Environmental Charter Schools

Board of Directors' Meeting

In-Person at ECS Home Office

Date and Time

Thursday May 15, 2025 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: 1100 Shasta Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126 | 13885 Dogleg Lane, Broomfield, CO 80023 | 1 Saarinen Cir, Dulles, VA 20166

ECS Board Members                              Term   and    End Date    
Dr. Betsy Hamilton, President...............3 years June 30, 2025
Dr. Denise Berger, ................................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. Danielle Kelsick, Superintendent

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 & English Language Development

Mr. Cesar Delgado, Director of Student Wellness
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. Superintendent update FYI Danielle Kelsick 10 m
  B. EdTec financial update FYI Dorothy Lee & Jair Ventura 20 m
     
IV. Consent Items A-H 5:58 PM
  A. Approve 2/27/2025 board meeting minutes Approve Minutes Jeremiah David 3 m
     
     
  B. Approve private donations over $1,000 Vote Jen Fenton
     
  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 ECS Financial Policies.

 

 
  D. Approve Danielle Kelsick as authorized signer for Beneficial State Bank accounts Vote Tracy Bondi
   

Purpose: to add newly appointed ECS Superintendent Danielle Kelsick as authorized signer for Beneficial State Bank accounts ending in -806, -796, -593, -580, -408

 
  E. Approve closure of Comerica bank account Vote Tracy Bondi
   

Purpose: to close Comerica bank account ending in 578. Account no longer in use.

 
  F. Approve contracts Vote Jeremiah David
   

1. ECMSI - ADEP Precision Contracting materials removal contract
   A. Staff analysis: Removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) at ECMS-I. This is part of the project to renovate former church spaces from last year's property purchase of ECMS-I location. Competitive bids analysis attached.

 

Approval in arrears--time of the essence between ECS board meetings:

 

2. ECMSG and ECMSI Pali Institute 6th Grade Outdoor Education Trip Contracts - Fall 2025
   A. Staff analysis: contract cost within school outdoor education budget.

 

3. ECHSL and ECHSG - CIC 9th Grade Outdoor Education Trip Contracts - Fall 2025
    A. Staff analysis: contract cost within school outdoor education budget.

 

4. ECHSL and ECHSG - Naturebridge 12th Grade Outdoor Education Trip Contracts - Spring 2026
   A. Staff analysis: contract cost within school outdoor education budget.

 

5. LASPS SLP SPED Provider Contract 2024-25        
   A. Staff analysis: LASPS SLP SPED Provider Contract 2024-25 vetted by Dr. Shalene Wright, Director of SpEd and English Language Development.

 

6. ECHSG - MTSE Comprehensive Sexual Education Contract 2024-25

  A. Staff analysis: budgeted cost for comprehensive sexual education curriculum and services at ECHS-G.

 
  G. Approve revised ECS Expulsion Hearing Committee Guidelines Vote Jeremiah David
     
  H. Approve ECS/MCP & LLCs Tax Returns (Forms 990 and 199) Vote Tracy Bondi & Jeremiah David
   

Prepared by accounting firm Christy White, reviewed by ECS management

 

 
V. Action Item 6:01 PM
  A. Approve ECS Academic Calendars 2025-26 Vote Danielle Kelsick 3 m
   

2025-26 Academic Calendars

 

 

Summary

 

  • All 4 campuses will meet or exceed the CDE's minimum requirement of 175 instructional days in 2025-26.
    • ECMS-G and ECMS-I will have 175 instructional days each in 2025-26.
    • ECHS-L and ECHS-G will have 176 instructional days each in 2025-26.
  • Both high schools will exceed the CDE's minimum requirement of 64,800 instructional minutes in 2025-26.
    • ECHS-L will have 65,189 instructional minutes in 2025-26, exceeding the CDE's minimum requirement by 389 minutes.
    • ECHS-G will have 66,735 instructional minutes in 2025-26, exceeding the CDE's minimum requirement by 1,935 minutes.
  • Both middle schools will exceed the CDE's minimum requirement of 54,000 instructional minutes in 2025-26.
    • ECMS-G will have 62,430 instructional minutes in 2025-26, exceeding the CDE's minimum requirement by 8,430 minutes.
    • ECMS-I will have 63,013 instructional minutes in 2025-26, exceeding the CDE's minimum requirement by 9,013 minutes
 
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements 6:04 PM
  A. Next ECS Board Meeting FYI Danielle Kelsick 1 m
   
  • Wednesday, June 18, 2025 @ 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 6:07 PM
  A. Adjourn to Closed Session Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
VIII. Closed Session 6:08 PM
  A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (Gov’t Code § 54956.9) Discuss 30 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 30 m
   

Agency Designated Representative: Robert Escalante

 

Employee Organization: Environmental Educators United

 
IX. Report Out of Closed Session 7:08 PM
  A. Report Out FYI Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m
X. Closing Items 7:09 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Dr. Betsy Hamilton 1 m