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Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

In-Person at ECS Home Office

Date and Time

Monday December 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST

Location

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

 

Two-way teleconference locations: 3011 Elm Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | 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   Zena Fong 1 m
   
 
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Zena Fong 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Zena Fong 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 5 m
  B. EdTec financial update Discuss Jair Ventura & Jean Yang 20 m
   
 
IV. Consent Items A-C 5:53 PM
  A. Approve 11/10/2025 board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 3 m
   
 
     
  B. Approve revised 2025-26 Board & Committee Calendar Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  C. Approve Board Resolution No. 2025-02 - Withdrawing from Membership in SELF Insurance Vote Jeremiah David
   

BACKGROUND:

Environmental Charter Schools is currently a member of the Alliance of Schools for Cooperative Insurance Programs, a joint powers authority and primary risk sharing pool of public educational agencies. ASCIP provides coverages for (liability claims)(workers compensation) and (property losses). Schools Excess Liability Fund, another separate JPA, has for many years worked with ASCIP and provides to the District excess coverage in areas covered by ASCIP as the primary pool.

Based upon preliminary review and information obtained or generated by staff, it is recommended that Environmental Charter Schools review available options for excess reinsurance as well as continuation with the SELF programs for scope of coverage, pricing-rates and also operational issues of Environmental Charter Schools and ASCIP working with SELF for maximum excess participation on behalf of the District. 

 

For Environmental Charter Schools to evaluate options, and if finding a superior one to be able to move to an alternative excess program effective July 1, 2026 when the current fiscal year of SELF ends under the Joint Powers Agreement of SELF to which Environmental Charter Schools is a signatory, Environmental Charter Schools is required to have the Board adopt a formal Resolution of Withdrawal to be effective July 1, 2026, to send written Notice of Withdrawal with a copy of the Resolution to SELF, and to do so by on or before the close of business on December 31, 2025 in order for the withdrawal to be effective July 1, 2026. 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the Governing Board formally adopt a Resolution, a draft of which is appended, serving as a Resolution of Withdrawal to then be sent by staff to SELF with written notice of the intended withdrawal by no later than December 31, 2025. It is not the intention of Environmental Charter Schools presently to commit to leaving SELF pending completion of a due diligence on excess options. But to comply with the notice provisions and to confer and confirm with SELF that this Resolution of Withdrawal may be superseded by a later Resolution to remain a current member in good standing with SELF if that is the later decision of this Board, is the recommendation.

  
V. Action Item 5:56 PM
  A. Approve First Interim Financial Reports for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G Vote Tracy Bondi 3 m
   
 
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 5:59 PM
  A. Next ECS board meeting FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Monday, January 12, 2025 @ 5pm (pending board approval)
  
  B. Next ECS committee meetings FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Audit Committee - January 8, 2025 @ 1pm (pending board approval)
  • Finance Committee - June 18, 2026 @ 8:30am
  
  C. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 1 m
VII. Transition to Closed Session 6:02 PM
  A. Adjourn to closed session Vote Zena Fong 1 m
VIII. Closed Session 6:03 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 6:23 PM
  A. Report out FYI Zena Fong 1 m
X. Closing Items 6:24 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Zena Fong 1 m