Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Thursday August 4, 2022 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
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. 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
Ms. Alison Diaz, Director of Growth and Sustainability (Facilities)
Dr. Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro, Director of Principal Development/Principal Coach

Ms. Tracy Bondi, Director of Finance

Mr. Jeremiah David, Director of Compliance and Operations

Ms. Sarah Jamieson, Director of Human Resources

Mr. Michael Martucci, Director of Student Services

Ms. Jen Fenton, Director of Health and Safety
Ms. Lucia Bañuelos, 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. 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   Jenina Ramirez 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   Jenina Ramirez 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Jenina Ramirez 1 m
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. Public Hearing 5:03 PM
  A. Public Comment: Revised ECS - Safe Return to In Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner & Jeremiah David 20 m
     
IV. Consent Items A-K 5:23 PM
  A. Approve Board Resolution 2022-2023 #1 - Authorizing Remote Board Meetings Vote Jeremiah David 3 m
     
  B. Approve minutes for 6/23/2022 ECS board meeting Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
  C. Approve revised ECS - Safe Return to In Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan Vote Farnaz Golshani-Flechner & Jeremiah David
   
  • Attached in previous agenda item II.A
 
  D. Approve revised 2022-2023 Board & Committee Calendar Vote Jeremiah David & Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
     
  E. Approve FY 2022-23 contract(s) Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  F. Approve ECHS-Gardena to purchase one (1) school van up to $45,000 Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • Proposed: ECHS-Gardena is seeking to purchase one (1) school van at a maximum cost of $45,000 to transport students to offsite curricular and athletic programs. ECHS-Gardena does not currently own a school van.
 
  G. Approve revised Independent Study Policy 2022-2023 Vote Jeremiah David
     
  H. Approve Parent-Student Handbook(s) Vote ECS Principals
     
  I. Approve sale or disposition of ECS technology equipment Vote Jeremiah David
     
  J. Approve revised Academic Calendars 2022-2023 Vote Danielle Kelsick
   
  • Revised Academic Calendars 2022-2023
    • ECHS-Lawndale
      • Decrease from 176 days to 175, which meets the CDE minimum # of instructional days for charter schools
      • Decrease in total instructional minutes from 65,600 to 65,248, which still exceeds the CDE minimum # of instructional minutes for high schools (64,800) by 448 minutes
    • ECHS-Gardena
      • Increase in total instructional minutes from 65,200 to 66,070, which now exceeds the CDE minimum # of instructional minutes for high schools (64,800) by 1,270 minutes
    • Comparison Sheet
 
  K. Approve Consolidated Applications for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G Vote Tracy Bondi & Jeremiah David
     
V. Action Item 5:26 PM
  A. Approve ECS Employee Handbook 2022-2023 Vote Sarah Jamieson 5 m
     
  B. Approve Teachers on Special Assignment for 2022-23 School Year (Board Policy 32188) Vote Sarah Jamieson 3 m
     
  C. Approve CL500 Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators Vote Sarah Jamieson 3 m
     
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 5:37 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • September 22, 2022 at 5pm (planned to be a virtual board meeting)
    •  Virtual board meetings will continue to be held only until the declared State of Emergency in California due to COVID-19 is lifted at a future date.
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • Facilities Committee - September 28, 2022 at 4:30pm
  • Governance Committee - October 11, 2022 at 10:30am
  • Audit Committee - December 14, 2022 at 1pm
  • Finance Committee - January 20, 2023 at 8:30am
 
  C. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 5 m
VII. Closing Items 5:44 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Jenina Ramirez 1 m