Environmental Charter Schools
Minutes
Governance Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Monday August 19, 2019 at 3:00 PM
Location
ECHS Auxiliary Office, 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Governance Committee Members
Ken Deemer - Chair
Anthony Jowid
Alison Diaz
Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
Jeremiah David
Governance Committee Charter
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.
Ken Deemer - Chair
Anthony Jowid
Alison Diaz
Farnaz Golshani-Flechner
Jeremiah David
Governance Committee Charter
- Recommends policies and processes for effective governance.
- Evaluates Board, Chairperson and in collaboration with the Board, review’s the Executive Director.
- Recruits, recommends and trains new board members.
- Set goals for the annual board retreat.
- Stewards the strategic plan and planning process.
- Develops metrics / scorecard to monitor effectiveness of organization and its programs.
- Plans for succession of board members and Executive Director.
- Use the ECS Strategic Benchmark Chart to measure and support ECS' success.
- Revise the ECS Vision Statement.
- Complete evaluations of Executive Director and self-evaluation of the ECS Board of Directors.
- Recruit one additional board member to the ECS Board of Directors and strengthen board pipeline.
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
Alison Diaz, Anthony Jowid (remote), Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Jeremiah David, Ken Deemer (remote)
Committee Members Absent
None
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Ken Deemer called a meeting of the Governance Committee of Environmental Charter Schools to order on Monday Aug 19, 2019 at 3:02 PM.
C.
Motion to Approve the Agenda
Alison Diaz made a motion to approve the agenda.
Anthony Jowid seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Alison Diaz |
Aye
|
| Farnaz Golshani-Flechner |
Aye
|
| Jeremiah David |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
| Ken Deemer |
Aye
|
D.
Approve Previous Governance Committee Minutes
Alison Diaz made a motion to approve minutes from the Governance Committee Meeting on 03-08-19 Governance Committee Meeting on 03-08-19.
Farnaz Golshani-Flechner seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Ken Deemer |
Aye
|
| Alison Diaz |
Aye
|
| Farnaz Golshani-Flechner |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
| Jeremiah David |
Aye
|
II. Presentation from the Floor
A.
Presentation from the Floor on Non Agenda Items
None.
B.
Presentation From the Floor on Agenda Items
None.
III. Discussion Items
A.
Discuss 19/20 Governance Committee Goals
- A review of previous 18/19 committee goals ensued.
- Regarding the goals of revising the ECS Vision statement, committee member Anthony Jowid asked, has ECS's Vision changed? CEO Farnaz Golshani-Flechner stated that ECS's newer Mission Statement is more visionary in nature than the current ECS Vision statement. The committee agreed to table this goal until March 2020.
- All other 18/19 committee goals were agreed to be carried forward for FY 19/20.
B.
Discuss 18/19 LACOE Governance and Instructional Reviews for ECMS-Inglewood and ECMS-Gardena
- The Committee reviewed the Governance Review and Instruction Reviews for ECMS-G and ECMS-I, noting the overall positive review from LACOE.
C.
Discuss 19/20 Committee Memberships
- The Committee noted current board member vacancies on the Finance and Equity & Diversity Committees. Farnaz Golshani-Flechner stated that she will reach out to current ECS board members that are currently not on any committees with the goal of filling these committee vacancies.
D.
Discuss Board Member Pipeline
Committee member Ken Deemer proposed that the 19/20 Committee Goal for adding one board member be changed to add two board members, given the recent resignation by an ECS board member in May 2019. The Committee agreed that this goal will be recommended to the ECS board.
Farnaz Flechner stated that she has a prospective candidate for the ECS board, Dr. Madhu Chatwani. Farnaz will continue to promote ECS board membership to this individual.
Anthony Jowid stated that he has a prospective candidate in mind. Director of Growth and Sustainability Alison Diaz stated that she also has several people that she will reach out toward promoting interest in the ECS board.
The Committee agreed that the skills needed to be filled by new board members are: attention to detail with real estate, legal, and instructional expertise.
Action item: Farnaz to revise board member pipeline and distribute to the Governance Committee.
Farnaz Flechner stated that she has a prospective candidate for the ECS board, Dr. Madhu Chatwani. Farnaz will continue to promote ECS board membership to this individual.
Anthony Jowid stated that he has a prospective candidate in mind. Director of Growth and Sustainability Alison Diaz stated that she also has several people that she will reach out toward promoting interest in the ECS board.
The Committee agreed that the skills needed to be filled by new board members are: attention to detail with real estate, legal, and instructional expertise.
Action item: Farnaz to revise board member pipeline and distribute to the Governance Committee.
E.
Discuss Board Benchmark Chart and 5-Year Strategic Plan
The Committee thoroughly reviewed the 5-Year Strategic Priorities in the agenda packet. The list of items that ECS is NOT doing in the next five years was reviewed, followed by the list of items in each year in the 5-year plan.
The Committee then reviewed the latest iteration of the Board Benchmark Chart. This iteration clearly delineates the lead indicators at the top and below them the lag indicators with grayed out boxes showing the timeline in which no lag data will be available. Some of the targets for the lead indicators are yet to be filled in. The Committee commended the ECS team for their work on this benchmark chart.
The Committee then reviewed the latest iteration of the Board Benchmark Chart. This iteration clearly delineates the lead indicators at the top and below them the lag indicators with grayed out boxes showing the timeline in which no lag data will be available. Some of the targets for the lead indicators are yet to be filled in. The Committee commended the ECS team for their work on this benchmark chart.
IV. Action Items
A.
Recommend Board Approval of El Dorado SELPA Policies
Alison Diaz made a motion to recommend board approval of El Dorado SELPA Policies.
Anthony Jowid seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Ken Deemer |
Aye
|
| Alison Diaz |
Aye
|
| Jeremiah David |
Aye
|
| Farnaz Golshani-Flechner |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
B.
Recommend Board Approval of Educational Records and Student Information Policy
Tabled.
C.
Recommend Board Approval of 19/20 Governance Committee Goals
Anthony Jowid made a motion to recommend board approval of 19/20 Governance Committee Goals.
Alison Diaz seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
| Ken Deemer |
Aye
|
| Farnaz Golshani-Flechner |
Aye
|
| Alison Diaz |
Aye
|
| Jeremiah David |
Aye
|
D.
Recommend Board Approval of Formation of Audit Committee
Tabled
E.
Recommend Board Acceptance of 18/19 LACOE Governance and Instructional Reviews for ECMS-I and ECMS-G
Anthony Jowid made a motion to recommend board acceptance of 18/19 LACOE Governance and Instructional Reviews for ECMS-I and ECMS-G.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Ken Deemer |
Aye
|
| Alison Diaz |
Aye
|
| Farnaz Golshani-Flechner |
Aye
|
| Jeremiah David |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
V. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Ken Deemer made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Anthony Jowid seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Jeremiah David |
Aye
|
| Alison Diaz |
Aye
|
| Ken Deemer |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
| Farnaz Golshani-Flechner |
Aye
|
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 4:04 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ken Deemer