Environmental Charter Schools

Minutes

Special Board of Directors' Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday October 1, 2026 at 1:00 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)
  • 1656 Vorhees Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | 3011 Elm St., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | 3513 Walnut Avenue Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | 1341 Comstock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024 | 333 Continental Blvd, El Segundo, CA 90245 | 14407 Larch Ave, Lawndale, CA 90260 | 4161 W 147th St. Lawndale CA 90260

ECS Board Members                              Term   and    End Date    
Dr. Denise Berger, President.................3 years  June 30, 2029
Mr. Anthony Jowid, Vice President.......3 years June 30, 2028

Ms. Zena Fong.......................................3 years June 30, 2029

Mr. Kennedy Hilario...............................3 years June 30, 2029

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

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

Mr. Andrew Ellenbogen..........................3 years June 30, 2029

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

Mr. Jeremiah Rosario David, Director of Compliance & Operations

Ms. Sarah Jamieson, Director of Human Resources

Ms. Jen Fenton, Director of Development & Communications

Dr. Shalene Wright, Director of SpEd & English Language Development

Mr. Cesar Delgado, Director of Student Wellness

Ms. Sarahai Garibay, Senior Manager of Finance

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 regular meetings.  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 up to 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the Board meeting by turning in a Speaker Form (available at the check-in table in English and Spanish). Speaker Forms must be turned in by the time of the published start of the board meeting (e.g. 5:00 pm) in order to be added to the public comment section for that meeting.


Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters not listed on the agenda at regular meetings, they may speak during the Presentations from the Floor section of the agenda. Speakers will be given a maximum of two (2) minutes each to address the Board (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of four (4) minutes each). Please note that the Board allows a maximum of 16 minutes for this section, on a first-come, first-served basis.


Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters listed on the agenda, they may speak at the beginning of the specific agenda item. Speakers will be given a maximum of two (2) minutes each to address the Board (non-English speakers utilizing translators will be given a maximum of four (4) minutes each). Please note that the Board allows a maximum of 6 minutes to each agenda item on a first-come, first-served basis.


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.

AGENDA POSTING
This agenda is posted in the exterior public display case adjacent to the side entrance of the ECS Home Office, 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, which is freely accessible to the public 24 hours a day, at each teleconference location listed above, and on the ECS public meeting portal.

 

ACCESO AL IDIOMA
Para solicitar una traducción de esta agenda o servicios de interpretación para esta reunión, comuníquese con ECS al (310) 214-3408, opción 5, con al menos 48 horas de anticipación o lo antes posible a partir de entonces.

PUBLIC INSPECTION OF AGENDA MATERIALS
Writings that are public records and are distributed to a majority of the Board in connection with an open session agenda item are available for public inspection at the ECS Home Office, 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, during regular business hours, and on the ECS public meeting portal. Writings distributed less than 72 hours before the meeting will be made available for public inspection at the same time they are distributed to members of the Board. For more information concerning this agenda or for materials relating to this meeting, please contact ECS at (310) 214-3408, option 5.

Directors Present

Andrew Ellenbogen (remote), Anthony Jowid (remote), Herb Sims, LESD Representative, Mason Williams (remote), Remco Waller (remote), Zena Fong (remote)

Directors Absent

Dr. Denise Berger, Kennedy Hilario

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

Herb Sims

Guests Present

Albert Paredes (LESD Representative), Danielle Kelsick, Dave Trejo (remote), Jeremiah Rosario David, Kaasa Dennis (remote), Kevin Resendiz (remote), Lisa Corr (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

In the absence of the President, and at the request of the Vice President, Zena Fong presided.

Zena Fong called a meeting of the board of directors of Environmental Charter Schools to order on Thursday Oct 1, 2026 at 1:02 PM.

B.

Board member roll call

Roll call was taken and a quorum was confirmed with six (6) members present.

C.

Approve the agenda

Staff requested that Agenda Item IX.A, Adoption of ECS Initial Proposals to Environmental Educators United/CTA/NEA, be tabled to a future board meeting. This allows additional time for review, and the item will be considered alongside EEU's initial proposals, which are due October 15, 2026.

Remco Waller made a motion to approve the agenda with Agenda Item IX.A tabled.
Anthony Jowid seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Mason Williams
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Remco Waller
Aye
Herb Sims
Absent
LESD Representative
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Zena Fong
Aye

II. Presentations from the Floor

A.

Presentations from the floor on agenda items

None.

III. Informational Item

A.

Public Presentation of ECS Initial Collective Bargaining Proposals (Gov. Code § 3547)

ECS's initial collective bargaining proposals to Environmental Educators United/CTA/NEA were presented pursuant to Government Code §3547(a). No public comment was received. No action was taken.

IV. EEU Comments to the Board

A.

EEU Comments to the Board

Herb Sims arrived.

None.

V. Action Items

A.

Acknowledge receipt of Dr. Betsy Hamilton's written resignation effective September 25, 2026

Superintendent Danielle Kelsick noted that Dr. Hamilton plans to attend the December 1, 2026 board meeting via Zoom so the Board can recognize her service.

Anthony Jowid made a motion to acknowledge receipt of Dr. Betsy Hamilton's written resignation, effective September 25, 2026.
Remco Waller seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Anthony Jowid
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Herb Sims
Aye
Mason Williams
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
Remco Waller
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent

B.

Designation of Labor Negotiator

Superintendent Danielle Kelsick presented the item.

Remco Waller made a motion to designate Superintendent Danielle Kelsick as the ECS labor negotiator for negotiations with Environmental Educators United/CTA/NEA, with authority to act through designees including Lucia Bañuelos and Robert Escalante of ACLIENT PC.
Anthony Jowid seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Zena Fong
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
LESD Representative
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Mason Williams
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Remco Waller
Aye
Herb Sims
Aye

VI. Closed Session

A.

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1))

Prior to recessing, Zena Fong announced the items to be discussed in closed session:

  • Agenda Item VII.A: Conference with Legal Counsel, Existing Litigation (Gov. Code §54956.9(d)(1)), Parents on behalf of Student v. Environmental Charter Schools, OAH Case No. 2026090128
  • Agenda Item VII.B: Conference with Labor Negotiators (Gov. Code §54957.6)

B.

CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Gov. Code § 54957.6)

VII. Reconvene to Open Session

A.

Report out

Reporting out of closed session, Zena Fong stated that the Board met in closed session, no action was taken, and there was nothing to report out.

VIII. Action Item

A.

Adoption of ECS Initial Proposals to Environmental Educators United/CTA/NEA (Gov. Code § 3547(c))

Tabled.

IX. 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
Remco Waller
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
Andrew Ellenbogen
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Mason Williams
Aye
Herb Sims
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Anthony Jowid
Aye
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jeremiah Rosario David