Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

In-Person at ECS Home Office

Date and Time

Thursday March 16, 2023 at 5:00 PM PDT

Location

In-person location: ECS Home Office - 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd #100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278

 

Two-way teleconference locations: 2741 Peachwood Circle, Corona, CA 92882 / 1100 Shasta Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126

ECS Board Members                              Term   and    End Date    
Mr. Anthony Jowid, President..................3 years June 30, 2025

Dr. Betsy Hamilton, Vice President.........3 years June 30, 2025
Dr. Denise Berger, Secretary....................3 years  June 30, 2023
Ms. Zena Fong............................................3 years 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

Mr. Herb Sims.............................................3 years June 30, 2025

Mr. Mason Williams....................................3 years June 30, 2025
Lawndale Elementary School District Representative, Rotating Position      

ECS Staff   
Ms. Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Superintendent
Ms. Danielle Kelsick, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction
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

      Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 5:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record attendance and guests   Anthony Jowid 1 m
   
 
  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. ECMS principals update FYI ECMS principals 20 m
   
  • ECMS-Inglewood
  • ECMS-Gardena
 
IV. Consent Items A-J 5:33 PM
  A. Approve 1/26/2023 board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 3 m
     
     
  B. Approve LACOE Certification of Signatures 2022-2023 Vote Jeremiah David
     
  C. Approve private donations over $1,000 Vote Tracy Bondi
     
  D. Approve contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   
  • ECMSG - Beach Cities Learning Special Education Service Provider Master Contract 2022-2023
    • 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 January and March board meetings.
  • FY23 E-Rate Program-awarded Charter School Tech contract
    • Staff analysis: contract for networking equipment/installation upgrades and managed internal broadband services as awarded through E-Rate program. Contract costs reflected are before E-Rate discount of 85% from the vendor's costs.
 
  E. Approve Second Interim Financials for ECHSL, ECMSG, ECMSI, ECHSG Vote Tracy Bondi
   

Second Interim Financials:

 

 
  F. Approve ECS Tax Return Forms 990 and 199 Vote Tracy Bondi / Jeremiah David
   
 
  G. Approve updated Safe Schools Plans for ECHSL, ECMSG, ECMSI, ECHSG Vote Jeremiah David
   

Annually required updates to Safe Schools Plans:

 

 
  H. Approve sale or disposal of ECS e-waste (surplus technology equipment) Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  I. Approve MOA with LA Parks and Recreation Department for Facility Use Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  J. Approve revised ECHS-L Academic Calendar 2022-2023 Vote Danielle Kelsick
   
 
V. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 5:36 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • June 22, 2023 at 5pm (in-person board meeting)
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • Facilities Committee - April 26, 2023 at 4:30pm
  • Governance Committee - June 6, 2023 at 10:30am
  • Finance Committee - June 16, 2023 at 8:30am
 
  C. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 2 m
VI. Transition to Closed Session 5:40 PM
  A. Adjourn to Closed Session Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m
VII. Closed Session 5:41 PM
  A. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Discuss Anthony Jowid 55 m
   

Title: Superintendent

 
  B. Conference with Labor Negotiator (Government Code section 54957.6) Vote Anthony Jowid 5 m
   
  • Agency Negotiator: Anthony Jowid
  • Unrepresented Employee: Superintendent
 
VIII. Report Out of Closed Session 6:41 PM
  A. Oral Recommendation Regarding CEO's/ED's Salary and/or Fringe Benefits FYI Anthony Jowid 1 m
     
  B. Ratification of CEO's/ED's Employment Agreement Vote Anthony Jowid 4 m
IX. Closing Items 6:46 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Anthony Jowid 1 m