Magnolia Public Schools
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday November 14, 2019 at 6:00 PM
Location
MSA- Santa Ana: 2840 W. 1st St. Santa Ana, CA 92703
Board Members who participated remotely called in from the following sites that remained open during the meeting.
• MSA-5 18230 Kittridge St., Reseda, CA 91335
• MSA-6 3754 Dunn Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90034
• MSA-San Diego 6525 Estrella Ave. San Diego, CA 92120 (Dr. Salih Dikbas)
• 1363 Ridgecrest Rd Pinole, CA 94564 (Mr. Serdar Orazov)
• 4701 Patrick Henry Dr. Bldg#25, Santa Clara, CA 95054 (Dr. Umit Yapanel)
Board Members:
Mr. Haim Beliak, Chair
Dr. Umit Yapanel, Vice-Chair
Ms. Diane Gonzalez
Ms. Sandra Covarrubias
Mr. Serdar Orazov
Dr. Salih Dikbas
Mr. Shohrat Geldiyev
CEO & Superintendent:
Mr. Alfredo Rubalcava
• MSA-5 18230 Kittridge St., Reseda, CA 91335
• MSA-6 3754 Dunn Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90034
• MSA-San Diego 6525 Estrella Ave. San Diego, CA 92120 (Dr. Salih Dikbas)
• 1363 Ridgecrest Rd Pinole, CA 94564 (Mr. Serdar Orazov)
• 4701 Patrick Henry Dr. Bldg#25, Santa Clara, CA 95054 (Dr. Umit Yapanel)
Board Members:
Mr. Haim Beliak, Chair
Dr. Umit Yapanel, Vice-Chair
Ms. Diane Gonzalez
Ms. Sandra Covarrubias
Mr. Serdar Orazov
Dr. Salih Dikbas
Mr. Shohrat Geldiyev
CEO & Superintendent:
Mr. Alfredo Rubalcava
Directors Present
D. Gonzalez, H. Beliak, S. Covarrubias, S. Dikbas (remote), S. Geldiyev, S. Orazov (remote), U. Yapanel (remote)
Directors Absent
None
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
S. Dikbas, U. Yapanel
Directors who left before the meeting adjourned
S. Dikbas, S. Orazov, U. Yapanel
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
H. Beliak called a meeting of the board of directors of Magnolia Public Schools to order on Thursday Nov 14, 2019 at 6:10 PM.
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
Please refer to attendance information stated above.
C.
Pledge of Allegiance
B. Torres, MPS Board Secretary, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
D.
Approval of Agenda
D. Gonzalez made a motion to approve the agenda as presented.
S. Covarrubias seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Orazov |
Aye
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
The Academic Update was discussed before the consent agenda and action items.
E.
Public Comments
There were three parents from MSA-Santa Ana that stated they were grateful to be given the opportunity to speak and shared their concerns about the school. The concerns shared were related to campus safety and the need for a crosswalk, one of the parents recommended for the students to have a garden where they can harvest their own vegetables. H. Beliak, MPS Board Chair announced that the board had heard the comments and would speak with staff to address the concerns. No other public comments were made.
F.
Communications: Board/Superintendent
V. Gurler, MSA- Santa Ana Principal, handed certificates to parents, staff members and students in recognition of their dedication to the school. A. Rubalcava, MPS CEO & Superintendent, announced the MSA-San Diego charter renewal board meeting with the San Diego Unified School District, he invited the board to the MSA-1 ribbon cutting event, and asked for a moment of silence for an MSA-4 student. H. Beliak, MPS Board Chair, asked for a moment of silence for the the victims of the recent school shooting in California. No other announcements were made.
G.
Approval of October 12, 2019 Regular Board Meeting Minutes
S. Covarrubias made a motion to approve minutes from the Regular Board Meeting on 10-10-19 Regular Board Meeting on 10-10-19.
D. Gonzalez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Aye
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
H.
Approval of October 10, 2019 Special Board Meeting Minutes
D. Gonzalez made a motion to approve minutes from the Special Board Meeting on 10-10-19 Special Board Meeting on 10-10-19.
S. Covarrubias seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Aye
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
II. Consent Items
A.
Request for Allowance of Attendance Due to Emergency Conditions, Form J-13A (MSA-1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
D. Yilmaz, MPS Chief Accountability Officer, briefly explained this item to the board and addressed all relevant questions.
