Magnolia Public Schools
Minutes
Special Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday November 30, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Location
Home Office: 250 E. 1st Street, Suite 1500, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Board Members:
Mr. Mekan Muhammedov, Chair
Ms. Sandra Covarrubias, Vice-Chair
Dr. Umit Yapanel
Dr. Salih Dikbas
Ms. Diane Gonzalez
Mrs. Esra Eldem Tunc
Student Board Member:
Melissa De La Rosa Aparicio
CEO & Superintendent:
Mr. Alfredo Rubalcava
Directors Present
D. Gonzalez, E. Eldem Tunc, M. Muhammedov, S. Covarrubias, S. Dikbas (remote), U. Yapanel
Directors Absent
None
Guests Present
J. Lara
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Pledge of Allegiance
C.
Record Attendance and Guests
Refer to attendance information recorded above.
U. Yapanel and S. Covarrubias joined in-person.
D.
Approval of Agenda
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| E. Eldem Tunc |
Aye
|
| U. Yapanel |
Aye
|
| M. Muhammedov |
Aye
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Aye
|
E.
Public Comments
No public comments were made at this time.
II. Action Items
A.
Approval of MPS Teaching Assignments per EdCode (“EC”) 44258.3"
F. Del Carpio, Chief People Officer, presented the approval for the academic teaching position: Magnolia Science Academy-2, teacher Rustam Babakulyyev for the subject of mathematics, per EdCode. The assignment has been reviewed and approved by the Subject Matter Panel that was approved on November 20, 2023.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| U. Yapanel |
Aye
|
| D. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| S. Covarrubias |
Aye
|
| S. Dikbas |
Aye
|
| E. Eldem Tunc |
Aye
|
| M. Muhammedov |
Aye
|
III. Information/Discussion Items
A.
Magnolia Science Academy-5 Charter School Facility Program Project Update
S. Budhraja, Chief Financial Officer, refreshed the Board that on October 2022, MPS received a State Award for approximately $50.8 million to facilitate new school construction specifically for MSA-5. He stated verbally for the record that there is a correction to be made under the budget implications which should state, should the MPS Board decide not to move forward with securing a loan through Banc of California, the total costs will be $35,000 related to the time and effort spent towards the review and analysis of MPS financial data. He presented the timeline for new academic facility to be built by fall of 2024. P. Ontiveros, General Counsel & Director of Facilities, described the process from hiring an architect, DLR Group, bringing in a Construction Manager and succeeding in putting plans together which was summited to the Division of State Architect (DSA) in May 2023 in two increments. Staff discovered that those plans were more expensive as expected which would lead to a deficit. Staff evaluated and ultimately the decision was made to end the relationship with the Construction Manager and re-issue a new RFP to seek a new Construction Manager to get the project on the proposed budget. The Board will be receiving a recommendation of a new Construction Manager at the December Board Meeting. Patti Thompson, Senior Vice President on the Charter School Division with Banc of California, explained the $35,000 good faith deposit which is refundable if the money is not spent. S. Budhraja, explained how some of the money from the State Award was spent as of date. P. Ontiveros went over construction options: steel frame, modular construction, and wood frame construction. Board Members questions were addressed and directed staff on certain actions.
Board, staff and guests conducted the pledge of allegiance.