Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Thursday June 18, 2020 at 5:00 PM PDT

Location

 
OR 
 
Dial-In: (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 147 466 498
 
Two-way Teleconference Location: 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278.
ECS Board Members                                                           Term   and    End Date    
Mr. Anthony Jowid, President.................................................3 years June 30, 2022
Mr. Ken Deemer, Vice President.............................................3 years June 30, 2022
Ms. Denise Berger, Secretary.................................................3 years  June 30, 2020
Ms. Cathy Creasia..................................................................3 years June 30, 2020
Ms. Zena Fong........................................................................2 year June 30, 2020
Ms. Jenina Ramirez................................................................3 years June 30, 2021
Lawndale Elementary School District Representative............Rotating Position      

ECS Staff   
Ms. Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director
Ms. Danielle Kelsick, Chief Academic Officer/Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Ms. Alison Diaz, Director of Growth and Sustainability (Facilities)
Ms. Kami Cotler, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Dr. Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro, Director of Principal Development/Principal Coach
Ms. KC Fabiero, Principal at ECHS
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.

Agenda

      Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 5:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record Attendance and Guests   Anthony Jowid 2 m
   
  • Dr. Betsy Hamilton, Lawndale Elementary School District (LESD) Superintendent (attending as LESD board representative for current ECS board meeting) - see bio here
  • Dr. Hughie Barnes, board member candidate
  • Dr. Madhu Chatwani, board member candidate
  • Kennedy Hilario, board member candidate
 
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Anthony Jowid 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m
   
  • Version en español está aquí
 
  D. Opener   Farnaz Flechner 10 m
II. Presentations from the Floor 5:14 PM
  A. Presentations from the Floor on Non-agenda Items FYI
   
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
   
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. New Board Member Elections 5:14 PM
  A. Elect new board members as recommended by Governance Committee Vote Ken Deemer 5 m
   
  • Dr. Hughie Barnes - resume is here
  • Dr. Madhu Chatwani - resume is here
  • Kennedy Hilario - resume is here
 
IV. Reports/Presentations 5:19 PM
  A. CEO and CAO Update FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 30 m
   
  • CEO and CAO Update
 
  B. EdTec Financial Update FYI Dorothy Lee 30 m
   
  • 2019-2020 Financial Update
    • June 2020 financial update slides is here
    • ECHS income statement and cash flow is here
    • ECMS-G income statement and cash flow is here
    • ECMS-I income statement and cash flow is here
    • ECHS 2 income statement and cash flow is here
    • ECS balance sheet is here
  • 2020-2021 Budget Proposal
    • ECHS 2020-2021 Budget is here
    • ECMS-G 2020-2021 Budget is here
    • ECMS-I 2020-2021 Budget is here
    • ECHS 2 2020-2021 Budget is here
 
  C. Fundraising YTD Update FYI Julie Vo 5 m
   
  • Fundraising YTD update is here
 
  D. Principals Board Presentations FYI ECS Principals 20 m
   
  • ECHS Class of 2020 College Commitments Presentation
 
V. Study Session 6:44 PM
  A. 2020/21 Budgets Review and Discussion Discuss Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 20 m
   
  • 2020-2021 Budgets for ECHS, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS 2 attached in Reports / Presentations IV.B agenda item
 
VI. Approve Consent Items A-S 7:04 PM
  A. Approve previous meeting minutes for February 13, 2020 board meeting Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 1 m
     
  B. Approve previous meeting minutes for April 16, 2020 board meeting Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
  C. Approve previous meeting minutes for April 27, 2020 special board meeting Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
  D. Approve previous meeting minutes for May 12, 2020 special board meeting Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
  E. Approve minutes from the following committee meetings Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • Finance Committee Meeting Minutes - 4/14/2020 is here
  • Governance Committee Meeting Minutes - 5/19/2020 is here
  • Finance Committee Meeting Minutes - 6/15/2020 is here
  • Special Governance Committee Meeting Minutes - 6/16/20 is here
 
  F. Approve March and April 2020 check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
   
 
  G. Approve March-May 2020 private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Julie Vo
   
  • List of March-May 2020 private donations over $1,000 is here
 
  H. Approve opening of ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS 2 checking accounts with Beneficial State Bank as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
   
