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Oasis Charter—s new executive director reports enrollment gains and special-education staffing improvements
Summary
Oasis Charter School—s executive director reported near-budget enrollment, a small positive budget position, new special-education hires and curriculum changes intended to improve test readiness; trustees repeated concern that historical low test scores constrain renewal options.
Lauren Ricker, executive director at Oasis Charter School, told the Monterey County Board of Education that the school—s budget is currently positive and that enrollment sits near the budgeted target after recent enrollments and a wait list. "We do have a positive budget right now with just over a 139,000," Ricker said, adding that cash on hand was listed at $672,000 in the materials provided to the board.
Ricker described operational and instructional changes since she took the role on July 10, 2025: completing required IEPs for students with disabilities, hiring a long-experienced educational specialist to reduce high-level behavioral supports, adopting i-Ready as an assessment and instructional tool, and pursuing several grants (a literacy grant and a student-support/professional-development award of about $54,000). She said specialized academic instruction and occupational therapy will be provided in person this year and that families reported improved student outcomes.
During the board—s questioning, trustees reiterated three longstanding concerns: fiscal sustainability, special-education compliance, and student test performance. Trustee comments emphasized that if test scores remain at the bottom relative to other county schools, the board has limited options at renewal other than short renewal terms or nonrenewal under Education Code procedures. Ricker acknowledged the test-score challenge and said Oasis is using more frequent diagnostics (i-Ready) and weekly test-prep practice to improve outcomes.
Parent speakers supported the school. Jacqueline Morga, an Oasis parent, said the school—s inclusive approach had immediate benefits for her son with autism, including a one-on-one aide, speech and occupational therapy, and improved engagement: "My son was immediately set up with a 1 on 1 aid," she said.
Trustees encouraged board visits and offered to coordinate small-group tours so members could see special-education services and instruction firsthand. Ricker invited trustees and staff to visit the campus and said staff would continue to provide monthly updates as the school readies for its charter renewal timeline.
