Environmental Charter Schools

Minutes

Board of Directors' Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Thursday September 10, 2020 at 5:00 PM

Location

 
OR 
 
Dial-In: (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 147 466 498
 
Two-way Teleconference Location: 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278.
ECS Board Members                                                           Term   and    End Date    
Mr. Anthony Jowid, President.................................................3 years June 30, 2022
Mr. Ken Deemer, Vice President.............................................3 years June 30, 2022
Dr. Denise Berger, Secretary.................................................3 years  June 30, 2023
Ms. Zena Fong........................................................................2 year June 30, 2023
Ms. Jenina Ramirez................................................................3 years June 30, 2021
Dr. Hughie Barnes..................................................................3 years June 30, 2023
Dr. Madhu Chatwani...............................................................3 years June 30, 2023
Kennedy Hilario......................................................................3 years June 30, 2023
Lawndale Elementary School District Representative............Rotating Position      

ECS Staff   
Ms. Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director
Ms. Danielle Kelsick, Chief Academic Officer/Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Ms. Alison Diaz, Director of Growth and Sustainability (Facilities)
Ms. Kami Cotler, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Dr. Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro, Director of Principal Development/Principal Coach
Ms. KC Fabiero, Principal at ECHS
Dr. Geneva Matthews, Principal at ECMS-Inglewood
Mr. Dave Trejo, Principal at ECMS-Gardena  

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.

Directors Present

Anthony Jowid (remote), Dr. Hughie Barnes (remote), Dr. Madhu Chatwani (remote), Jenina Ramirez (remote), Ken Deemer (remote), LESD Representative (remote), Zena Fong (remote)

Directors Absent

Dr. Denise Berger, Kennedy Hilario

Guests Present

Alison Diaz (remote), Danielle Kelsick (remote), Dave Trejo (remote), Dorothy Lee (remote), Dr. Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro (remote), Dr. Geneva Matthews (remote), Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Jeremiah David (remote), KC Fabiero (remote), Kami Cotler (remote), Tracy Bondi (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Anthony Jowid called a meeting of the board of directors of Environmental Charter Schools to order on Thursday Sep 10, 2020 at 5:05 PM.

C.

Approve the agenda

Jenina Ramirez made a motion to approve the agenda.
Dr. Hughie Barnes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
LESD Representative
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Ken Deemer
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Zena Fong
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
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. Reports/Presentations

A.

ECS updates

ECHS Principal KC Fabiero presented the ECHS update:

TalkingPoints two-way messaging platform has been working out phenomenally with communicating and updating parents. It's contributed to better attendance. Attendance has been really solid at an average 97% or above on most school days.

The Black Lives Matter movement and passing of Chadwick Boseman have been addressed in classes. In Environmental Science classes, Google Earth and Vocaroo have been used effectively.

The work of a senior student was highlighted as well as a virtual teacher's lounge by teacher Brandie Davis and a teacher resource spotlight video by teacher Jose Lopez.

ECMS-I Principal Dr. Geneva Matthews presented the ECMS-I update:

Attendance above 97%. Next steps are to find more effective and efficient ways to take attendance and to help students to get to the next level -- engagement.

Parent communication through TalkingPoints has also been great.

School admin tech support during first days of school was very well appreciated by parents.

Community building has taken place during the Welcome Week, various classroom/advisory activities, and an optional first school-wide assembly where over 200 students attended. 

Technology: distributed over 200 Chromebooks and 40 hotspots. Also, adopted Zoom Education which is providing a much safer and secure virtual environment for students.

Director of Strategic Initiatives Kami Cotler presented the Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan update:

Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan (LCP) has been drafted for review and comment to the public and board, as well as various stakeholders that were engaged including parents, students, staff.

Moving forward, ECS will need to be responsive and flexible with regard to school reopening and offering distance learning for the students and staff who state that they need it.

B.

College presentation and alumni tracking update

Tabled.

C.

Development update

Development Manager Julie Vo presented the Development update:

ECS's overall fundraising Goal for 2020-2021 is 1.545 Million. The Development Status Report was shared. GPSN grant received, as well as grants from Chevron and All Points North Foundation. In addition, several major individual donations have taken place. Pending grants and grants to be submitted were also reported on.

Finally, opportunities for the board to help further ECS's development were shared, including a Community Appeal, an ECS Mutual Aid Campaign, capital initiative needs, and connecting with Julie and Farnaz to discuss other possible ways.

D.

EdTec financial review

EdTec Consultant Dorothy Lee presented the Financial Update slides.

E.

ECHS #2 LOI update

CEO Farnaz Golshani-Flechner and Director of Growth & Sustainability Alison Diaz presented the ECHS #2 LOI update

F.

Menlo 165th refinance update

Tracy:

 

IV. Public Hearing

A.

Learning Continuity and Attendance Plans

The public hearing on the Learning Continuity and Attendance Plans was held. No members of the public commented.

V. Study Session

A.

Confronting anti-blackness and racism

The study session: Confronting anti-blackness and racism was held.

VI. Approve Consent Items A-G

A.

Approve previous meeting minutes for August 13, 2020 board meeting

Zena Fong made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors' Meeting on 08-13-20.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Ken Deemer
Aye
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye

B.

Approve previous meeting minutes for July 16, 2020 board meeting

Zena Fong made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors' Meeting on 07-16-20.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Ken Deemer
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye

C.

Approve previous committee meeting minutes from August 31, 2020 Finance Committee meeting

Zena Fong made a motion to approve previous committee meeting minutes from August 31, 2020 Finance Committee meeting.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Zena Fong
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Ken Deemer
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Jenina Ramirez
Aye

D.

Accept May-July 2020 check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee

Zena Fong made a motion to accept May-July 2020 check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Ken Deemer
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Zena Fong
Aye

E.

Accept June-August 2020 private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee

Zena Fong made a motion to accept June-August 2020 private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Ken Deemer
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Aye
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent

F.

Approve revised 2020-2021 board and committee calendar

Zena Fong made a motion to approve revised 2020-2021 board and committee calendar.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Ken Deemer
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Aye

G.

Approve revised 2020-2021 committee roster

Zena Fong made a motion to approve revised 2020-2021 committee roster.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Ken Deemer
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Zena Fong
Aye
Jenina Ramirez
Aye

VII. Action Item

A.

Approve 2020-2021 revised budgets as recommended by Finance Committee

Ken Deemer made a motion to approve 2020-2021 revised budgets as recommended by Finance Committee.
Dr. Madhu Chatwani seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
LESD Representative
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Ken Deemer
Aye

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Appreciations

B.

Adjourn Meeting

Dr. Hughie Barnes made a motion to adjourn meeting.
Zena Fong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Ken Deemer
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Absent
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Zena Fong
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:48 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Anthony Jowid