D. Gonzalez made a motion to approve the filing of the “Request for Allowance of Attendance Due to Emergency Conditions, Form J-13A” for MSA-1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 as a consent item.
S. Geldiyev seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| U. Yapanel |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Aye
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Aye
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
S. Dikbas arrived.
U. Yapanel arrived.
B.
Approval of Revisions to Financial Policy Revision; CSH 105 and 106, INV 106, PUR 106 and G&A 103
N. Montijo, MPS Chief Financial Officer, briefly explained the details of this item to the board and reasoning behind making the changes.
D. Gonzalez made a motion to approves the revisions to the following Fiscal Policies and Procedures; 1- CSH 105 and CSH 106 Financial Policy allowing the organization to use manual checks for issuing payroll related payments, such as off-cycle pay checks, termination checks and emergency payroll checks. 2- INV 102 Fixed Asset Capitalization Policy and Procedure must state: Bulk computer, software and other technology purchases with aggregate value of $5,000 or more are captured as capitalized fixed assets regardless of individual price of item. 3- PUR 106 and G&A 103, 2.0 Expense Guidelines eliminate the submission of a separate expense report when submitting reimbursements using the current financial software.
S. Geldiyev seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Aye
|
| U. Yapanel |
Aye
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Aye
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
This item approved as a consent item.
III. Closed Session Items
A.
Public Announcement of Closed Session
H. Beliak, MPS Board Chair, announced in Open Session that the board would be going into Closed Session to discuss one potential litigation matter and two public employment matters and the board would go back into Open Session to report out and continue with the meeting.
B.
Conference with Legal Counsel-Potential Litigation- One Matter
This item was discussed in Closed Session.
C.
Public Employment- Two Matters
These matters were discussed in Closed Session.
D.
Report Out From Closed Session
H. Beliak, MPS Board Chair, announced in Open Session that the items were discussed in Closed Session but no actions were taken, follow-ups steps were given to staff.
IV. Action Items
A.
Discussion and Approval of School Safety Plans for All MPS Schools (MSA 1-8, MSA-SA and MSA-SD)
B. Lopez, MPS Director of Student Services, presented the school safety plans to the board. She explained that these safety plans are ongoing documents and change annually as needed based on compliance, she went over the changes in the plans between the reports that were last approved by the board and the ones being presented at this time. Board Members had multiple questions regarding the safety plans, B. Lopez addressed these questions.
S. Geldiyev made a motion to approve the school safety plans for all MPS school sites.
H. Beliak seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Aye
|
S. Dikbas left.
U. Yapanel left.
B.
Approval to purchase NGSS Science Curriculum Textbooks for MSA-8 from Reserve Funds
J. Hernandez, MSA-8 Principal, explained the need to purchase the textbooks for students to have in the classroom and copies to take home. This purchase would be paid with the school's reserve funds the proposed textbook curriculum has been approved by home office staff.
S. Covarrubias made a motion to allow the one time usage of financial reserves to acquire a state recommended NGSS science curriculum textbook with online resources for the 2019-20 school year in the amount of $72,149.80.
S. Orazov seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Orazov |
Aye
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
C.
Approval of Special Education Teacher Position at Magnolia Science Academy-4
M. Avsar, MSA-4 Principal, went over student needs and the supports that are currently in place. He mentioned that there was a need for additional support due to the increase in number of students needing special education services.
D. Gonzalez made a motion to approve using MSA-4’s reserve funds and adding a part-time Special Education Resource Specialist Program (RSP) Teacher at MSA-4.
S. Geldiyev seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Orazov |
Aye
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
D.
Approval of Additional Staff Positions at Magnolia Science Academy-Santa Ana
V. Gurler, MSA-Santa Ana Principal, explained the need of adding additional staff members to the school site based on the number of students needing additional support. He went over current expenses compared to the cost of adding the additional staff members.
D. Gonzalez made a motion to approve the additional staff members at MSA-Santa Ana (MSA-Santa Ana) for the remaining 2019-20 school year: one (1) part-time special education paraprofessional position and one (1) full-time Speech Language Pathology Assistant position.
H. Beliak seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Absent
|
S. Orazov left.
E.
Prop 39 Over-Allocation Cost Payment(s) from Reserve Funds (2nd Request)
A. Rubalcava, MPS CEO and Superintendent informed the board of the second request from LAUSD to pay for over-allocation costs. He explained what each school must pay and what the payment plan would be.
