Environmental Charter Schools
Minutes
Board of Directors' Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday December 8, 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
Dr. Betsy Hamilton.................................3 years June 30, 2025
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
Dr. Betsy Hamilton (remote), Dr. Denise Berger (remote), Jenina Ramirez (remote), Kennedy Hilario (remote), LESD Representative (remote)
Directors Absent
Anthony Jowid, Dr. Madhu Chatwani, Zena Fong
Guests Present
Andrew Ellenbogen (remote), Dave Trejo (remote), Farnaz Golshani-Flechner (remote), Geneva Matthews (remote), Gretchen Janson (remote), Herbert Sims (remote), Jeremiah David (remote), Lucia Banuelos (remote), Mason Williams (remote), Michael Martucci (remote), Sarah Jamieson (remote), Tracy Bondi (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve the agenda
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
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.
Opener
The meeting attendees engaged in a brief opener.
B.
Leadership update
Chief Executive Officer Farnaz Golshani-Flechner and Chief Academic Officer Danielle Kelsick presented the Leadership Update slides.
C.
Prospective board member introductions
The prospective board members listed in the agenda item introduced themselves to the meeting attendees and will move through the ECS pre-onboarding and nomination process with election votes planned at the 1/26/2023 board meeting.
IV. Consent Items A-H
A.
Approve Board Resolution 2022-2023 #3 - Authorizing Remote Board Meetings
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
B.
Approve revised 8/4/2022 board meeting minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
C.
Approve 9/22/2022 board meeting minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
D.
Accept LACOE Governance & Instructional Program Reviews
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
E.
Approve First Interim Financial Reports for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
F.
Approve FY 2022-23 contracts
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
G.
Approve revised Board & Committee Calendar
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
H.
Approve revised ECHS-G Academic Calendar 2022-2023
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
V. Action Item
A.
Approve Leadership Title Changes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
B.
Approve revised Conflict of Interest Code
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements
A.
Next ECS Board Meeting
B.
Next ECS Committee Meetings
C.
Appreciations
Tabled.
VII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Absent
|
None.