Environmental Charter Schools
Minutes
Board of Directors' Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday January 26, 2023 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, Superintendent
Ms. Danielle Kelsick, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction
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), Dr. Madhu Chatwani (remote), Herb Sims (remote), Jenina Ramirez (remote), Kennedy Hilario (remote), Mason Williams (remote), Zena Fong (remote)
Directors Absent
LESD Representative
Guests Present
Danielle Kelsick (remote), Dave Trejo (remote), Dorothy Lee (remote), Dr. Cindy Guardado (remote), Dr. Geneva Matthews (remote), Jair Ventura (remote), Jennifer Fenton (remote), Jeremiah David (remote), Jorine Campbell (remote), Lucia Bañuelos (remote), Michael Martucci (remote), Sajeeta Mulcahy (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 | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
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.
Opener
The meeting attendees engaged in a brief opener, going into 1:1 breakout rooms to get to know each other.
B.
Action item: elect prospective board member(s) to ECS Board
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
C.
ECHS principals update
ECHS-Gardena Principal Dr. Cindy Guardado and ECHS-Lawndale Principal Lucia Bañuelos presented updates, celebrations and spring semester goals in the ECHS principal update slides.
D.
EdTec financial update
EdTec consultant Dorothy Lee provided the EdTec 21/22 financial review:
- ECHS-Lawndale - operating income increased by $6k from previous forecast
- ECMS-Gardena - operating income decreased by $52k from previous forecast
- ECMS-Inglewood - operating income decreased by $39k from previous forecast
- ECHS-Gardena - operating income decreased by $41k from previous forecast
E.
Board member donations
Tabled.
IV. Study Session
A.
Charter renewal planning conversation
Superintendent Farnaz Golshani-Flechner and Director of Compliance & Operations Jeremiah David presented the charter renewal slides. This was followed by brainstorming sessions among the attendees in breakout rooms.
V. Public Hearing
A.
Public Comment: Revised ECS - Safe Return to In Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan
No speakers were present to provide comments at this public hearing.
VI. Consent Items A-P
A.
Approve Board Resolution 2022-2023 #4 - Authorizing Remote Board Meetings
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
B.
Approve 12/8/2022 board meeting minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
C.
Approve 1/17/2023 Governance Committee meeting minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
D.
Approve 1/19/2023 Audit Committee meeting minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
E.
Approve 1/20/2023 Finance Committee meeting minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
F.
Approve private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
G.
Approve check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
H.
Approve contracts
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
I.
Approve revised Lawndale Properties LLC Lease Agreement as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
J.
Approve revised Yukon LLC Sublease Agreement Amendment as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
K.
Approve School Plans for Student Achievement for ECHSL, ECMSG, ECMSI, ECHSG
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
L.
Approve School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) for ECHSL, ECMSG, ECMSI, ECHSG
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
M.
Approve sale or disposal of ECS e-waste (surplus technology equipment)
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
N.
Approve California Energy Commission’s CalSHAPE Program Board Resolution for ventilation program funding at ECHS-G
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
O.
Approve revised ECS - Safe Return to In Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
P.
Elect Dr. Betsy Hamilton as board vice president
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
VII. Action Item
A.
Approve FY21/22 Audit Report as Recommended by Audit Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Abstain
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
VIII. Upcoming Dates/Announcements
A.
Next ECS Board Meeting
B.
Next ECS Committee Meetings
C.
Appreciations
Appreciations were shared for Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Danielle and her instructional leadership team and Superintendent Farnaz Golshani-Flechner for leading the collective achievements of their staff. An appreciation was made of the board members for the energy and ideas that they provided in the board study session.
IX. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
None.