Environmental Charter Schools
Minutes
Finance Committee Meeting
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
C.
Approve agenda
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
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.
IV. Consent Items A-G
A.
Recommend board approval of private donations over $1,000
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Tracy Bondi |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Absent
|
Bruce Greenspon |
Aye
|
B.
Recommend board approval of contracts
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
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
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
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
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
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
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Bruce Greenspon |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Tracy Bondi |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
None.