S. Geldiyev made a motion to approve and authorize MPS Staff to pay to the LAUSD over-allocation fees in the total amount of $76,403.38 consisting of $24,321.00 for MSA-3, and $52,082.38 for MSA-4 as set forth below. The fees will be paid from each school’s long term reserves. Further, the MPS Board approves and authorizes the aforementioned payments according to the following schedule: (1) half, or $38,201.69, on or by November 18, 2019 and (2) the other half, $38,201.69, on or by December 18, 2019.
D. Gonzalez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Absent
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
F.
Approval of Facilities Committee to Act as AdHoc Committee to Approve a Prop 39 Change Order
A. Rubalcava, MPS CEO and Superintendent explained that this was a procedural item.
H. Beliak made a motion to grant the Facilities Committee, as the Ad Hoc Committee, the authority to review and approve any change orders to the executed Prop 39 energy grant contracts.
S. Geldiyev seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Absent
|
G.
Facilities Committee to Act as AdHoc Committee with Auth. to Approve MSA-1 Potential Change Orders
A. Rubalcava, MPS CEO and Superintendent, explained that given the feverish pace at which the Project was being constructed, Oltmans was unable to present to Staff and, consequently, staff was unable to present first to the Facilities Committee and then to the Board for review and approval, all project change orders. Oltmans was instructed by MPS Staff to complete the Project by the first day of the 2019-20 school year or as soon thereafter as possible.
S. Geldiyev made a motion to appoint the MPS Facilities Committee to continue as an Ad Hoc Committee with authority to approve Change Order Requests by Oltmans Construction Co. (“Oltmans”) for the new construction project at 18220 Sherman Way (“18220”).
S. Covarrubias seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| H. Beliak |
Abstain
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Absent
|
H.
Approval of New Vendor to Serve MSA 1's Middle School After School Program Through ASES Funds
S. Acar, MPS Chief Operations Officer, went over the Request for Proposal process for after school services due to the changes of the former YPI vendor. He explained how the transition would work and how this new vendor fits the Magnolia program. Board Members asked questions which were addressed by S. Acar.
H. Beliak made a motion to approve the ThinkTogether, Inc as the new vendor to provide after school services to Middle School of MSA 1 using the ASES After school grant monies.
D. Gonzalez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Orazov |
Absent
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
I.
Renewal of Two MPS Board Memberships
A. Rubalcava, MPS CEO and Superintendent, presented the board membership renewal item to the board. He explained that both D. Gonzalez and S. Dikbas' board memberships require renewal.
S. Geldiyev made a motion to approve the membership renewals for Ms. Diane Gonzalez and Dr. Salih Dikbas for a 5-year term beginning December 10, 2019 through December 9, 2024.
H. Beliak seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Dikbas |
Absent
|
| U. Yapanel |
Absent
|
| S. Geldiyev |
Aye
|
| S. Orazov |
Absent
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Abstain
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| H. Beliak |
Aye
|
V. Information/Discussion Items
A.
Academic Update
The Academic Update was moved up to the top of the agenda, members of the academic department presented their progress on the 2019-20 home office level goals, they went over promising practices, and explained next steps. E. Acar, Chief Academic Officer, stated that principals would be giving an extensive progress presentation of their school site goals during the next MPS Board Retreat. MPS Board Chair H. Beliak, suggested for staff to attend meetings with outside entities to promote a positive view on charter schools. The academic team members addressed the Board Member questions and will be following up as requested.
B.
Finance Update- September 2019 Monthly Financials
N. Montijo, MPS Chief Financial Officer, gave a brief update regarding the monthly financials. She explained that the two items that would have a material impact on the budget would be the actual enrollment numbers compared to the adopted budget numbers and SPED concentration grant funds that were not approved by the governor, these two revisions to the budget will be presented as part of the First Interim Reports.
C.
Facilities Updates
A written report regarding ongoing facility projects was delivered. MPS Board Member S. Covarrubias inquired about two items that require attention at MSA-7 and asked for an update. No other comments were made.
D.
Information Regarding Youth Policy Institute's (YPI) Ceasing Operations & MPS's Action Plan
Most information related to this item was delivered during Item IV. H Approval of New Vendor to Serve MSA 1's Middle School After School Program Through ASES Funds. S. Acar, MPS Chief Operations Officer, provided a few additional details pertaining to after school services and addressed Board Member questions.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 10:37 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
H. Beliak