Governing Board
The governing board of an independent charter school serves as the primary governing body with several key responsibilities:
Leadership Oversight
The board hires, evaluates, and if necessary, dismisses the school's executive director or principal, while providing strategic guidance and support to school leadership.
Legal Compliance
The Brown Act requires that the deliberations and actions taken by local (public) agencies be conducted openly, so the board must conduct all meetings transparently and follow California's public meeting laws.
Community Representation
Public charter schools are governed by independent boards, and great charter schools need great boards that represent the school community's interests while maintaining independence from district control.
Strategic Planning
The board sets long-term vision and strategic direction for the school, including decisions about growth, program development, and resource allocation.
Policy Development & Oversight
The charter school's governing board is responsible for developing policies and procedures that guide the school's operations, including student records management, personnel policies, and educational programs.
Fiscal Responsibility
School board members have the responsibility to make sure that the school they govern is fulfilling its mission, using public resources wisely, and providing positive results for students. This includes approving budgets, monitoring financial performance, and ensuring compliance with funding requirements.
Mission Fulfillment & Academic Accountability
The board ensures the school operates according to its charter agreement and educational mission, monitoring student achievement and school performance to meet the accountability standards required for charter renewal.
Board of Directors
Judith Matthews, Chair
Tim Lohrentz, Vice Chair & Treasurer
Ginny Hautau, Secretary
Michelle Hammons
Maude Akognon
Vinode Mahraj
2025-2026 Meetings
Monthly Board Meetings
Regular meetings of the RMCS Governing Board of Directors are held on a monthly basis in the RMCS Conference Room, 3880 Cypress Drive, Suite B, Petaluma, CA, 94954. Minutes of the current school year are available for review below. An archive of previous years’ minutes is available on campus in the office. Community participation is a vital component of River Montessori Charter School, and we encourage you to attend board meetings. Meeting guidelines are provided on every agenda to assist you in participating and/or speaking at any of our meetings.
Dates, Agendas & Minutes
In accordance with the Brown Act, agendas for all public meetings are posted on our home page as well as on the RMCS campus in the front window and in information display case adjacent to the Community Information Center in school administration.
July 22, 2025 • August 14, 2025 • September 11, 2025 • October 9, 2025 • November 13, 2025 • December 11, 2025 • January 8, 2026 • February 12, 2026 • March 12, 2026 • April 9, 2026 • May 14, 2026 • June 25, 2026