Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Thursday December 8, 2022 at 5:00 PM PST

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

Dr. Betsy Hamilton.................................3 years June 30, 2025
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
   
  • Adam Jaquette, Lawndale Elementary School District Asst. Supt. Human Resources (attending as LESD board representative)
  • Herb Sims, DEI Lead at Northrop Grumman (Linked In ProfileBio)
  • Mason Williams, Global Head of DEI at Mattel Inc. (Linked in Profile)
  • Andrew Ellenbogen, Lawyer and Managing Director of EIG Capital Solutions, prior board member at a DC Charter school for 7 years Bio
 
  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. Opener Discuss Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 10 m
  B. Leadership update FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 10 m
  C. Prospective board member introductions Vote Prospective board member(s) 8 m
   
  • Herb Sims, DEI Lead at Northrop Grumman (Linked In ProfileBio)
  • Mason Williams, Global Head of DEI at Mattel Inc. (Linked in Profile)
  • Andrew Ellenbogen, Lawyer and Managing Director of EIG Capital Solutions, prior board member at a DC Charter school for 7 years Bio
 
IV. Consent Items A-H 5:31 PM
  A. Approve Board Resolution 2022-2023 #3 - Authorizing Remote Board Meetings Vote Jeremiah David 3 m
     
  B. Approve revised 8/4/2022 board meeting minutes Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  C. Approve 9/22/2022 board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
  D. Accept LACOE Governance & Instructional Program Reviews Vote Jeremiah David
     
  E. Approve First Interim Financial Reports for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G Vote Tracy Bondi / Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
     
  F. Approve FY 2022-23 contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   

 

 

 
  G. Approve revised Board & Committee Calendar Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • Revised Board & Committee Calendar
    • Governance Committee meeting - rescheduled to Tuesday, January 17, 2023
    • Audit Committee meeting - rescheduled to Thursday, January 19, 2023
 
  H. Approve revised ECHS-G Academic Calendar 2022-2023 Vote Danielle Kelsick
   
 
V. Action Item 5:34 PM
  A. Approve Leadership Title Changes Vote Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 3 m
   
  • Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director TO Superintendent
  • Chief Academic Officer/Director of Curriculum & Instruction TO Deputy Superintendent of Instruction
 
  B. Approve revised Conflict of Interest Code Vote Jeremiah David 3 m
   

 

Background

 

  • Purpose of a Conflict of Interest Code: "To require that assets and income of public officials (which may be materially affected by their official actions) be disclosed and in appropriate circumstances the official disqualified from acting, in an effort to avoid conflicts of interest." (Gov. Code Section 81002)
  • The Board of Supervisors is the code-reviewing body for public agencies within Los Angeles County.
  • "The code reviewing body shall direct every agency under its jurisdiction which has adopted a Conflict of Interest Code (Code) to review its code and, if a change in its code is necessitated by changed circumstances, submit an amended code." (Gov. Code Section 87306.5)
  • A Biennial Review is conducted every two years as a means for public agencies to certify that their COI Code remains current.
     

ECS revisions proposed to Designated Positions (Form 700 filers)

 

  • REMOVE POSITION: Director of Strategic Initiatives
  • ADD POSITION: Director of Compliance and Operations
  • CHANGE TITLES:
    • COO/Director of Finance TO Director of Finance
    • Executive Director TO Superintendent
    • Director of Curriculum & Instruction TO Deputy Superintendent of Instruction
 
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 5:40 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • January 26, 2023 at 5pm (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 expired.
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • Governance Committee - January 17, 2023 at 12pm
  • Audit Committee - January 19, 2023 at 1pm
  • Finance Committee - January 20, 2023 at 8:30am
  • Facilities Committee - April 26, 2023 at 4:30pm
 
  C. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 2 m
VII. Closing Items 5:44 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m