Anita Ravi, executive director of Summit Shasta High School, presented the charter renewal petition to the Jefferson Union High School District board and a packed public gallery, describing a school model built on mentoring, project-based learning, self-directed work and recurring "expeditions." Ravi told the board that, according to the petition, "A 100% of our students are enrolled in an a through g course of study. A 100% of our graduates are accepted to a 4 year college. A 100% of our students take 5 AP classes while they're with us."
The presentation was followed by an extended public comment period in which parents, alumni and current Summit Shasta students urged the board to grant a five-year renewal. Parent Nicole Vargas Guevara said the school "supports the whole child, both academically and emotionally," and asked the board to renew the charter. Alumni Ariana Padilla, now a UC Berkeley student, said Summit Shasta provided "the scaffolding" and habits that helped her apply to four-year universities. Student speakers described mentoring groups, weekly "circle" activities and expeditions that provide internships and hands-on experiences; one senior said the school made the college application process feel like a celebration rather than a source of anxiety.
Board members asked Summit representatives and students how specific program elements work. Student speakers and staff explained that "circle" is a weekly mentor-group activity where mentees share how they are feeling and respond to prompts; expeditions are chosen from a vetted catalog that reflects student interest and local partnerships, and students typically select one or two pathways per year to pursue for two-week immersive blocks. Anita Ravi said Summit leverages local internships and vendor partnerships on the Peninsula and that the school maintains an emerging alumni database to track postsecondary outcomes. "Our students do actually complete college in the 4 year or 5 year span at a higher rate than they would if they came from a traditional school," she said in response to a board question, and offered to provide additional statistics from the charter petition.
Superintendent Toni Presta noted that Summit has worked to ensure its student body mirrors the district across key subgroups and that the petition includes an annual demographic review informing outreach and program adjustments. Board members and district staff commended the high turnout of supporters and asked Summit to include disaggregated data in future presentations.
The transcript shows the board closed the public hearing and proceeded with the agenda; no final vote on Summit Shasta's renewal is recorded in the transcript portion provided.