Environmental Charter Schools

Minutes

Special Board of Directors' Meeting

Date and Time

Monday May 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Location

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

 

Two-way teleconference locations: ECMS-Gardena (812 W. 165th Place, Gardena, CA 90247) |
ECMS-Inglewood (3600 W Imperial Hwy, Inglewood, CA 90303) | ECHS-Lawndale (16315 Grevillea Ave.
Lawndale, CA 90260) | ECHS-Gardena (2818 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90249) | 1100 Shasta Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126 | 13885 Dogleg Lane, Broomfield, CO 80023 | 2620 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94133 | 3011 Elm St., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | 2001 Palm Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | 3513 Walnut Avenue Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | 8750 El Tovar Pl, West Hollywood, CA 90069 | 4163 Sea View Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90065 | 14407 Larch Ave, Lawndale, CA 90260 | 402 Alpine Street, Pasadena, CA 91106

ECS Board Members                              Term   and    End Date    
Dr. Betsy Hamilton, President...............3 years June 30, 2028

Ms. Zena Fong, Vice President.............3 years June 30, 2026
Dr. Denise Berger, ................................3 years  June 30, 2026
Mr. Anthony Jowid.................................3 years June 30, 2028

Dr. Madhu Chatwani..............................3 years June 30, 2026
Mr. Kennedy Hilario...............................3 years June 30, 2026

Mr. Herb Sims........................................3 years June 30, 2028

Mr. Mason Williams................................3 years June 30, 2028

Mr. Andrew Ellenbogen..........................3 years June 30, 2026

Mr. Remco Waller...................................3 years June 30, 2028
Lawndale Elementary School District Representative, Rotating Position  

ECS Staff   
Ms. Danielle Kelsick, Superintendent

Ms. Lucia Bañuelos, Deputy Superintendent of Schools

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

Dr. Geneva Matthews, Principal at ECMS-Inglewood

Mr. Dave Trejo, Principal at ECMS-Gardena 

Dr. Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro, Principal at ECHS-Gardena 
Ms. Jennifer Larsen, Principal at ECHS-Lawndale


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.

Directors Present

Andrew Ellenbogen (remote), Anthony Jowid (remote), Dr. Betsy Hamilton (remote), Dr. Denise Berger (remote), Dr. Madhu Chatwani (remote), Herb Sims (remote), Kennedy Hilario, Mason Williams (remote), Remco Waller (remote), Zena Fong (remote)

Directors Absent

LESD Representative

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

Kennedy Hilario

Directors who left before the meeting adjourned

Dr. Madhu Chatwani, Remco Waller

Guests Present

Danielle Kelsick, Jen Fenton (remote), Jeremiah David (remote), Lucia Bañuelos (remote), Sarah Jamieson (remote), Tracy Bondi (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record attendance and guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Dr. Betsy Hamilton called a meeting of the board of directors of Environmental Charter Schools to order on Monday May 18, 2026 at 5:04 PM.

C.

Approve the agenda

Anthony Jowid made a motion to approve the agenda.
Dr. Denise Berger seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
LESD Representative
Absent
Dr. Betsy Hamilton
Aye
Herb Sims
Aye
Remco Waller
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Mason Williams
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Aye

II. Presentations from the Floor

A.

Presentations from the floor on non-agenda Items

None.

B.

Presentations from the floor on agenda items

None.

III. Transition to Closed Session

A.

Adjourn to closed session

Mason Williams made a motion to adjourn to closed session.
Dr. Madhu Chatwani seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Anthony Jowid
Aye
LESD Representative
Absent
Herb Sims
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Dr. Betsy Hamilton
Absent
Dr. Denise Berger
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Remco Waller
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Mason Williams
Aye

IV. Closed Session

A.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Government Code § 54957)

Kennedy Hilario arrived.
Dr. Madhu Chatwani left.
Remco Waller left.

V. Report out of Closed Session

A.

Report out

Board President Dr. Betsy Hamilton reported out that the board met in closed session to conduct the Superintendent’s annual performance evaluation. The board will propose Superintendent’s compensation and take action at the next regular board meeting. Betsy stated that timing actually aligns better because they will have an up-to-date analysis on state funding from the Governor’s May Revise Budget.

VI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Anthony Jowid made a motion to adjourn meeting.
Mason Williams seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Dr. Betsy Hamilton
Aye
LESD Representative
Absent
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Absent
Mason Williams
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Aye
Herb Sims
Aye
Remco Waller
Absent
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:49 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jeremiah David