Environmental Charter Schools

Finance Committee Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Friday June 20, 2025 at 8:30 AM PDT

Location

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84403411095?pwd=DfKYa6tNJak5VNRjEvCpuzcntqKbQW.1

 

Alternative access:

  • Two-way Teleconference Location: 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
  • Call-in only: (669) 900-6833 (Meeting ID: 844 0341 1095, Passcode: 903129)

Finance Committee Members
Tracy Bondi - Chair
Denise Berger
Bruce Greenspon

Mason Williams

Andrew Ellenbogen

Finance Committee Charter

  • Provides financial oversight for the organization
  • In conjunction with staff and other stakeholders, develops an annual operating budget and recommends for board approval
  • Monitors adherence to budget and recommends changes, if necessary
  • Sets long-term financial goals with funding strategies to achieve them
  • Considers special, unbudgeted requests and make recommendations to board
  • Develops multi-year operating budgets that tie to strategic plan
  • Ensures adequacy of financial controls and monitor for compliance
  • Ensure financial literacy of board members by providing training

Goals

  • Engage board in a critical assessment of the budget as it relates to organizational priorities and goals
  • Hold a yearly ECS financial training course for ECS Staff and/or New Board members
  • Ensure school budgets and cash flows are transparent, supportable, and sustainable
  • Support ECHSG's financial objectives in the facilities development and school startup process

 

THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the order of consideration of matters on this agenda may be changed without prior notice.

PUBLIC SPEAKERS AT STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Notice is hereby given that consistent with the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act, special presentations not mentioned in the agenda may be made at this meeting.  However, any such presentation will be for information only. The public should be aware that the Committee is unable by law to deliberate or take action on items raised during the Presentations from the Floor section.

Environmental Charter Schools recognizes that it benefits greatly from public input and perspective. Individuals are invited to address the Committee on any topic or subject matter that falls within the Committee's purview. Speakers may sign up in person immediately prior to the beginning of the Committee meeting by speaking with the Committee Chair.

Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters not listed on the agenda, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of three (3) minutes each to address the Committee (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of six (6) minutes each). Please note that the Committee allows a maximum of 10 minutes to each subject as determined by the Committee Chair.

Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters listed on the agenda, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of five (5) minutes each to address the Committee (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of ten (10) minutes each).

The public should be aware that the Committee is unable by law to deliberate or take action on items raised during the Presentations from the Floor section.

​​​​​​REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY
Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in this meeting of the Governing Board may request assistance by contacting ECS at (310) 214-3408, option 5.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information concerning this agenda or for materials relating to this meeting, please contact ECS at (310) 214-3408, option 5.

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 8:30 AM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record attendance and guests   Tracy Bondi 1 m
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Tracy Bondi 1 m
  C. Approve agenda Vote Tracy Bondi 1 m
     
II. Presentations from the Floor 8:33 AM
  A. Presentation from the floor on non agenda items FYI
   
Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters not listed on the agenda, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of three (3) minutes each to address the Committee (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of six (6) minutes each).
 
  B. Presentations from the floor on agenda items FYI
   
Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters listed on the agenda, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of five (5) minutes each to address the Board (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of ten (10) minutes each).
 
III. Discussion Items / Updates 8:33 AM
  A. 2025-26 Budgets Presentation Discuss Jair Ventura, Dorothy Lee, & Jean Yang 45 m
     
  B. Discussion of potential 2025-26 Finance Committee Goals Discuss Tracy Bondi 3 m
   

Current 2024-25 goals for reference:

 

  • Engage board in a critical assessment of the budget as it relates to organizational priorities and goals
  • Hold a yearly ECS financial training course for ECS Staff and/or New Board members
  • Ensure school budgets and cash flows are transparent, supportable, and sustainable
  • Support ECHSG's financial objectives in the facilities development and school startup process
 
IV. Consent Items A-G 9:21 AM
  A. Recommend board approval of private donations over $1,000 Vote Tracy Bondi 2 m
     
  B. Recommend board approval of contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   
  1. SB Adventures Outdoor Education Trip contract 2025-26
    1. 7th grade (ECMS-Gardena and ECMS-Inglewood)
      1. Staff analysis: contract costs within school outdoor education budgets.
    2. 11th grade (ECHS-Lawndale and ECHS-Gardena)
      1. Staff analysis: contract costs within school outdoor education budgets.
  2. ECS - PowerSchool contract renewal 2025-26
    1. Staff analysis: Annual contract renewal for ECS's student information system. Customary increase from PowerSchool of ~6% from previous year.
  3. Revolution Foods vended student meals contract renewal 2025-26
    1. Staff analysis: 4.3% increase to meal costs from previous year based on food supply price inflation. Recommendation to move forward with this renewal.
  4. EdTec renewable contracts for back office and data services 
    1. Staff analysis: no fee increases from previous year for both contracts. Approval requested in arrears due to time being of the essence between board meetings.
  5. 2025-26 SPED Provider Agreements/Rate Sheets (vetted by Dr. Shalene Wright, Director of SpEd and ELD)
    1. AJP Educational Services
    2. Cross County Education
    3. Comprehensive Therapy Associates
    4. EdLogical
    5. LA Speech Pathology Services
    6. The Upward Bound School (nonpublic school)
    7. Total Education Solutions
 
  C. Recommend board approval of check registers and credit card statements Vote Sarahai Garibay
   

ECS management certification: ECS management attests to having reviewed and approved the individual line items on the attached check registers and credit card statements in accordance with ECS Financial Policies.

 

 
  D. Recommend board approval of 2025-26 Finance Committee Goals Vote Tracy Bondi
   

Proposed 2025-26 goals:

 

  • Engage board in a critical assessment of the budget as it relates to organizational priorities and goals
  • Hold a yearly ECS financial training course for ECS Staff and/or New Board members
  • Ensure school budgets and cash flows are transparent, supportable, and sustainable
  • Support ECHSG's financial objectives in the facilities development and school startup process
 
  E. Recommend board approval of 2025-26 Education Protection Act Plan and Resolution Vote Tracy Bondi
   

2025-26 Education Protection Act 

 

 
  F. Recommend board approval of Proposition 28 Arts and Music in Schools Annual Report FY25 Vote Tracy Bondi
     
  G. 2025-26 Consolidated Applications for all ECS schools Vote Tracy Bondi
     
V. Action Item 9:23 AM
  A. Recommend board approval of 2025-26 budgets for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G Vote Tracy Bondi 5 m
   
  • Attached in Discussion Items / Updates Item III.A
 
VI. Closing Items 9:28 AM
  A. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 1 m
  B. Adjourn Meeting Vote Tracy Bondi 1 m