Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

In-Person at ECS Home Office

Date and Time

Thursday December 12, 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 | 13885 Dogleg Lane, Broomfield, CO 80023 | 157 W. 111th St, New York | Malecon De La Reserva 615, Lima, Peru

ECS Board Members                              Term   and    End Date    
Dr. Betsy Hamilton, President...............3 years June 30, 2025
Dr. Denise Berger, Secretary.................3 years  June 30, 2026
Mr. Anthony Jowid.................................3 years June 30, 2025

Ms. Zena Fong.......................................3 years June 30, 2026
Ms. Jenina Ramirez................................3 years June 30, 2027
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

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 5:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record attendance and guests   Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
   
 
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
  C. Approve the agenda Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
     
  D. Opener Discuss Danielle Kelsick 5 m
II. Presentations from the Floor 5:08 PM
  A. Presentations from the floor on non-agenda Items FYI 10 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 10 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 5:28 PM
  A. EdTec financial update FYI Dorothy Lee & Jair Ventura 30 m
     
  B. California School Dashboard Comparison Discuss Danielle Kelsick 30 m
   
 
IV. Consent Items A-J 6:28 PM
  A. Approve 11/21/2024 special board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 3 m
     
     
  B. Approve 9/19/2024 board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
     
  C. Approve check registers and credit card statements 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.

 

 
  D. Approve contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   
  1. Green Water & Power - EV Charging Station Agreements
    1. Purchase agreements: ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G
    2. Operation & Maintenance agreements: ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G
    3. Staff analysis: Project to install two Level 2 electrical vehicle charging stations at each site (each charging station has 2 charging ports. Purchase agreements are contingent on award and receipt of funding from electric utility company rebate program covering 100% of charging station installation and permitting fees, and up to $10,000/site for electrical power trenching (as needed). Costs of charging station maintenance and operation are covered with session surcharges paid by charging users per O&M agreements.
  2. NWEA - MAP contract renewal 2025-26
    1. Staff analysis: educational testing software contract renewal. Per student costs flat from previous year.
  3. Satoh Brothers - Comprehensive Window Replacement Design and Permitting Services at ECHS Lawndale Campus
    1. Contract
    2. Staff analysis: Summary of Competitive Bid Process and Selection
  4. TadHealth Education EHR Software 3-Year Contract
    1. Contract
    2. Staff analysis: software provides a comprehensive digital platform for managing counseling services documentation, activity coordination, and billing to enable ECS to operate the SMAA Medi-Cal Fee Services program. The three-year software agreement totaling $102,000 will be partially grant funded and for the balance of these fees over 100% is expected to be recouped by the Medi-Cal reimbursement revenues. 
 
  E. Approve revised 2024-25 Board & Committee Calendar Vote Jeremiah David
   
 
  F. Approve School Accountability Report Cards of School Year 2023-24 Vote Jeremiah David & Robert Maxwell
   

The School Accountability Report Card (SARC) is an annual report that provides detailed information about a school’s performance and condition, including student achievement, environment, resources, and demographics. The data reporting period is primarily School Year 2023-24 with most of the data generated from official state sources.

 

 
  G. Accept LACOE Governance & Instructional Program Reviews Vote Jeremiah David & Danielle Kelsick
   
 
  H. Approve Special Education Individual Educational Evaluation (IEE) Policy Vote Dr. Shalene Wright
   
 
  I. Approve Alternate Diploma Pathway Policy Vote Dr. Shalene Wright
     
  J. Approve 12/9/2024 audit committee meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David
     
     
V. Action Items 6:31 PM
  A. Approve First Interim Financial Reports for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G Vote Tracy Bondi & Dorothy Lee 5 m
   
 
  B. Approve ECS Fifth Amended Bylaws Vote Jeremiah David 5 m
   
  • ECS Fifth Amended Bylaws
    • Pgs. 6-7: to conform with Education Code Section 54952.6 on board voting approval requirements
    • Pg. 10: to clearly delineate difference between President and Superintendent roles, specifying that the President will preside over ECS board meetings and Superintendent will serve as the chief executive officer and executive director of the corporation.
 
  C. Approve FY 2023-24 Audit Report as Recommended by Audit Committee Vote Jeremiah David & Tracy Bondi 5 m
   
 
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 6:46 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Thursday, February 27, 2024 @ 5pm
 
  B. Next ECS Committee Meetings FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Finance Committee - June 13, 2025 @ 8:30am
 
  C. Appreciations Discuss All Attendees 1 m
VII. Transition to Closed Session 6:49 PM
  A. Adjourn to Closed Session Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
VIII. Closed Session 6:50 PM
  A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (Gov’t Code § 54956.9) Discuss 10 m
   

Name of Case: Environmental Educators United, CTA/NEA v. Environmental Charter Schools. Case No. LA-CE-6934-E.

 
  B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Gov’t Code §54957.6) Discuss 10 m
   

Agency Designated Representative: Robert Escalante

 

Employee Organization: Environmental Educators United

 
IX. Report Out of Closed Session 7:10 PM
  A. Report Out FYI Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
X. Closing Items 7:11 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m