Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Thursday September 23, 2021 at 5:00 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

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 5:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record Attendance and Guests   Ken Deemer 1 m
   
  • Gretchen Janson, Ed.D., Lawndale Elementary School District (LESD) Assistant Superintendent, Business Services (attending as LESD board representative for this ECS board meeting)
 
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Ken Deemer 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Ken Deemer 1 m
   
  • Version en español está aquí
 
II. Presentations from the Floor 5:03 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 5:03 PM
  A. ECS leadership updates FYI ECS Directors 5 m
  B. Principals updates FYI ECHS-L & ECHS-G Principals 20 m
  C. EdTec financial review and revised budgets for 21/22 FYI Dorothy Lee 7 m
     
IV. Study Session 5:35 PM
  A. Vaccine mandate for students and staff Discuss Farnaz Golshani-Flechner & Jen Fenton 45 m
V. Consent Items A-L 6:20 PM
  A. Approve previous meeting minutes for July 14, 2021 board meeting Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 1 m
     
  B. Approve previous meeting minutes for August 19, 2021 board meeting Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
  C. Approve previous 9/17/21 Finance Committee meeting minutes Vote Jeremiah David
     
  D. Approve private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Julie Vo
     
  E. Approve unaudited actuals as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
     
  F. Approve contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • ECHS-G CELP outdoor education contracts
    • Staff analysis: per student and per chaperone costs are the same as for previously approved ECHS-Lawndale 10th grade contract
    • Group 1 contract
    • Group 2 contract
  • Woodcraft Rangers after-School contracts
    • Staff analysis: ECMS-I and ECMS-G contract renewals costs are in line with the annual after-school grant funding (ASES) that each school will receive. ECHS-G is not eligible for ASES funding since it is a high school, and the contract was negotiated and customized to fit the needs of ECHS-G students.
    • ECMS-G contract
    • ECMS-I contract
    • ECHS-G contract
 
  G. Approve revised ECS Board & Committee Calendar 2021-2022 Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  H. Approve revised ECS Board Committees & Terms 2021-2022 Vote Jeremiah David
     
  I. Approve ECMS-I Parent-Student Handbook Vote Dr. Geneva Matthews / Danny Cristales
     
  J. Approve sale or disposition of ECS technology equipment Vote Jeremiah David
     
  K. Approve resignation of board member Dr. Hughie Barnes, effective 9/10/2021 Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • Resignation of board member Dr. Hughie Barnes, effective 9/10/2021
 
  L. Approve revised ECS Independent Study Policy Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • Revised ECS Independent Study Policy
    • Updated to align with minor shifts due to AB 167 (changes in BOLD): 
      • For all pupils who are not generating attendance for more than three (3) schooldays or 60 percent of the instructional days in a school week, or 10 percent of required minimum instructional time over four continuous weeks, or found not participatory pursuant to Education Code Section 51747.5 for more than the greater of three schooldays or 60 percent of the scheduled days of synchronous instruction in a school month as applicable by grade span, or who are in violation of their written agreement, the school shall have procedures including the following reengagement strategies…(page 2)
      • Notifying parents or guardians of lack of participation within one school day of the recording of a non-attendance day or lack of participation…(page 3)
 
VI. Action Item 6:21 PM
  A. Approve revised 2021-2022 Budgets for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi / Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
   
  • Attached in Discussion Items / Updates Item III.C
 
VII. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 6:21 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • October 28, 2021 at 5pm (virtual board meeting with in-person option)
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • Governance Committee - September 28, 2021 at 10:30am
  • Facilities Committee - September 29, 2021 at 4:30pm
  • Finance Committee - October 22, 2021 at 8:30am
  • Audit Committee - December 10, 2021
 
VIII. Closing Items 6:23 PM
  A. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 3 m
  B. Adjourn Meeting Vote Ken Deemer 1 m