Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

In-Person at ECS Home Office

Date and Time

Thursday January 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM PST

Location

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

 

Two-way teleconference locations: 1100 Shasta Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126 / 3011 Elm Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

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, 2026
Ms. Zena Fong............................................3 years June 30, 2026
Ms. Jenina Ramirez....................................3 years June 30, 2024
Dr. Madhu Chatwani..................................3 years June 30, 2026
Mr. Kennedy Hilario....................................3 years June 30, 2026

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

Mr. Mason Williams....................................3 years June 30, 2025

Mr. Andrew Ellenbogen.................................3 years June 30, 2026
Lawndale Elementary School District Representative, Rotating Position      

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

Ms. Tracy Bondi, Director of Finance

Mr. Jeremiah David, Director of Compliance & Operations

Ms. Sarah Jamieson, Director of Human Resources

Ms. Jen Fenton, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Dr. Shalene Wright, Director of SpEd and English Language Development
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   Jenina Ramirez 1 m
   
 
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Jenina Ramirez 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Jenina Ramirez 1 m
     
  D. Opener Discuss Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 15 m
II. Presentations from the Floor 5:18 PM
  A. Presentations from the floor on non-agenda Items FYI 6 m
   

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 6 m
   

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 5:30 PM
  A. EdTec financial update FYI Dorothy Lee & Jair Ventura 10 m
     
  B. LCAP midyear update FYI Jen Fenton, Farnaz Golshani-Flechner & Tracy Bondi 20 m
     
IV. Consent Items A-K 6:00 PM
  A. Approve 11/30/2023 board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 3 m
     
     
  B. Approve 12/13/2023 Audit Committee meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
     
  C. Approve 1/19/2024 Finance Committee meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
     
  D. Approve private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Jen Fenton
     
  E. Approve check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi / Sarahai Garibay
   

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 contracts as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Jeremiah David
   
  1. Ramp purchasing/bill pay automation software contract
    1. Staff analysis: Spend management automation software for accounts payable (bill pay), purchasing/reimbursement, and credit card services. This software would replace existing purchasing-only software. Projected annual savings from automation will be included in Committee presentation.
  2. ECHSL - 11th Grade Santa Barbara Adventures Outdoor Trip Proposal
    1. Staff analysis: contract cost within school outdoor education budget.
 
  G. Approve First Interim Financial Reports for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G as recommended by Finance Committee Vote Tracy Bondi / Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
     
  H. Approve School Plans for Student Achievement for ECHSL, ECMSG, ECMSI, ECHSG Vote Jeremiah David
     
  I. Approve School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) for ECHSL, ECMSG, ECMSI, ECHSG Vote Robert Maxwell / Jeremiah David
     
  J. Approve revised Board & Committee Calendar Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  K. Approve revised 2023-2024 ECS Board Committees & Terms Vote Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
   
 
V. Action Items 6:03 PM
  A. Accept FY 22/23 Audit Report as recommended by Audit Committee Vote Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Tracy Bondi, & Jeremiah David 3 m
   
 
  B. Approve updated ECS Financial Policies - credit card policy revision Vote Tracy Bondi & Jeremiah David 3 m
     
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 6:09 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • March 14, 2024 at 5pm (in-person board meeting)
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Farnaz Golshani-Flechner 1 m
   
  • Facilities Committee - April 24, 2024 at 4:30pm
  • Audit Committee - March 6, 2024 at 1:00pm
  • Finance Committee - March 8, 2024 at 8:30am
  • Governance Committee - June 4, 2024 at 10:30am
 
  C. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 1 m
VII. Transition to Closed Session 6:12 PM
  A. Adjourn to Closed Session Vote Jenina Ramirez 1 m
VIII. Closed Session 6:13 PM
  A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Discuss 20 m
   

Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: 1

 
  B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Gov’t Code §54957.6) Discuss 25 m
   

Agency Designated Representative: Robert Escalante

 

Employee Organization: Environmental Educators United

 
IX. Report Out of Closed Session 6:58 PM
  A. Report Out FYI Jenina Ramirez 1 m
X. Closing Items 6:59 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Jenina Ramirez 1 m