Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

In-Person at ECS Home Office

Date and Time

Monday July 28, 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

ECS Board Members                              Term   and    End Date    
Dr. Betsy Hamilton, President...............3 years June 30, 2028
Dr. Denise Berger, ................................3 years  June 30, 2026
Mr. Anthony Jowid.................................3 years June 30, 2028

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, 2028

Mr. Mason Williams.................................3 years June 30, 2028

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

Dr. Geneva Matthews, Principal at ECMS-Inglewood

Mr. Dave Trejo, Principal at ECMS-Gardena 

Dr. Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro, Principal at ECHS-Gardena 
Ms. Jennifer Larsen, Principal at ECHS-Lawndale


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: preview of 2025-26 Academic Priority Plan FYI Danielle Kelsick 10 m
   
  • Preview of 2025-26 Academic Priority Plan
 
IV. Consent Items A-H 5:38 PM
  A. Approve 6/23/2025 board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 3 m
     
     
  B. Approve 7/15/2025 Governance Committee meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
     
  C. Approve contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   
  1. ECMSI - MDC Valencia facilities repairs and maintenance work - Summer 2025
    1. Staff analysis: contract cost within school facilities maintenance budget. Approval in arrears requested due to time being of the essence between board meetings.
  2. ECMSG - AstroCamp 8th Grade Outdoor Education Trip - 2025-26
    1. Staff analysis: contract costs within school outdoor education budgets. Approval in arrears requested due to time being of the essence between board meetings.
  3. ECS - GoGuardian contract renewal 2025-26
    1. Staff analysis: Annual contract renewal for ECS's Chromebook monitoring software. Increase of ~5% from previous year. Approval in arrears requested due to time being of the essence between board meetings.
  4. ECMSI Woodcraft Rangers after-school program contract renewal 2025-26
    1. Staff analysis: After-school contract renewal matching annually awarded ASES grant amount.
  5. ECMSG - MBA Mechanical Air Handlers Installation Services
    1. Staff analysis: necessary repairs/upgrades for ECMS-G's HVAC system, aligned with school facilities maintenance budget. Approval in arrears requested due to time being of the essence between board meetings.
  6. ECS - VNS Janitorial Services 2025-26 Renewal Contracts
    1. Staff analysis: janitorial costs are in line with 25/26 school budgets.
      1. ECHS-Lawndale
      2. ECMS-Gardena
      3. ECMS-Inglewood
      4. ECHS-Gardena
  7. ECHSL - VNS Maintenance 2025-26 Renewal Contract
    1. Staff analysis: Maintenance contract renewal for daytime services provided in conjunction with janitorial services. Maintenance costs costs are in line with 25/26 school budgets.

 

 
  D. Approve LACOE Certification of Signatures 2025-26 Vote Jeremiah David
     
  E. Approve Teachers on Special Assignment for 2025-26 School Year (Board Policy 32188) Vote Sarah Jamieson
   
 
  F. Approve 2025-26 ECS Employee Handbook Vote Sarah Jamieson & Jeremiah David
   
  • Reaffirmation of the existing ECS Employee Handbook for the 2025–26 School Year
    • No textual changes to Employee Handbook from 2024-25 approved version (aside from year and ECS employee name updates)
 
  G. Approve revised 2025-26 ECS Board Committees & Terms Vote Jeremiah David
     
  H. Approve sale or disposal of ECS e-waste (surplus technology equipment) Vote Jeremiah David
     
V. Action Items 5:41 PM
  A. Approve CL 500 Declaration of Need for ECHS-Lawndale, ECMS-Gardena, ECMS-Inglewood, ECHS-Gardena Vote Sarah Jamieson 3 m
   
 
  B. Elect prospective board member Remco Waller to ECS Board Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 3 m
     
  C. Accept board member resignation of Jenina Ramirez effective 7/28/2025 Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 3 m
     
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 5:50 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Monday, September 15, 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
VII. Transition to Closed Session 5:53 PM
  A. Adjourn to Closed Session Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
VIII. Closed Session 5:54 PM
  A. STUDENT DISCIPLINE – EXPULSION APPEAL (Government Code § 54957 and Education Code § 35146) Discuss 10 m
   

Consideration of appeal of expulsion decision for Student #2025-001, pursuant to the ECS Expulsion Appeal Process.

 

The Board will deliberate on the parent’s written request to reconsider the expulsion determination.

 

Board member(s) who participated in the Expulsion Committee will recuse themselves from this item.

 
  B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (Government Code § 54956.9) Discuss 10 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 10 m
   

Agency Designated Representative: Robert Escalante

 

Employee Organization: Environmental Educators United

 
IX. Report Out of Closed Session 6:24 PM
  A. Report Out FYI Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
X. Closing Items 6:25 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m