Environmental Charter Schools
Minutes
Board of Directors' Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday September 19, 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, 13885 Dogleg Lane, Broomfield, CO 80023
ECS Board Members Term and End Date
Dr. Betsy Hamilton, President...............3 years June 30, 2025
Dr. Denise Berger, Secretary.................3 years June 30, 2026
Mr. Anthony Jowid................................3 years June 30, 2025
Ms. Zena Fong......................................3 years June 30, 2026
Ms. Jenina Ramirez...............................3 years June 30, 2027
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 (remote), Anthony Jowid, Dr. Betsy Hamilton, Dr. Denise Berger, Herb Sims, Jenina Ramirez, Kennedy Hilario, LESD Representative, Mason Williams, Zena Fong
Directors Absent
Dr. Madhu Chatwani
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
Anthony Jowid, Jenina Ramirez, Mason Williams
Guests Present
Alberto Paredes (LESD Representative), Danielle Kelsick, Dorothy Lee (remote), Dr. Geneva Matthews, Farnaz Golshani-Flechner, Isabell Bañuelos, Jeremiah David, Jeremiah David
I. Opening Items
A.
Record attendance and guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve the agenda
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
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.
2023-24 financial review and 2024-25 revised budgets
EdTec consultant Dorothy Lee presented the ECS Financial Update slides:
- 2023-24 forecast changes to unaudited actuals
- ECHS-Lawndale: Operating Income decreased by $43k
- ECMS-Gardena: Operating Income decreased by $35k
- ECMS-Inglewood: Operating Income decreased by $9k
- ECHS-Gardena: Operating Income increased by $434k
- 2024-25 budget forecast changes
- ECHS-Lawndale: Operating income decreased by $167k
- ECMS-Gardena: Operating income increased by $32k
- ECMS-Inglewood: Operating income increased by $310k
- ECHS-Gardena: Operating income increased by $11k
B.
ECMS-Inglewood school update
ECMS-Inglewood Principal Dr. Geneva Matthews presented the ECMSI Board Meeting 2024 Fall Presentation slides.
IV. Consent Items A-L
A.
Approve 8/1/2024 board minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
B.
Approve 9/13/2024 Finance Committee meeting minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
C.
Approve private donations over $1,000 as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
D.
Approve check registers and credit card statements as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
E.
Approve Unaudited Actuals for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
F.
Approve ECS Resolutions for 2024 Financing as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
G.
Approve 2024-25 Finance Committee Goals as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
H.
Approve contracts
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
I.
Approve revised 2024-25 Board & Committee Calendar
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
J.
Approve LACOE Certification of Signatures 2024-25
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
K.
Approve Parent-Student Handbooks
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
L.
Approve School Plans for Student Achievement
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
V. Action Item
A.
Approve 2024-25 budgets for ECHS-L, ECMS-G, ECMS-I, ECHS-G as recommended by Finance Committee
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
VI. Upcoming Dates/Announcements
A.
Next ECS Board Meeting
The next regular board meeting, per the revised board calendar in the adopted consent agenda, is on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 5pm.
B.
Next ECS Committee Meetings
C.
Appreciations
Tabled.
VII. Transition to Closed Session
A.
Adjourn to Closed Session
Roll Call | |
---|---|
LESD Representative |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
VIII. Report Out of Closed Session
A.
Report Out
Board President Dr. Betsy Hamilton stated that the board met in closed session with nothing to report out.
IX. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Roll Call | |
---|---|
Dr. Denise Berger |
Aye
|
Mason Williams |
Aye
|
LESD Representative |
Absent
|
Kennedy Hilario |
Aye
|
Jenina Ramirez |
Absent
|
Dr. Betsy Hamilton |
Aye
|
Herb Sims |
Aye
|
Andrew Ellenbogen |
Aye
|
Zena Fong |
Aye
|
Anthony Jowid |
Aye
|
Dr. Madhu Chatwani |
Absent
|
Tabled