The Orange Unified School District Board of Education voted 6-1 October 15 in Orange, California, to extend a charter school’s facilities agreement through 2028, despite questions about a missing supporting document and whether trustees should delay approval for further review.
The proposed agreement between the district and Tomorrow’s Leadership Collaborative (TLC) Charter School explicitly referenced a previous amendment that was supposed to accompany the document.
“a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by reference;”
However, a screen recording of the five-page agreement showed only a cover sheet identifying “Exhibit 1” as Amendment A, without the underlying document. It remains unclear whether trustees received the missing attachment separately.
During the board meeting, Superintendent Rachel Monárrez addressed the proposal following public comment. Board President Stephen Glass and trustees Kris Erickson and Sara Pelly questioned the potential consequences of postponing the agreement.
Erickson indicated she was willing to delay consideration until the following month. Glass subsequently expressed his preference to proceed.
Trustee Matthew Thomas moved to approve the agreement, Pelly seconded the motion, and Erickson cast the sole opposing vote.
The proposed amendment extended the facilities arrangement through June 30, 2028, with an option for another year through June 2029, subject to mutual approval.
Under the agreement, TLC would pay the district $194,028.14 during the 2026-27 academic year, divided into monthly installments of $16,169.01. Payments for 2027-28 would increase based on the higher of specified state cost-of-living or inflation adjustments.
The district’s previously approved meeting minutes showed that Amendment A received unanimous approval in October 2025, including support from Erickson.
California’s Proposition 39 facilities requirements generally require school districts to make reasonably equivalent facilities available to qualifying charter schools, although districts and charter schools may negotiate alternative arrangements.
TLC’s own October 20 board agenda subsequently listed Amendment B for consideration and possible approval. Minutes confirming the charter school’s final action were not available on its website.
The materials reviewed did not establish whether the missing exhibit had been provided separately or whether its omission affected the validity of the district’s vote.
