five‑year renewals in both cases; the board approved the renewals and the companion MOUs during the meeting.

Trustees asked questions about school performance and neighborhood safety. Trustee Abel Maestas noted a local parent’s concern that sidewalks near an Aspire site present a hazard for students walking home; trustees indicated such infrastructure requests are the city’s responsibility. There were no public objections during either public hearing; Hurst told the board that Aspire and Connecting Waters are classified as “middle performing” on the state dashboard but meet the criteria for renewal.

The board approved updated MOUs that define roles and operational responsibilities between the district and each charter, with terms running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, unless earlier terminated. The motions were made and seconded on the record and carried at the meeting. The renewals now move the respective schools into the district’s supervisory and oversight process for the next five years.