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Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

In-Person at ECS Home Office

Date and Time

Monday June 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM PDT

Location

In-person location: ECS Home Office - 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd #100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278

 

Two-way teleconference locations: 1100 Shasta Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126 | 13885 Dogleg Lane, Broomfield, CO 80023 | 222 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805

ECS Board Members                              Term   and    End Date    
Dr. Betsy Hamilton, President...............3 years June 30, 2025
Dr. Denise Berger, ................................3 years  June 30, 2026
Mr. Anthony Jowid.................................3 years June 30, 2025

Ms. Zena Fong.......................................3 years June 30, 2026
Ms. Jenina Ramirez................................3 years June 30, 2027
Dr. Madhu Chatwani...............................3 years June 30, 2026
Mr. Kennedy Hilario................................3 years June 30, 2026

Mr. Herb Sims.........................................3 years June 30, 2025

Mr. Mason Williams.................................3 years June 30, 2025

Mr. Andrew Ellenbogen...........................3 years June 30, 2026
Lawndale Elementary School District Representative, Rotating Position  

ECS Staff   
Ms. Danielle Kelsick, Superintendent

Ms. Tracy Bondi, Director of Finance

Mr. Jeremiah David, Director of Compliance & Operations

Ms. Sarah Jamieson, Director of Human Resources

Ms. Jen Fenton, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Dr. Shalene Wright, Director of SpEd & English Language Development

Mr. Cesar Delgado, Director of Student Wellness
Ms. Lucia Bañuelos, Principal at ECHS-Lawndale
Dr. Geneva Matthews, Principal at ECMS-Inglewood
Mr. Dave Trejo, Principal at ECMS-Gardena 

Mission:

Reimagine public education in low-income communities of color to prepare conscious, critical thinkers who are equipped to graduate from college and create a more equitable and sustainable world.

Values:

JUSTICE - We examine bias, racism, and prejudice. We deliver culturally-responsive curricula. We succeed when students’ race and class cease to predict their level of achievement.

COMMUNITY - We care. We collaborate. We respect the rights and voices of our stakeholders.

CURIOSITY - We question. We explore. We innovate.

SUSTAINABILITY - We think globally and act locally. We adapt. We encourage systems thinking to create a sustainable future.

LEADERSHIP - We listen. We think critically. We advocate. We shift public discourse. We are our own superheroes.

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 BOARD 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 Board 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 Board on any topic or subject matter that falls within the Environmental Charter School's purview. Speakers may sign up in person immediately prior to the beginning of the Board meeting by turning in a Speaker Form (available at the check-in table in English and Spanish).

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 Board (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of six (6) minutes each). Please note that the Board allows a maximum of 10 minutes to each subject as determined by the Board's presiding officer.

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).

The public should be aware that the Board 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. Previous board meeting minutes may be viewed on the Board On Track public portal website at https://app2.boardontrack.com/public/3tHo3u/home.

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 5:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record attendance and guests   Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
   
 
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
   
 
  D. Opener Discuss Danielle Kelsick 5 m
II. Presentations from the Floor 5:08 PM
  A. Presentations from the floor on non-agenda Items FYI 10 m
   

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 Board (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of six (6) minutes each).

  
  B. Presentations from the floor on agenda items FYI 10 m
   

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 5:28 PM
  A. Superintendent update FYI Danielle Kelsick 15 m
  B. 2025-26 Budgets Presentation for all ECS Schools FYI Jair Ventura & Jean Yang 20 m
   
 
  C. 2025-26 Local Control and Accountability Plans Presentation for all ECS Schools Discuss Jen Fenton 20 m
   
 
IV. Public Hearing 6:23 PM
  A. Public Hearing regarding the actions and expenditures proposed in each ECS schools' 2025-26 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) FYI Public 10 m
   
 
V. Consent Items A-P 6:33 PM
  A. Approve 5/15/2025 board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 3 m
   
 
     
  B. Approve 6/20/2025 Finance Committee meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
   
 
     
  C. Approve private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Jen Fenton
   
 
  D. Approve check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi / 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.

 

  
  E. Approve contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   
  1. Campus facilities repairs/maintenance - Summer 2025
    1. Staff analysis: contract costs within school facilities maintenance budgets.
      1. ECHSL - ADEP Precision Asbestos Abatement
      2. ECHSL - MDC Valencia facilities repairs and maintenance work
      3. ECMSG - MBA Mechanical HVAC maintenance quote for MPR
  2. ECMSI - Gensler Visioning and Master Plan Study Services - Summer 2025
    1. Staff analysis: contract cost within capital expenditures budgets.
  3. CalSHAPE Phase 2 HVAC Service Agreements with service agreement changes to be made after attorney recommendations
    1. Vendor Change to PacificWest Energy Solutions, Inc. (ECHS-G, ECHS-L, ECMS-I)
      1. Background & Rationale:
        1. On November 21, 2024, the ECS board approved CalSHAPE Phase 2 projects and MBA Mechanical service agreements for HVAC replacement at the three campuses. During contract negotiations, MBA Mechanical withdrew its agreements; staff subsequently solicited and evaluated a revised turnkey proposal from PacificWest Energy Solutions, Inc., CalSHAPE-qualified and already familiar with ECS facilities.
        2. Board resolutions adopted in Sept./Nov. 2024 authorize designated officers to execute all documents necessary for these projects; however, a vendor change constitutes a material deviation from the Board’s 11-21-24 vote, necessitating this new action.
      2. PacificWest Contracts structure:
        1. Design phase (funded within the CalSHAPE “design/construction” allocation) – PacificWest will complete detailed engineering, permitting and bid-level cost estimates.
        2. Construction phase – Each contract includes a not-to-exceed (NTE) cap that is higher than the current grant award to preserve flexibility while bids are finalized. ECS is not committing to spend above the grant at this time.
        3. Return to Board – Once designs are complete and exact pricing is negotiated, staff will present a guaranteed-maximum-price (GMP) amendment or alternative delivery plan.
    2. Additional funding efforts: Staff are actively preparing grant proposals to cover any cost overage so that the final construction spend aligns with available external funds.
  4. Total Education Solutions SPED Provider Agreement 2025-26
    1. Staff analysis: vetted by Dr. Shalene Wright, Director of SpEd and ELD

