Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

In-Person at ECS Home Office

Date and Time

Monday September 15, 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

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

Mr. Remco Waller....................................3 years June 30, 2028
Lawndale Elementary School District Representative, Rotating Position  

ECS Staff   
Ms. Danielle Kelsick, Superintendent

Ms. Lucia Bañuelos, Deputy Superintendent of Schools

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).

 
  C. Public hearing regarding sufficiency of instructional materials for 2025-26 for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G FYI 20 m
   

Education Code §60119 requires an annual public hearing, held within the first eight weeks of school, for the governing board to determine whether each pupil has sufficient standards-aligned instructional materials to use in class and to take home in the following areas: English Language Arts/ELD, Mathematics, History–Social Science, Science, and, as applicable for grades 6–12, World Language and Health. For grades 9–12 science laboratory courses, sufficiency of lab equipment must also be verified.

 

Following the public hearing, staff recommends adoption of Resolution No. 2025-01 certifying sufficiency for Environmental Charter High School–Lawndale (ECHS-L), Environmental Charter High School–Gardena (ECHS-G), Environmental Charter Middle School–Gardena (ECMS-G), and Environmental Charter Middle School–Inglewood (ECMS-I). The LEA-Approved Instructional Materials Lists (ECHS-L, ECHS-G, ECMS-G, ECMS-I) and supporting documentation relied upon for this determination are available for public inspection at the ECS Home Office - 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd #100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, during regular business hours and at the meeting.

 
III. Discussion Items / Updates 5:48 PM
  A. Superintendent update FYI Danielle Kelsick 15 m
  B. ECHSG school update FYI Dr. Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro 10 m
  C. EdTec finance update Discuss Jean Yang & Jair Ventura 35 m
     
IV. Consent Items A-H 6:48 PM
  A. Approve 7/28/2025 board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 3 m
     
     
  B. Approve private donations over $1,000 Vote Jen Fenton
     
  C. Approve contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   
  1. ECMSG - Boys & Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor After-School Program Renewal Agreement 2025-26
    1. Staff analysis: After-school contract renewal matching annually awarded ASES grant amount. Approval requested in arrears due to time being of the essence between board meetings.
       
  2. ECS - Danielle Marquez Environmental Education Program Consultant Agreement 2025-26
    1. Staff analysis: Environmental consultant contract substantially matching previous year contracts for the purpose of working on sustainable environmental projects. Approval requested in arrears due to time being of the essence between board meetings.
  3. ECMSI - MDC Valencia New Windows Installation Contract
    1. Staff analysis: construction-related work budgeted for the facilities expansion project at ECMS-Inglewood. Approval requested in arrears due to time being of the essence between board meetings.
 
  D. Approve Parent-Student Handbooks for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G Vote Jeremiah David
     
  E. Approve revised ECS Financial Policies for FY26 Vote Tracy Bondi
   
  • Revised ECS Financial Policies (redlined) for FY26
    • Sole change: equipment capitalization threshold to $10,000 for the purpose of matching the federal guidelines (page 12, Section H).
 
  F. Approve revised 2025-26 Board & Committee Calendar Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  G. Approve revised 2025-26 ECS Board Committees & Terms Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  H. Approve Board Resolution No. 2025-01 - Sufficiency of Instructional Materials for 2025-26 Vote Danielle Kelsick / Jeremiah David
     
V. Action Items 6:51 PM
  A. Approve Unaudited Actuals for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G Vote Tracy Bondi 3 m
     
  B. Approve LACOE Governance Review of SY 2024-25 Vote Danielle Kelsick / Jeremiah David 3 m
     
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 6:57 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Monday, October 27, 2025 @ 5pm (pending board approval)
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Facilities Committee - October 1, 2025 @ 4:30pm
  • Governance Committee - October 28, 2025 @ 10:30am
  • Audit Committee - December 10, 2025 @ 1pm
  • Finance Committee - June 18, 2026 @ 8:30am
 
  C. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 1 m
VII. Transition to Closed Session 7:00 PM
  A. Adjourn to Closed Session Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
VIII. Closed Session 7:01 PM
  A. 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.

 
  B. 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 7:21 PM
  A. Report Out FYI Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
X. Closing Items 7:22 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m