Environmental Charter Schools

Minutes

Board of Directors' Meeting

By Teleconference/Zoom

Date and Time

Tuesday May 25, 2021 at 5:00 PM

Location

Zoom:       https://us02web.zoom.us/j/147466498?pwd=MnB5Vkc4aG41OEZ1dDdtcWoxQjV0dz09
 
OR 
 
Dial-In: (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 147 466 498, Passcode: 133043
 
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
Mr. 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-Lawndale
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. Madhu Chatwani (remote), Jenina Ramirez (remote), Ken Deemer (remote), Kennedy Hilario (remote), LESD Representative (remote)

Directors Absent

Dr. Denise Berger, Dr. Hughie Barnes, Zena Fong

Guests Present

Alison Diaz (remote), Danielle Kelsick (remote), Dave Trejo (remote), Dr. Geneva Matthews (remote), Farnaz Golshani-Flechner (remote), Jeremiah David (remote), Jose Hernandez (remote), KC Fabiero (remote), Tracy Bondi (remote), Travis Collier (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 Tuesday May 25, 2021 at 5:05 PM.

C.

Approve the agenda

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

A.

Public Hearing: Local Control and Accountability Plans for all sites

No speakers were present to provide comments at this public hearing. The public may provide comments via email as provided in the public notice.

IV. Study Session

A.

Expanded Learning Opportunities Grant Funding and 2021/22 Budgets, LCAPs, ECS Priorities Study Session

CEO Farnaz Golshani-Flechner presented the study session slides. ECS will plan to use ELO grant funds for 6 of the 7 available ELO priorities. The one ELO priority not planned to be implemented as provided in the ELO grant plans is priority 4: community learning hubs.

The meeting attendees separated into breakout rooms to discuss and bring back feedback to the larger group.

Group questions posed were 1) Are the priorities going to have the same initiatives at each school or will it differ? Will ELO funding allocations differ by school? The staff responded that nearly all actions will take place at each school, with the level of funding for each action varying based on identified school staff and community needs; 2) Where will day-to-day priorities land? The priorities will still remain the 4 major priorities with goals continued to be tracked through the board benchmark chart.

V. Consent Items A-B

A.

Approve previous meeting minutes for May 3, 2021 special board meeting

Jenina Ramirez made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Board of Directors' Meeting on 05-03-21.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Kennedy Hilario
Aye
Zena Fong
Absent
Ken Deemer
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Absent
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
LESD Representative
Aye

B.

Approve following contracts

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

VI. Action Items

A.

Approve Expanded Learning Opportunity Grant Plans for ECHS-Lawndale, ECMS-Gardena. ECMS-Inglewood

Dr. Madhu Chatwani made a motion to approve Expanded Learning Opportunity Grant Plans for ECHS-Lawndale, ECMS-Gardena. ECMS-Inglewood.
Ken Deemer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Ken Deemer
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
LESD Representative
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Zena Fong
Absent
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Absent
Kennedy Hilario
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Jenina Ramirez
Aye

VII. Transition to Closed Session

A.

Adjourn to Closed Session

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

VIII. Report Out of Closed Session

A.

Oral Recommendation Regarding CEO's/ED's Salary and/or Fringe Benefits

The board returned from closed session. Board President Anthony Jowid reported out that the board approved the 5% increase for CEO Farnaz Golshani-Flechner's salary.

B.

Ratification of CEO's/ED's Employment Agreement

Ken Deemer made a motion to ratify CEO's/ED's Employment Agreement.
Dr. Madhu Chatwani seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Zena Fong
Absent
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Ken Deemer
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Aye
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Absent

IX. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Ken Deemer made a motion to adjourn meeting.
LESD Representative seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Ken Deemer
Aye
Anthony Jowid
Aye
Kennedy Hilario
Aye
Dr. Hughie Barnes
Absent
Dr. Denise Berger
Absent
Jenina Ramirez
Aye
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Aye
LESD Representative
Aye
Zena Fong
Absent
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:41 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Anthony Jowid