Q2 2026 Board Meetings Recap

This recap covers our April meeting and the leadership change that came in early June. We will add a recap of the May meeting and the June 25 meeting here once those minutes are approved. As always, the full minutes are posted on our website.

Families spoke, and we listened

At the April meeting, several parents spoke during public comment. They said they did not hear about the dress code change until they got a letter from the director. The director has previously informed the board the dress code question was included in a family survey. Commenters asked to be told sooner, and to have a way to share their views before the board votes. One parent said the board minutes were hard to find. We heard all of this. It is shaping how we plan to communicate going forward, and it is part of why we made this update and a new FAQ, as well as why we launched our new website (thanks to volunteer efforts from board members led by Beth Willard Patton).

Students and school news

Sixth graders presented at the April meeting and even challenged the board to a game. The school had about 564 students, and the lottery for open spots was held. Summer school and summer enrichment were planned for all students. We celebrated our drama production, a Science Olympiad team, an art show, and teacher appreciation week.

Money update

By April, the budget was back in the black. We planned to use some savings to finish the school year, and to keep a tight budget next year. We kept applying for grants and looking for new board members and community support.

The leadership change, and how it works here

The biggest news this quarter came after the school year ended. In late May, the board and our school director, Lisa Ervin, parted ways. Her contract ran to its normal end on June 30, though she opted to not work the remainder of her contract. This was not an early firing. We are grateful for her service to our students and families.

This caused a lot of questions online, so here is how leadership works at our school. The board hires, reviews, and supports one person: the director. The director runs the school day to day and makes all other staff decisions. The board does not hire or remove teachers. That is why many questions families are asking belong with the director, not the board.

What the staff changes were

As at every school, the end of one year and the start of the next brings staff changes. This year there were more than usual, and we want to be clear about the real numbers. In all, 15 staff members left. Three retired. Two left for personal reasons. Two resigned. Seven were not offered a contract for next year. The last is the director. Eight of the 15 were teachers. A non-renewal means a contract was not offered for the next year. It is not the same as being fired in the middle of the year. We cannot share details about any one person, because the law protects staff privacy, and we want to be fair to everyone who worked here.

What this means for the fall

By early June, all but two of these jobs were filled or had contracts in process. Some former NDS teachers have even asked to come back. Heather Hollifield, an experienced school leader who has served as a principal and assistant principal, started as interim director on June 8. Summer school is running as planned, and we have begun the search for our next permanent director.

Why we feel steady

It helps to remember where we started this year. In January, the state renewed our charter for a full 10 years, the longest term it gives. That confidence in our school has not changed. We have a full team coming back together for the fall, and we are excited about it. Board members are fully engaged with the transition and hiring process.

What we are doing better

We heard the call for more communication, and we agreed with it. We are committing to share more, and sooner, and to make board minutes easier to find. The interim director is planning family listening sessions this summer. We also wrote a plain FAQ that explains how the school is run and the best way to raise a concern. You can always reach us at governance@ndschool.org.

Please come to the next meeting

Our next board meeting is Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 4:00 PM, and it is open to everyone. We will post a recap of the May meeting and the June 25 meeting here once those minutes are approved. Full minutes are always available at ndschool.org.