 

As recommended by Finance Committee

 

  5. SB Adventures Outdoor Education Trip contract 2025-26

        A. 7th grade (ECMS-Gardena and ECMS-Inglewood)

        B. 11th grade (ECHS-Lawndale and ECHS-Gardena)

             i. Staff analysis: contract costs within school outdoor education budgets.

 

  6. ECS - PowerSchool contract renewal 2025-26

        A. Staff analysis: Annual contract renewal for ECS's student information system. Customary increase from PowerSchool of ~6% from previous year.

 

  7. Revolution Foods vended student meals contract renewal 2025-26

       A. Staff analysis: 4.3% increase to meal costs from previous year based on food supply price inflation. Recommendation to move forward with this renewal.

  

  8. EdTec renewable contracts for back office and data services

        A. 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.

 

   9. 2025-26 SPED Provider Agreements/Rate Sheets (vetted by Dr. Shalene Wright, Director of SpEd and ELD)

        A. AJP Educational Services

        B. Cross Country Education

        C. Comprehensive Therapy Associates

        D. EdLogical

        E. LA Speech Pathology Services

        F. The Upward Bound School (nonpublic school)

  
  F. Approve 2025-26 Consolidated Application for each ECS schools as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
   
 
  G. Approve 2025-26 Education Protection Act Plan and Resolution as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
   
 
  H. Approve Proposition 28 Arts and Music in Schools Annual Report FY25 as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
   
 
  I. Approve revised Independent Study Policy Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  J. Approve 2025 Triennial Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP) Assessment Report and revisions to the ECS LSWP Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  K. Approve calculation corrections to ECHS-G Academic Calendar 2025-26 Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • Revised ECHS-G Academic Calendar 2025-26
    • No changes to calendar dates or daily minutes.
    • Calculation corrections to weekly totals:
      • November 10-14, 2025 - Minutes totals for that week = 1495
      • March 16-20, 2026 - Minutes totals for that week = 1580
      • March 23-27, 2026 - Minutes totals for that week = 1495
    • Current annual minutes total: 66735
    • Revised annual minutes total: 66255
      • Net change: -480 minutes
  
  L. Approve revised 2024-25 Board & Committee Calendar Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  M. Approve 2025-26 Board & Committee Calendar Vote Danielle Kelsick / Jeremiah David
   
 
  N. Elect officers of the ECS corporation Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • President: Dr. Betsy Hamilton
  • Vice President: Zena Fong
  • Superintendent: Danielle Kelsick
  • Treasurer: Tracy Bondi
  • Secretary: Jeremiah David
  
  O. Approve 3-year board term renewals (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2028) for the following members Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • Dr. Betsy Hamilton
  • Anthony Jowid
  • Herb Sims
  • Mason Williams
  
  P. Approve 2025-26 ECS Board Committees & Terms Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
VI. Action Items 6:36 PM
  A. Approve 2025-26 Local Accountability and Control Plans for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G Vote Jen Fenton & Danielle Kelsick 3 m
   
  • Attached in Public Hearing IV.A above.
  
  B. Approve 2025-26 budgets for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi & Danielle Kelsick 3 m
   
  • Attached in Discussion Items / Updates III.A above
  
  C. Approve 2025 California School Dashboard Local Indicators for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G Vote Robert Maxwell / Jeremiah David 3 m
   
 
VII. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 6:45 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Monday, July 28, 2025 @ 5pm
  
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Finance Committee - September 12, 2025 @ 8:30am
  • Facilities Committee - October 1, 2025 @ 4:30pm
  • Governance Committee - October 28, 2025 @ 10:30am
  • Audit Committee - December 10, 2025 @ 1pm
  
  C. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 1 m
VIII. Transition to Closed Session 6:48 PM
  A. Adjourn to Closed Session Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
IX. Closed Session 6:49 PM
  A. STUDENT DISCIPLINE (Government Code § 54957 and Education Code § 48918) Discuss 15 m
   

Consideration of student expulsion recommendation (Student #2025-001)

 

Action Item: The Board will consider whether to ratify the recommendation of the Expulsion Committee to expel Student #2025-001.

  
  B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (Government Code § 54956.9) Discuss 15 m
   

Name of Case: Environmental Educators United, CTA/NEA v. Environmental Charter Schools. Case No. LA-CE-6934-E.

  
  C. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code §54957.6) Discuss 15 m
   

Agency Designated Representative: Robert Escalante

 

Employee Organization: Environmental Educators United

  
X. Report Out of Closed Session 7:34 PM
  A. Report Out FYI Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
XI. Closing Items 7:35 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m