Final

Bridges Charter School

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Monday June 15, 2020 at 6:15 PM PDT

Location

Due to COVID-19, this meeting will be held via teleconference only. Members of the public may observe the meeting and offer public comment using the information below:
 
NOTICE OF TELECONFERENCE OPTIONS FOR MEETING

This meeting of the Bridges Charter School Board of Directors will be a teleconference meeting where one or more members of the Board will be attending the meeting via teleconference/video conference.
 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71007946378?pwd=dUFPd2FrZ0QveHJ2YzNpUkVTTU1Zdz09

Meeting ID: 710 0794 6378
Password: 012437

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 6:15 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Call the Meeting to Order   Mike Louderback 1 m
  B. Record Attendance and Guests   Mike Louderback 1 m
   
Michael Louderback, President
Ozge Heerma Gunday, Vice President
Richard Urias, Treasurer
Shannon Trowbridge, Secretary
Michael Flaherty, Parliamentarian
Damian Fante, Member
Allison Geld, Member

Kelly Simon, Director
Cindy McCarthy, Assistant Director
Kathee Hans, Recording Secretary
  
  C. Approval of Agenda Vote Mike Louderback 1 m
  D. Approve Minutes Approve Minutes Mike Louderback 1 m
    Approve minutes for Board Meeting on May 11, 2020  
II. Presentations 6:19 PM
  A. Marlo Hartsuyker - VCOE Charter School Oversight~ FYI Marlo Hartsuyker 5 m
III. Public Comments 6:24 PM
 
CEO Support And Eval
 
  A. Public Comments FYI 5 m
   

Persons wishing to address the Board may do so at this time upon recognition from the President. Please state your name, community or organization you represent, and the topic you wish to share with the Board. You will be given 3 minutes to make your presentation. Pursuant to the Brown Act, the Board cannot enter into formal discussion with individuals making public comments to the Board. The Board cannot take action on any issues raised during public comments that are not on the meeting agenda. Individual members may respond to public comments during the individual Board Members section.

  
IV. Reports 6:29 PM
 
Facility
 
  A. Governing Board FYI Mike Louderback 15 m
   
 
Board Members / Committee Reports
  • President - Mike Louderback 
    • Election
    • Retreat
  • Budget - Richard Urias
  • Safety School Culture and Academic Excellence - Ozge Heerma & Shannon Trowbridge 
  • Facilities  - Michael Flaherty & Damian Fante 
  • Governance -  Allison Geld and Mike Louderback 
  
  B. Director and Assistant Director FYI 15 m
   
Kelly Simon
  • Enrollment Report
  • Updates from CDC and CDE 
  • Teacher Meetings and Classroom Placements for 2020-2021
  • Virtual Fun Run 
  • Parent Engagement
    • Thank you to 8th grade parents 
    • Bi-weekly parent meetings
    • Zoom Parent Discussion Nights
    • Volunteer Appreciation Bingo Night
Cindy McCarthy

 

  • End of the year material return and school closure
  • 8th Grade Promotion and 8th Grade Car Parade
  • Deep Cleaning and PPE
  • California Teleconnect Fund - Program Eligibility
  
V. Personnel 6:59 PM
  A. Homeschool Stipend 2019-20, NTE $1000- $3000 Per Person~ Vote Kelly Simon 10 m
   
Our home school population has steadily grown this school year. When school closed as a result of COVID-19, the home school program's enrollment increased dramatically. In September 2019, with adjustments made to the home school program, the board approved a stipend for home school students with the amount dependent upon the program's enrollment at the end of P-2. As the P-2 reporting period was moved from the end of March to the end of February, the board is asked to consider and vote on the stipend amount for the home school teachers. 

 

Jill Frazier, our lead home school teacher, will join to discuss the program's success, growth, and their plans for the 2020-21 school year. 
  
  B. Approval of 2020-2021 Salary Schedule~ Vote Benny Martinez 5 m
  C. Approval of Employee Handbook 2020-21~ Vote Cindy McCarthy 7 m
   
This handbook was created using a template from CharterSafe, who provides Bridges with insurance, risk management and employee benefits.  I recommend approval of this item.
  