  • Approve check signers: Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, KC Fabiero, Anthony Jowid
 
  I. Approve opening of ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS, ECHS 2 credit card accounts with Beneficial State Bank as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
   
  • Approve credit cards for: Dave Trejo (ECMS-G), Geneva Matthews (ECMS-I), KC Fabiero (ECHS), Farnaz Golshani-Flechner (Home Office)
 
  J. Approve 2020-2021 Education Protection Act Plan and Resolution as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • 2020-2021 Education Protection Act Plan is here
  • 2020-2021 Education Protection Act Resolution is here
 
  K. Approve FY 2020-21 contract(s) as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • TGC IT Outsource Contract for all sites
    • $155,160 expected annual cost (+3% change from previous year)
    • Contract is here
  • School Nutrition Plus Food Service Vended Agreement renewal for all sites
    • $420,676,02 expected annual cost (+3% change from previous year)
    • Contract is here
 
  L. Approve Tax Return Form 990 as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
     
  M. Approve revised ECS Financial Policies as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
   
  • Tabled for next ECS board meeting
 
  N. Approve 2020-2021 ECS Employee Handbook Vote Sarah Jamieson
   
  • 2020-2021 ECS Employee Handbook (tracked changes) is here
 
  O. Approve CL500 Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators Vote Sarah Jamieson
   
  • Form CL 500 - Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Teachers is here
 
  P. Approve ECHS Distance Learning Handbook Vote KC Fabiero
   
  • ECHS Distance Learning Handbook is here
 
  Q. Approve Graduation Waivers for Student(s) Vote KC Fabiero
   
  • 2019-20 Board Waiver #12709 is here
  • 2019-20 Board Waiver #13140 is here
  • 2019-20 Board Waiver #14322 is here
  • 2019-20 Board Waiver #14350 is here
  • 2019-20 Board Waiver #14428 is here
 
  R. Approve Candidates' Participation on the Following Board Committees Vote Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
   
  • Updated ECS Board Committee Roster is here
 
  S. Approve 2020-2021 Board Terms and Officers Vote Anthony Jowid
   
Approve Board Term Renewals as follows:
  • Approve Denise Berger as board member for 3-year term: Jul 01, 2020 - Jun 30, 2023
  • Approve Zena Fong as board member for 3-year term: Jul 01, 2020 - Jun 30, 2023

 

Approve Board Officers as follows:
  • Anthony Jowid for President
  • Ken Deemer for Vice President/Treasurer
  • Denise Berger for Secretary
 
VII. Action Items 7:05 PM
  A. Approve COVID-19 Operations Written Reports for ECHS, ECMS-G, ECMS-I Vote ECS Principals 3 m
   
 
  B. Approve 2020-2021 Budgets for ECHS, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS #2 Vote Tracy Bondi 3 m
   
  • 2020-2021 Budgets for ECHS, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS 2 attached in Reports / Presentations IV.B agenda item
 
  C. Approve 2020-2021 Board and Committee Calendar Vote Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 3 m
   
  • 2020-2021 Board and Committee Calendar is here
 
  D. Approve 2020-2021 Academic Calendars for ECHS, ECMS-G, ECMS-I Vote Danielle Kelsick 3 m
   
  • 2020-2021 Academic Calendars for ECHS, ECMS-G, ECMS-I
 
VIII. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 7:17 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI 1 m
   
  • July 16, 2020 at 5pm
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI 1 m
   
  • Finance Committee - August 7, 2020 at 8:30am
  • Governance Committee - September 1, 2020 at 10:30am
  • Facilities Committee - September 30, 2020 at 4:30pm
  • Audit Committee - December 11, 2020 at 3pm
  • Equity and Diversity Committee - date TBA
 
IX. Transition to Closed Session 7:19 PM
  A. Adjourn to Closed Session Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m
X. Closed Session 7:20 PM
  A. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Vote Anthony Jowid 35 m
   
Title: Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director
 
XI. Report Out of Closed Session 7:55 PM
  A. Report Out FYI Anthony Jowid 2 m
XII. Closing Items 7:57 PM
  A. Appreciations FYI Anthony Jowid 2 m
  B. Adjourn Meeting Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m