Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Thursday September 22, 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, 2025
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)

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   Anthony Jowid 1 m
   
  • Thelma Gonzalez, Lawndale Elementary School District Director of Student Support Services (attending as LESD board representative)
 
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Anthony Jowid 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Anthony Jowid 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. Discussion Items / Updates 5:03 PM
  A. ECMS principals updates FYI ECMS Principals 15 m
   
  • ECMS-Gardena
  • ECMS-Inglewood
 
  B. Leadership update FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 10 m
   
  • Health and safety
  • Recruitment efforts
 
  C. Action item: Elect Dr. Betsy Hamilton to ECS Board as recommended by Governance Committee Vote Anthony Jowid 3 m
     
  D. College presentation and alumni tracking update FYI ECHS-Lawndale counselor(s) 15 m
  E. 21/22 financial review and 22/23 revised budgets FYI Dorothy Lee 15 m
     
IV. Study Session 6:01 PM
  A. ECS Priorities conversation Discuss Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 45 m
   
  • ECS Strategic Priorities Benchmark Chart
 
V. Consent Items A-M 6:46 PM
  A. Approve Board Resolution 2022-2023 #2 - Authorizing Remote Board Meetings Vote Jeremiah David 3 m
     
  B. Approve minutes for 8/4/2022 ECS board meeting Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
     
  C. Approve previous committee meeting minutes Vote Jeremiah David
     
  D. Approve private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
     
  E. Approve check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
   

ECS management certification: ECS management attests to having reviewed and approved the individual line items on the attached check registers and credit card statements in accordance with current ECS Financial Policies.

 

 
  F. Approve Unaudited Actuals for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
     
  G. Approve revised 22/23 Teacher Salary Schedule as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
   
 
  H. Approve 22/23 Finance Committee Goals as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi
   
  • Proposed 22/23 Finance Committee Goals
    • Engage board in a critical assessment of the budget as it relates to organizational priorities and goals
    • Hold a yearly ECS financial training course
    • Ensure school budgets and cash flows are transparent, supportable, and sustainable
    • Support ECHS-Gardena's financial objectives in the facilities development and school startup process

 

 
  I. Approve FY 2022-23 contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   

 

As recommended by Finance Committee

 

  • ECHS-G Woodcraft Rangers After-School Program 22/23 Contract Renewal (approval in arrears)
    • Staff analysis: After-school contract renewal for ECHS-G. No substantive changes from previous year. Approval in arrears proposed due to time being of the essence between early August and late September board meetings.
  • Empowered Behavior Solutions SPED provider service contract (approval in arrears)
    • Staff analysis: additional SPED service provider support identified and contract vetted by Director of Student Services Michael Martucci. Approval in arrears proposed due to time being of the essence between early August and late September board meetings.
 
  J. Approve revised Academic Calendars 2022-2023 Vote Danielle Kelsick
   
  • Revised Academic Calendars
    • ECMS-Inglewood
      • Early release for students on 9/16. Shift from full instructional day to minimum day schedule on 9/16 due to extreme heat and malfunctioning A/C in multiple buildings on campus. Result is a 138-minute decrease in total instructional minutes. ECMS-I still exceeds the CDE minimum required number of instructional minutes by 8,599 minutes.
    • ECMS-Gardena
      • Correction to miscalculation of instructional minutes. Error discovered during instructional minutes reconciliation process. Miscalculation that was approved at last board meeting: 63,005 instructional minutes. Correct calculation of total instructional minutes: 62,180 (exceeding CDE minimum requirement for middle schools by 8,180 minutes).
    • ECHS-Gardena
      • Adjustment to Parent Conference Dates from October 27-28 to October 20-21. No change in instructional minutes.
    • Comparison Sheet
 
  K. Approve Teachers on Special Assignment for 2022-23 School Year (Board Policy 32188) Vote Sarah Jamieson
   
 
  L. Approve Parent-Student Handbooks Vote ECMS Principals
   
 
  M. Approve purchase of relocatable classrooms to be located at ECHS-Lawndale and Lease agreement between Lawndale LLC and ECHS-Lawndale Vote Alison Diaz & Tracy Bondi
   

 

 

Rationale: A few years ago, Menlo Charter Properties created Lawndale LLC for the specific purpose of holding title to real and personal property, and managing, operating, leasing and otherwise dealing with this property. Following conversations with Lawndale Elementary School District, it was agreed that Lawndale LLC would own the relocatable classrooms (portables) located at 16315 Grevillea and lease the portables to ECHS Lawndale.  The costs to purchase and manage and maintain the portables would be borne by Lawndale LLC and then Lawndale LLC would enter into a lease agreement with ECHS-Lawndale in order to recover said costs. 

 

To help cover the costs of the lease, ECHS-Lawndale will submit said costs to the California School Finance Authority for reimbursement under the SB740 rent reimbursement program available to charter schools.  Eligible rents will be reimbursed pursuant to the current codes and regulations.   


ECS has since vetted the proposed relocatable classrooms purchase sale agreement and lease agreement. These agreements will be voted on separately by the Menlo Charter Properties Board of Directors and by this ECS board, requiring approval from both entities in order to move this proposed deal forward.

 
VI. Action Item 6:49 PM
  A. Approve 22/23 revised budgets for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G Vote Tracy Bondi & Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 3 m
   
  • Attached in Discussion Items / Updates Item III.D
 
  B. Approve ECS Civility Policy Vote Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 3 m
     
VII. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 6:55 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • December 8, 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 2 m
VIII. Closing Items 6:59 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m