Environmental Charter Schools
Minutes
Board of Directors' Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday January 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Location
In-person location: ECS Home Office - 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd #100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Two-way teleconference locations: 1100 Shasta Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126 / 3011 Elm Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
ECS Board Members Term and End Date
Mr. Anthony Jowid, President..................3 years June 30, 2025
Dr. Betsy Hamilton, Vice President.........3 years June 30, 2025
Dr. Denise Berger, Secretary....................3 years June 30, 2026
Ms. Zena Fong............................................3 years June 30, 2026
Ms. Jenina Ramirez....................................3 years June 30, 2024
Dr. Madhu Chatwani..................................3 years June 30, 2026
Mr. Kennedy Hilario....................................3 years June 30, 2026
Mr. Herb Sims.............................................3 years June 30, 2025
Mr. Mason Williams....................................3 years June 30, 2025
Mr. Andrew Ellenbogen.................................3 years June 30, 2026
Lawndale Elementary School District Representative, Rotating Position
ECS Staff
Ms. Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Superintendent
Ms. Danielle Kelsick, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction
Ms. Tracy Bondi, Director of Finance
Mr. Jeremiah David, Director of Compliance & Operations
Ms. Sarah Jamieson, Director of Human Resources
Ms. Jen Fenton, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Dr. Shalene Wright, Director of SpEd and English Language Development
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
Andrew Ellenbogen, Dr. Denise Berger (remote), Herb Sims, Jenina Ramirez, Kennedy Hilario (remote), LESD Representative, Mason Williams, Zena Fong
Directors Absent
Anthony Jowid, Dr. Betsy Hamilton, Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Guests Present
Dorothy Lee (remote), Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Jen Fenton (remote), Jeremiah David, Kami Cotler, Monse Garcia, Tracy Bondi
I. Opening Items
A.
Record attendance and guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve the agenda
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Absent
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Absent
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
D.
Opener
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. Discussion Items / Updates
A.
EdTec financial update
EdTec consultant Dorothy Lee presented the ECS Financial Update slides:
- Minimal COLA (0.76%) for upcoming 24/25 state budget. 3rd lowest since LCFF was implemented.
- No cuts or planned deferrals to state's K-12 budget
- ECHS-L ADA is lower than budgeted mostly due to underenrollments in 11th and 12th grades, which are carried over from the pandemic period.
- ECHS-G ADA is lower than budgeted due primarily to several unexpected student exits.
- ECHS-L Forecast Changes - Operating income decreased by $29k
- ECMS-G Forecast Changes - Operating income increased by $24k
- ECMS-I Forecast Changes - Operating income increased by $82k
- ECHS-G Forecast Changes - Operating income increased by $169k
B.
LCAP midyear update
Our Director of Strategic Initiatives Jen Fenton, in collaboration with our Director of Finance Tracy Bondi, presented the midyear update slides on the Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) for all ECS schools. They focused on the LCAP's framework of goals, actions, and expenditures for each school site and evaluated the progress of the sites in meeting these specified objectives.
IV. Consent Items A-K
A.
Approve 11/30/2023 board meeting minutes
Board member, Denise Berger, joined the meeting virtually.
Board member, Herb Sims, joined the meeting in person.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
B.
Approve 12/13/2023 Audit Committee meeting minutes
Board member, Denise Berger, joined the meeting virtually
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
C.
Approve 1/19/2024 Finance Committee meeting minutes
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
D.
Approve private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
E.
Approve check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
F.
Approve contracts as recommended by Finance Committee
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
G.
Approve First Interim Financial Reports for ECHS-L, ECMS-I, ECMS-G, ECHS-G as recommended by Finance Committee
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
H.
Approve School Plans for Student Achievement for ECHSL, ECMSG, ECMSI, ECHSG
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
I.
Approve School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) for ECHSL, ECMSG, ECMSI, ECHSG
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
J.
Approve revised Board & Committee Calendar
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
K.
Approve revised 2023-2024 ECS Board Committees & Terms
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
V. Action Items
A.
Accept FY 22/23 Audit Report as recommended by Audit Committee
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
B.
Approve updated ECS Financial Policies - credit card policy revision
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements
A.
Next ECS Board Meeting
B.
Next ECS Committee Meetings
C.
Appreciations
Tabled.
VII. Transition to Closed Session
A.
Adjourn to Closed Session
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
VIII. Report Out of Closed Session
A.
Report Out
Coming out of closed session, board member Jenina Ramirez reported that there was nothing to report out.
IX. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Absent
|
| Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
| Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
| LESD Representative |
Aye
|
| Herb Sims |
Aye
|
| Zena Fong |
Aye
|
| Jenina Ramirez |
Aye
|
| Mason Williams |
Aye
|
| Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
| Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
| Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
All meeting attendees engaged in a brief meet and greet in-person opener.