Environmental Charter Schools
Minutes
Board of Directors' Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday September 22, 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, 2025
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)
Ms. Tracy Bondi, Director of Finance
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. Lucia Bañuelos, 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. Previous board meeting minutes may be viewed on the Board On Track public portal website at https://app2.boardontrack.com/public/3tHo3u/home.
Directors Present
Anthony Jowid (remote), Dr. Betsy Hamilton (remote), Dr. Denise Berger (remote), Kennedy Hilario (remote), LESD Representative (remote), Zena Fong (remote)
Directors Absent
Dr. Madhu Chatwani, Jenina Ramirez
Guests Present
Alison Diaz (remote), Danielle Kelsick (remote), Dave Trejo (remote), Dorothy Lee (remote), Dr. Geneva Matthews (remote), Farnaz Golshani-Flechner (remote), Herbert Sims (remote), Jennifer Fenton (remote), Jeremiah David (remote), Jorine Campbell (remote), Lucy Bañuelos (remote), Michael Martucci (remote), Rachael Adsila (remote), Roxanne Solomita (remote), Thelma Gonzalez (remote), Tracy Bondi (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve the agenda
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
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. Discussion Items / Updates
A.
ECMS principals updates
ECMS-G Principal Dave Trejo and ECMS-I Principal Geneva Matthews provided the ECMS principals updates as described in the presentation slides.
B.
Leadership update
Chief Executive Officer Farnaz Golshani-Flechner presented the leadership updates slides in concert with Director of Health & Safety Jennifer Fenton.
C.
Action item: Elect Dr. Betsy Hamilton to ECS Board as recommended by Governance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
D.
College presentation and alumni tracking update
ECHS-Lawndale counselor Roxanne Solomita and Alumni Coordinator Rachael Adsila presented the college presentation and alumni tracking update slides.
E.
21/22 financial review and 22/23 revised budgets
EdTec consultant Dorothy Lee provided the EdTec 21/22 financial review:
- ECHS-Lawndale- operating income decreased by $40k in unaudited actuals
- ECMS-Gardena- operating income increased by $28k in unaudited actuals
- ECMS-Inglewood- operating income decreased by $51k in unaudited actuals
- ECHS-Gardena- operating income decreased by $19k in unaudited actuals
IV. Study Session
A.
ECS Priorities conversation
Chief Executive Officer Farnaz Golshani-Flechner and Chief Academic Office Danielle Kelsick presented the ECS priorities slides. A study session ensued among all of the meeting attendees focused on analysis of the ECS Strategic Priorities Benchmark Chart.
V. Consent Items A-M
A.
Approve Board Resolution 2022-2023 #2 - Authorizing Remote Board Meetings
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
B.
Approve minutes for 8/4/2022 ECS board meeting
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
C.
Approve previous committee meeting minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
D.
Approve private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
E.
Approve check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
F.
Approve Unaudited Actuals for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
G.
Approve revised 22/23 Teacher Salary Schedule as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
H.
Approve 22/23 Finance Committee Goals as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
I.
Approve FY 2022-23 contracts
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
J.
Approve revised Academic Calendars 2022-2023
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
K.
Approve Teachers on Special Assignment for 2022-23 School Year (Board Policy 32188)
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
L.
Approve Parent-Student Handbooks
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
M.
Approve purchase of relocatable classrooms to be located at ECHS-Lawndale and Lease agreement between Lawndale LLC and ECHS-Lawndale
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
VI. Action Item
A.
Approve 22/23 revised budgets for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
B.
Approve ECS Civility Policy
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
VII. Upcoming Dates/Announcements
A.
Next ECS Board Meeting
B.
Next ECS Committee Meetings
C.
Appreciations
Board member Dr. Denise Berger appreciated the pivot by the college counseling team to provide focus to their seniors to apply to public colleges and universities.
Board member Kennedy Hilario shared an appreciation of Chief Executive Officer Farnaz Golshani-Flechner for her confidence and poise demonstrated in the improvement of her performance year over year.
Chief Executive Officer Farnaz Golshani-Flechner appreciated the participation and presence of LESD board representative Thelma Gonzalez as well as ECS Director of Student Services Michael Martucci for his work going above and beyond recruiting special education teachers. She complimented Mr. Herb Simms for considering working through the board nomination process and Dr. Betsy Hamilton for her successful election to the ECS board today. Finally, Farnaz thanked Chief Academic Officer Danielle Kelsick, Director of Compliance & Operations Jeremiah David, and Director of Growth & Sustainability Alison Diaz for being amazing partners in the hard work over the past weeks launching the school year.
VIII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
None.