  D. Approval of Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators Vote Kelly Simon 5 m
   
For your consideration, is the Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators.  This request acknowledges that there are insufficient numbers of fully credentialed teachers in several areas statewide, such as mathematics, science, special education, bilingual ed, etc. We are requesting approval of the Declaration of Need in the areas of mathematics and special education for the 2020/21 school year.  If necessary, the approval of this form will allow us to employ a teacher who is in process of attaining certification to teach mathematics at the middle school level.  I recommend approval of this request.
  
VI. Consent Items 7:26 PM
 
Finance
 
  A. Consent Items Vote Mike Louderback 5 m
   
Consent Items: Items proposed for the consent calendar are noted on the posted agenda and are considered by the Director to be of a routine nature.  Any item may be removed from the consent calendar at the request of any Board member and placed under the appropriate action category.  A vote will be taken for the consent calendar so that any items requiring a vote can be properly addressed.  It is recommended that all consent items be approved.

6.1       Financial Reports
            6.1.1    Approval of Checks
            6.1.2    Approval of Financial Statements
            6.1.3    Approval of Purchase Orders
            6.1.4    Approval of Credit Card Purchases (Apr & May)
     
6.2        Personnel Report          
           
  
VII. Business and Operations 7:31 PM
  A. Approval of COVID-19 Written Operations Report~ Vote Kelly Simon 10 m
   
Executive Order (EO) N-56-20 was established on April 22, 2020, to address the impact of continued school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the local educational agencies’ ability to conduct meaningful annual planning, and the ability to meaningfully engage stakeholders in these processes. EO N-56-20 issued timeline and approval waivers for the Local Control and Accountability Plan and Budget Overview for Parents as well as waving certain budgetary requirements. The Executive Order also established the requirement that a local educational agency (LEA) adopt a written report (COVID-19 Operations Written Report) explaining to its community the changes to program offerings the LEA has made in response to school closures to address the COVID-19 emergency and the major impacts of such closures on students and families.
  
  B. Approval of 2020-2021 Budget~ Vote Benny Martinez 20 m
  C. Approval of 2020-21 Proposition 30 Report~ Vote Benny Martinez 5 m
   
Proposition 30, the Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012, approved by the voters on November 6, 2012, temporarily increases the state's sales tax rate for all taxpayers and the personal income tax rates for upper-income taxpayers.
The revenues generated from Proposition 30 are deposited into a state fund called the Education Protection Account (EPA). School districts, county offices of education, and charter schools (LEAs) will receive funds from the EPA based on their proportionate share of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) amount. A corresponding reduction is made to an LEA or charter school's LCFF state aid equal to the amount of their EPA entitlement. LEAs will receive EPA payments quarterly.
  
  D. Approval of Local Agency Executive Compensation~ Vote Benny Martinez 5 m
   
In accordance with SB 1436, the legislative body shall orally report a summary of a recommendation for a final action on the salaries, salary schedules, or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits of a local agency executive, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3511.1, during the open meeting in which the final action is to be taken.
  
  E. Approval to Accept the Year End Resolutions from BSA for Fiscal Year 2020-21~ Vote Mike Louderback 5 m
   
Year End Resolutions allow BSA to process our monetary/fiscal responsibilities during the summer when Bridges is closed.  Approval is recommended.
  
  F. Approval of Purchase of 116 Chromebooks from STS, NTE $29,000.00~ Vote Cindy McCarthy 5 m
   
In addition to the Chromebooks we normally order each year to replace those that have become obsolete or unsupported, the school has had to place an order for an additional 35 Chromebooks to replace those that were checked out to students for long distance learning due to COVID-19 and returned in disrepair.
  
  G. Approval of Ventura County SELPA Agreement for Occupational Therapy Services 2020-21, NTE $12,240.00 Vote Kelly Simon 5 m
   
This agreement serves as evidence of Bridges Charter 's commitment to cover hourly costs for services provided by Ventura County SELPA staff as follows: Occupational Therapy (Includes services by Occupational Therapist (OT) —or- Certified  Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

Approval of this item is recommended.
  
