Environmental Charter Schools
Minutes
Board of Directors' Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday May 26, 2022 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, 2024
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
Ms. Alison Diaz, Director of Growth and Sustainability (Facilities)
Dr. Beth Bernstein-Yamashiro, Director of Principal Development/Principal Coach
Ms. Tracy Bondi, Director of Finance
Ms. Julie Vo, Director of Development
Mr. Jeremiah David, Director of Compliance and Operations
Ms. Sarah Jamieson, Director of Human Resources
Mr. Michael Martucci, Director of Student Services
Ms. Jen Fenton, Director of Health and Safety
Ms. KC Fabiero, Principal at ECHS-Lawndale
Dr. Geneva Matthews, Principal at ECMS-Inglewood
Mr. Dave Trejo, Principal at ECMS-Gardena
Dr. Cindy Guardado, Principal at ECHS-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, Dr. Denise Berger (remote), Dr. Madhu Chatwani (remote), Jenina Ramirez (remote), Kennedy Hilario (remote), LESD Representative (remote), Zena Fong (remote)
Directors Absent
Ken Deemer
Guests Present
Dave Trejo (remote), Dr. Cindy Guardado (remote), Gabriela Villalpando (remote), Jane Wyche (remote), Jeremiah David (remote), Julie Vo (remote), KC Fabiero (remote), Michael Martucci (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve the agenda
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
II. Presentations from the Floor
A.
Presentations from the floor on non-agenda Items
B.
Presentations from the floor on agenda items
None.
III. Reports/Discussions
A.
Leadership updates
CEO Farnaz Golshani-Flechner presented the leadership update slides.
Board member Kennedy Hilario remarked that ECS is showing a high level of academic success as compared to neighboring schools, statewide, and nationwide averages. He posed the question of what ECS students' ceiling could be on achievement and if this topic has been explored. Chief Academic Officer Danielle Kelsick responded that this is a topic that is constantly being discussed and debated by the instructional leaders and that a key academic focus is improving critical thinking skills in order to prepare students for the changing world environment ahead.
B.
Principals updates
ECHS-Gardena Principal Dr. Cindy Guardado, ECMS-Gardena Principal Dave Trejo, and ECHS-Lawndale Principal KC Fabiero shared brief presentations on highlights and celebrations on their campuses. This was followed by highlights and celebrations from ECMS-Inglewood presented by Farnaz Golshani-Flechner.
C.
Summer reading share out
ECS Humanities Specialist Jane Wyche-Jonas presented a brief summary of ECS's summer reading program.
IV. Consent Items A-H
A.
Approve minutes for 3/17/2022 ECS Board Meeting
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
B.
Approve minutes for 4/6/2022 ECS Special Board Meeting
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
C.
Approve Board Resolution 2021-2022 #5 - Authorizing Remote Board Meetings
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
D.
Approve CalSHAPE Program Plumbing Board Resolutions for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
E.
Accept ECS tax return forms 990 and 199
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
F.
Approve revised 2021-2022 Academic Calendars
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
G.
Approve Contracts
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
H.
Approve revised ECS Board & Committee Calendar 2021-2022
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
V. Action Item
A.
Approve revised Teacher/Counselor/SPED Coordinator Salary Schedule
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements
A.
Next ECS Board Meeting
B.
Next ECS Committee Meetings
C.
Appreciations
Farnaz Golshani-Flechner appreciated the hard work of the safety and operations scrum team which has met multiple times per week throughout the school year to manage all kinds of challenging safety and health concerns across ECS: Chief Academic Officer Danielle Kelsick, Director of Compliance & Operations Jeremiah David, Director of Human Resources Sarah Jamieson, Director of Health & Safety Jennifer Fenton, and Farnaz Golshani-Flechner.
VII. 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 voted to approve a 9% increase for CEO Farnaz Golshani-Flechner's salary.
B.
Ratification of CEO's/ED's Employment Agreement
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
VIII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Ken Deemer |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
None.