Environmental Charter Schools

Minutes

Finance Committee Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Friday June 20, 2025 at 8:30 AM

Location

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84403411095?pwd=DfKYa6tNJak5VNRjEvCpuzcntqKbQW.1

 

Alternative access:

  • Two-way Teleconference Location: 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
  • Call-in only: (669) 900-6833 (Meeting ID: 844 0341 1095, Passcode: 903129)

Finance Committee Members
Tracy Bondi - Chair
Denise Berger
Bruce Greenspon

Mason Williams

Andrew Ellenbogen

Finance Committee Charter

  • Provides financial oversight for the organization
  • In conjunction with staff and other stakeholders, develops an annual operating budget and recommends for board approval
  • Monitors adherence to budget and recommends changes, if necessary
  • Sets long-term financial goals with funding strategies to achieve them
  • Considers special, unbudgeted requests and make recommendations to board
  • Develops multi-year operating budgets that tie to strategic plan
  • Ensures adequacy of financial controls and monitor for compliance
  • Ensure financial literacy of board members by providing training

Goals

  • Engage board in a critical assessment of the budget as it relates to organizational priorities and goals
  • Hold a yearly ECS financial training course for ECS Staff and/or New Board members
  • Ensure school budgets and cash flows are transparent, supportable, and sustainable
  • Support ECHSG's financial objectives in the facilities development and school startup process

 

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 STANDING COMMITTEE 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 Committee 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 Committee on any topic or subject matter that falls within the Committee's purview. Speakers may sign up in person immediately prior to the beginning of the Committee meeting by speaking with the Committee Chair.

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 Committee (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of six (6) minutes each). Please note that the Committee allows a maximum of 10 minutes to each subject as determined by the Committee Chair.

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 Committee (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of ten (10) minutes each).

The public should be aware that the Committee 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.

Committee Members Present

Andrew Ellenbogen (remote), Bruce Greenspon (remote), Mason Williams (remote), Tracy Bondi (remote)

Committee Members Absent

Dr. Denise Berger

Committee Members who left before the meeting adjourned

Mason Williams

Guests Present

Dorothy Lee (EdTec) (remote), Jair Ventura (EdTec) (remote), Jean Yang (EdTec) (remote), Jeremiah David (remote), Remco Waller (remote), Sarahai Garibay (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record attendance and guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Tracy Bondi called a meeting of the Finance Committee of Environmental Charter Schools to order on Friday Jun 20, 2025 at 8:33 AM.

C.

Approve agenda

Bruce Greenspon made a motion to approve the agenda.
Mason Williams seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Bruce Greenspon
Aye
Mason Williams
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Tracy Bondi
Aye

II. Presentations from the Floor

A.

Presentation from the floor on non agenda items

None.

B.

Presentations from the floor on agenda items

None.

III. Discussion Items / Updates

A.

2025-26 Budgets Presentation

EdTec consultant Jair Ventura presented the EdTec Financial Slides in the Committee packet:

 

FY26 Budget May Revise Highlights

 

  • FY26 State Budget was reviewed after the release of the CA Governor's May Revise budget. The estimated Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for ECS's K-12 state funding is reduced from 2.43% to 2.3%.
  • New funding for Student Support & PD Discretionary Block Grant to be spent within 4 years.
  • Deferral in June 2026 was cut in half, resulting in an expected deferral of $1.8B (about one third of monthly apportionment).

 

FY26 Budgets

 

  • For each school, Enrollment and LCFF Drivers, Budget Summary, Distribution of Budget - Revenues & Expenses, and Projected Cash Balances in the EdTec slides were thoroughly reviewed by the Committee, staff and guests.

B.

Discussion of potential 2025-26 Finance Committee Goals

The Committee briefly reviewed current Finance Committee Goals and potential 2025-26 Finance Committee Goals. The Committee will return with recommendations at their next meeting.

Mason Williams left.

IV. Consent Items A-G

A.

Recommend board approval of private donations over $1,000

Bruce Greenspon made a motion to recommend board approval of private donations over $1,000.
Tracy Bondi seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Mason Williams
Absent
Tracy Bondi
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Bruce Greenspon
Aye

B.

Recommend board approval of contracts

Bruce Greenspon made a motion to recommend board approval of contracts.
Tracy Bondi seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Mason Williams
Absent
Bruce Greenspon
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Tracy Bondi
Aye

C.

Recommend board approval of check registers and credit card statements

Bruce Greenspon made a motion to recommend board approval of check registers and credit card statements.
Tracy Bondi seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Bruce Greenspon
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Mason Williams
Absent
Tracy Bondi
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent

D.

Recommend board approval of 2025-26 Finance Committee Goals

Tabled.

E.

Recommend board approval of 2025-26 Education Protection Act Plan and Resolution

Bruce Greenspon made a motion to recommend board approval of 2025-26 Education Protection Act Plan and Resolution.
Tracy Bondi seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Bruce Greenspon
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Tracy Bondi
Aye
Mason Williams
Absent
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent

F.

Recommend board approval of Proposition 28 Arts and Music in Schools Annual Report FY25

Bruce Greenspon made a motion to recommend board approval of Proposition 28 Arts and Music in Schools Annual Report FY25.
Tracy Bondi seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Mason Williams
Absent
Bruce Greenspon
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Tracy Bondi
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye

G.

2025-26 Consolidated Applications for all ECS schools

Bruce Greenspon made a motion to recommend board approval of 2025-26 Consolidated Applications for all ECS schools.
Tracy Bondi seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Mason Williams
Absent
Tracy Bondi
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Bruce Greenspon
Aye

V. Action Item

A.

Recommend board approval of 2025-26 budgets for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G

Bruce Greenspon made a motion to recommend board approval of 2025-26 budgets for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G.
Andrew Ellenbogen seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Tracy Bondi
Aye
Bruce Greenspon
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Mason Williams
Absent

VI. Closing Items

A.

Appreciations

Appreciations were shared among the Committee, staff, and guests, with a special appreciation for EdTec lead Dorothy Lee's service, for her 15 years of financial consulting for ECS. Dorothy Lee is leaving her position at EdTec to join a charter school organization in a financial leadership role.

B.

Adjourn Meeting

Bruce Greenspon made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Andrew Ellenbogen seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Bruce Greenspon
Aye
Mason Williams
Absent
Tracy Bondi
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:06 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jeremiah David