  H. Approval of Ventura County SELPA Agreement for Social/Emotional Services 2020-21, NTE $2,970.00~ Vote Kelly Simon 5 m
   
This agreement serves as evidence of Bridges Charter 's commitment to cover hourly costs for student services provided by Ventura County SELPA staff as follows: Social/Emotional Therapy for 3 hours per month in the 2020-21 school year.
  
  I. Approval of CharterSafe Agreement, 2020-21, NTE $79,985.00~ Vote Kelly Simon 7 m
   
CharterSafe provides Bridges with insurance, risk management and employee benefits.  I recommend approval of this item.
  
VIII. Parents and Community 8:38 PM
 
Governance
 
  A. Return to School Task Force Updates Discuss Kelly Simon 10 m
   
Dr. Simon will present up to date information to the Board regarding recommendations for schools to prepare for and prevent spread of COVID-19 as well as how Bridges Administration will discuss with the Board of Directors information that is guiding our planning for the 2020-2021 School Year. 
  
IX. Curriculum and Instruction
 
Technology
 
X. Special Projects/Programs
XI. Special Education
XII. Pupil Personnel
XIII. Support Services
XIV. Facilities
XV. Charter Policies 8:48 PM
  A. Second Reading of BP 6361.5 Cell Phone Policy~ Vote Cindy McCarthy 10 m
   
Draft has been amended by deleting the first paragraph containing contradictory information as suggested.

 

For your consideration is the first reading of BP 6361.5 Cell Phone Policy.

 

Assembly bill 272 signed into law by Gov. Newsom on July 1, allows (but does not require) a school board to adopt a policy to limit the use of smartphones by students while they are at school.
 
The bill declares that there is growing evidence that unrestricted use of smartphones by students during the school day interferes with the educational mission of schools; lowers pupil performance, particularly among low-achieving pupils; promotes cyber bullying; and contributes to an increase in teenage anxiety, depression and suicide.

 

AB 272, which adds section 48901.7 to the Education Code, states that governing boards may adopt a policy to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones by students while they are at school, but the law does not require boards to take any action.

 

Currently, Bridges does not have a cell phone specific policy, although it is mentioned in our handbook.  I thought we might want to consider a specific policy, given the new bill.
  
  B. Revised BP 6142.1 Sexual Health~ Vote Cindy McCarthy 12 m
   
Changes to policy to align with mandates in AB 329 and request from Grand Jury Report dated April 2, 2020.

 

Approval of this item is recommended.
  
  C. Telework Policy Vote Kelly Simon 8 m
   
In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Bridges Charter School expects the continued possibility of teleworking. This policy articulates responsibilities of both exempt and non-exempt employees who may be required to telework as a result of COVID-19.

 

This policy was provided by Charter Safe with minor adaptations made in light of our school's specific contexts.

 

Approval is recommended.
  
XVI. Governing Board 9:18 PM
  A. 2020 Board Election Results~ FYI Mike Louderback 5 m
   
The 2020 Board Election results were certified by Benny Martinez, Director of School Business Services.

Michael Louderback and Amanda Lennon were elected to the Bridges Board of Directors.  Terms will run from 
July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023.

 
  
  B. Approval of Board Schedule for 2020-21~ Vote Mike Louderback 5 m
XVII. Pending Agenda Items
XVIII. Closed Session 9:28 PM
  A. Business Pursuant to Government Code ยง 54957 (b) Discuss Kelly Simon 30 m
   
Consideration of Appointment, Employment, Evaluation of Performance, Discipline, or Dismissal of an Employee.
(3 Cases):   ID         1000026824       
  
  B. Return to Open Session Vote Mike Louderback 1 m
XIX. Open Session 9:59 PM
  A. Report Taken on Actions in Closed Session~ FYI Mike Louderback 1 m
XX. Closing Items 10:00 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote