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Environmental Charter Schools

Special Finance Committee Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Thursday August 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM PDT

Location

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84651586517?pwd=Nq7a9fgZkv9yUo1N4hMhcSeyN9favH.1&jst=2

 

Alternative access:

  • Dial-In: 669-900-6833‬, Meeting ID: 84651586517, Passcode: 245035
  • Two-way Teleconference Locations: 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 | 1656 Vorhees Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | 1341 Comstock Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024 | 2917 Palm Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
  • Each teleconference location listed above is open and accessible to the public. Members of the public may attend and address the Committee from any listed location.

Finance Committee Members

  • Andrew Ellenbogen (Chair)
  • Remco Waller
  • Bruce Greenspon
  • Danielle Kelsick
  • Sarahai Garibay

Finance Committee Charter

 

Financial Oversight

  • Review and recommend the annual operating budget to the Board.
  • Monitor organizational financial performance against budget throughout the year.
  • Review long-range financial forecasts, cash flow, reserves, and financial sustainability.
  • Review significant financial risks and recommend strategies to mitigate those risks.
  • Monitor compliance with financial policies, loan covenants, and other fiscal obligations.
  • Promote Board financial literacy through orientation and periodic financial training.

 

Audit Responsibilities

Acting as the Audit Committee, the Committee shall:

  • Recommend the appointment, retention, or replacement of the independent auditor.
  • Oversee the annual audit process.
  • Review audited financial statements, management letters, and auditor recommendations.
  • Monitor management's implementation of audit findings and internal control improvements.
  • Review the adequacy of financial reporting systems and internal controls.
  • Oversee auditor independence, including review of audit and non-audit services.
  • Recommend acceptance of the annual audit to the Board.

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 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 at regular meetings, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of two (2) minutes each to address the Committee (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of four (4) minutes each). Please note that the Committee allows a maximum of 16 minutes for this section, on a first-come, first-served basis.


Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters listed on the agenda, they may speak at the beginning of the specific agenda item. Speakers will be given a maximum of two (2) minutes each to address the Committee (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of four (4) minutes each). Please note that the Committee allows a maximum of 6 minutes to each agenda item on a first-come, first-served basis.


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 Committee meeting may request assistance by contacting ECS at (310) 214-3408, option 5.

 

AGENDA POSTING
This agenda is posted in the exterior public display case adjacent to the side entrance of the ECS Home Office, 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, which is freely accessible to the public 24 hours a day, at each teleconference location listed above, and on the ECS public meeting portal.

 

ACCESO AL IDIOMA
Para solicitar una traducción de esta agenda o servicios de interpretación para esta reunión, comuníquese con ECS al (310) 214-3408, opción 5, con al menos 48 horas de anticipación.

PUBLIC INSPECTION OF AGENDA MATERIALS
Writings that are public records and are distributed to a majority of the Committee in connection with an open session agenda item are available for public inspection at the ECS Home Office, 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, during regular business hours, and on the ECS public meeting portal. Writings distributed less than 72 hours before the meeting will be made available for public inspection at the same time they are distributed to members of the Committee. 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 2:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record attendance and guests   Andrew Ellenbogen 1 m
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Andrew Ellenbogen 1 m
  C. Approve agenda Vote Andrew Ellenbogen 1 m
  D. Committee structure and operation Discuss Andrew Ellenbogen 5 m
   
  • Andrew Ellenbogen will run the meeting as Chair
  • Chair will solicit input from Committee members to achieve committee’s goals as set in Committee Charter
  • Chair will work with Jeremiah Rosario David or designee for agenda creation
  • Brown Act rules for this Committee:
    • This meeting is public. Meetings are open to the public, and Open Session is recorded and publicly posted.
    • Do not build agreement between meetings. In between meetings, do not send emails, texts, calls, or otherwise speak with other Committee or Board members to line up a position on Committee business. Bring it to a committee or board meeting instead.
    • Closed Session is available only where the Brown Act expressly authorizes it, such as pending litigation or real property negotiations, and will be agendized when it applies.
  • Committee will create recommendations to report out at each ECS board meeting
  
II. Presentations from the Floor 2:08 PM
  A. Presentations from the floor on agenda items FYI 12 m
   

Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters listed on the agenda, they may speak at the beginning of the specific agenda item. Speakers will be given a maximum of two (2) minutes each to address the Committee (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of four (4) minutes each). Please note that the Committee allows a maximum of 6 minutes to each agenda item on a first-come, first-served basis.

  
III. Discussion Items / Updates 2:20 PM
  A. Committee Charter review Discuss Andrew Ellenbogen 5 m
   
 
  B. 2026-27 Committee Meeting Calendar Discuss Andrew Ellenbogen 5 m
   
  • Committee Meetings before ECS Board meetings on 8/24/26, 12/1/26, 2/22/27, 4/19/27, 6/21/27.
    • Proposed:
      • Finance meets the week before each regular board meeting to clear statutory reporting deadlines (except for when holidays/breaks occur in the week before the board meeting)
      • Recurring meeting day and time: TBD
  
  C. Timeline and deliverables to the Board Discuss Andrew Ellenbogen 10 m
   
  • Medium term through 12/1: First Interim reports for all four LEAs, FY26 audit report acceptance, FY27 auditor engagement
  • February 2027: Second Interim reports for all four LEAs
  • April 2027: 2027-28 budget development assumptions, multi-year projections, enrollment and ADA
  • June 2027: 2027-28 budgets and preliminary budget adoption, LCAP fiscal alignment
  • Annual: Board financial literacy training
  
  D. Financial position briefing Discuss Committee 20 m
   
  • Cash position and reserves, FY27 enrollment and ADA assumptions, significant financial risks.
  
  E. Audit Committee function Discuss Committee 5 m
   
  • FY26 audit status and timeline, auditor independence and contract details including audit and non-audit services, status of prior year findings and internal control improvements.
  
IV. Recommendation Items 3:05 PM
  A. Recommendation items Vote Andrew Ellenbogen 10 m
   
  • Recommend board approval of the 2026-27 Committee meeting calendar
  • Recommend board approval of Committee Charter revisions (if any)
  • Confirm what to report out on the 8/24/26 Board agenda
  
V. Closing Items 3:15 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Andrew Ellenbogen 1 m