Environmental Charter Schools
Minutes
Board of Directors' Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday June 20, 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 / 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045
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
Anthony Jowid (remote), Dr. Betsy Hamilton, Dr. Denise Berger, Dr. Madhu Chatwani, LESD Representative, Mason Williams, Zena Fong
Directors Absent
Andrew Ellenbogen, Herb Sims, Jenina Ramirez, Kennedy Hilario
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Guests Present
Danielle Kelsick, Dr. Cindy Guardado, Dr. Howard Ho, Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Isabell Bañuelos, Jen Fenton, Jeremiah David, Tracy Bondi
I. Opening Items
A.
Record attendance and guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve the agenda
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
D.
Opener
The meeting attendees engaged in an opener dedicated to saying words of appreciation for outgoing board president Anthony Jowid.
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.
23/24 EdTec Financial Update and 24/25 Budgets Presentation
EdTec consultant Dorothy Lee presented the 23/24 EdTec Financial Update and 24/25 Budgets Presentation:
23/24 Forecast Changes
- ECHSL: Operating income increased by $51k
- ECMSG: Operating income increased by $21k
- ECMSI: Operating income increased by $24k
- ECHSG: Operating income decreased by $49k
24/25 May Revise Highlights
- 1.07% COLA (up from 0.76%)
- COLA extends to SpEd, Nutrition, MBG, Equity Multiplier, and more
- Increased COLA adds ~$50/ADA
- No deferrals, no new programs or funds
24/25 Budgets
- For each school, Budget Summary, Funding Driver Assumptions, Distribution of Budget - Revenues & Expenses, Cash Outlook in the EdTec slides were thoroughly reviewed by the Committee and guests
B.
ECHS-G school update
ECHS-Gardena Principal Dr. Cindy Guardado presented the ECHS-G school update slides.
C.
2024-25 Local Control and Accountability Plans Presentation for all ECS Schools
Director of Strategic Initiatives Jen Fenton and Superintendent Farnaz Golshani-Flechner presented the 2024-25 Local Control and Accountability Plans for all ECS schools. The presentation included the following sections: LCAP overview, ECS shared goals, overall themes and needs, site-specific needs including ECMS-Gardena Differentiated Assistance, budget versus actual expenditures, and engaging partners.
IV. Public Hearing
A.
Public Hearing regarding the actions and expenditures proposed in each ECS schools' 24/25 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)
There were no public speakers present to provide public comment at this hearing.
V. Consent Items A-M
A.
Approve 5/2/2024 board minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
B.
Approve 6/14/2024 Finance Committee meeting minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
C.
Approve private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
D.
Approve check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
E.
Approve 2024-25 Education Protection Act Plan and Resolution as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
F.
Approve Prop 28 Arts and Music in Schools Funding Annual Report as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
G.
Approve contracts
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
H.
Approve 2023-24 revised Board & Committee Calendar
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
I.
Elect Dr. Betsy Hamilton as board president
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
J.
Approve 3-year board term renewal (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027) for Jenina Ramirez
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
K.
Approve 2024-25 ECS Board Committees & Terms
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
L.
Approve 2024-25 ECS Board & Committee Calendar
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
M.
Approve revised ECHS-L 2023-24 Academic Calendar
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
VI. Action Items
A.
Approve 2024-25 Local Accountability and Control Plans for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
B.
Approve 2024-25 budgets for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
C.
Approve 2024 California School Dashboard Local Indicators for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
D.
Approve 2024-25 Academic Calendars for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
VII. Transition to Closed Session
A.
Adjourn to Closed Session
Tabled.
VIII. Closed Session
A.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Tabled.
B.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Gov’t Code §54957.6)
Tabled.
IX. Report Out of Closed Session
A.
Report Out
Tabled.
X. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
The board voted to approve the agenda with the change to table the closed session items--sections VIII, IX, and X on the agenda.