Environmental Charter Schools

Special Board of Directors' Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Thursday August 19, 2021 at 4:45 PM PDT

Location

Zoom:       https://us02web.zoom.us/j/147466498?pwd=MnB5Vkc4aG41OEZ1dDdtcWoxQjV0dz09
 
OR 
 
Dial-In: (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 147 466 498, Passcode: 133043
 
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
Dr. Denise Berger, Secretary...................3 years  June 30, 2023
Ms. Zena Fong........................................2 year June 30, 2023
Ms. Jenina Ramirez.................................3 years June 30, 2024
Dr. Hughie Barnes...................................3 years June 30, 2023
Dr. Madhu Chatwani................................3 years June 30, 2023
Mr. Kennedy Hilario.................................3 years June 30, 2023
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-Lawndale
Dr. Geneva Matthews, Principal at ECMS-Inglewood
Mr. Dave Trejo, Principal at ECMS-Gardena
Dr. Cindy Guardado, Principal at ECHS-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 4:45 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record Attendance and Guests   Anthony Jowid 1 m
   
  • Dr. Betsy Hamilton, Lawndale Elementary School District (LESD) Superintendent (attending as LESD board representative for current ECS board meeting) - see bio here
 
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Anthony Jowid 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m
   
  • Version en español está aquí
 
II. Presentations from the Floor 4:48 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. Reports/Presentations 4:48 PM
  A. ECS leadership updates FYI ECS Leadership 5 m
IV. Consent Items A-D 4:53 PM
  A. Approve Contracts Vote Jeremiah David 1 m
   
  • ECMSI - Total Education Solutions Master Contract Renewal 2021-2022
    • No substantive differences from Master Contract in the previous year
    • Contract is here
  • ECS - Actively Learn Contract Renewal 2021-2022
    • For this educational software renewal, reduced # of licenses due to in-person instruction taking the primary role for School Year 2021-2022.
    • Contract is here
  • ECHSL - Mac Greine Reroofing Repairs August 2021
    • Contract in arrears -- Executive Director exception requested due to time being of the essence to commit repairs before school year begins
    • Contract is here
 
  B. Approve revised Board & Committee Calendar 2021-2022 Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • Revised Board & Committee Calendar 2021-2022 is here
 
  C. Approve Charter School Revolving Loan Fund resolution and loan agreement for ECHS-Gardena for $250,000 Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • The Charter School Revolving Loan Fund (CSRLF) Program provides low-cost loans of up to $250,000 to charter schools, with priority given to schools opening in the current fiscal year.
  • The ECS board approved this loan fund application for ECHS-Gardena
  • The loan fund was awarded to ECS and the final step of the process requires approval of the provided resolution and loan agreement 
  • The loan funds would be used primarily if there are cash flow shortfalls in the first year of ECHS-Gardena's operations.
  • Loan agreement is here
  • Resolution is here
 
  D. Approve CalSTRS resolutions for ECHS-Gardena Vote Jeremiah David
   
The following resolutions are part of the setup documents required to activate the ECHS-Gardena CalSTRS pension program:
  • Employer Paid Member Contributions Resolution is here (pages 2-3)
  • Pre-Tax Receivable Resolution is here
 
  E. Approve Beneficial State Bank Corporate Resolution to Borrow - Credit Cards Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • This step is part of the ongoing transition from ECS' previous bank to Beneficial State Bank
  • Resolution adoption is required prior to opening up new credit cards at Beneficial State Bank
  • Resolution is here
 
V. Action Items 4:54 PM
  A. Approve ECS Independent Study Policy Vote Danielle Kelsick/Farnaz Golshani-Flechner/Jeremiah David 5 m
   
  • ECS Independent Study Policy is here
 
  B. Approve revised ECS Academic Calendars Vote Danielle Kelsick 5 m
   
  • Revised ECS Academic Calendars
    • Comparison is here
    • ECHS-Lawndale is here
    • ECMS-Gardena and ECMS-Inglewood is here
    • ECHS-Gardena is here
 
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 5:04 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • September 23, 2021 at 5pm (proposed)
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • Finance Committee - September 17, 2021 at 8:30am
  • Governance Committee - September 28, 2021 at 10:30am
  • Facilities Committee - September 29, 2021 at 4:30pm
  • Audit Committee - December 10, 2021 at 10:30am
  • Equity and Diversity Committee - date TBD
 
VII. Closing Items 5:06 PM
  A. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 3 m
  B. Adjourn Meeting Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m