Equitas Academy Charter School

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday August 25, 2022 at 3:00 PM PDT

Location

Equitas Academy #2: 2723 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005

 

Additional Call-in Location: 13427 Cumpston Street, Sherman Oaks, CA 91401

 

 

Topic: August Board Meeting
Time: Aug 25, 2022 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://equitasacademy.zoom.us/j/84399261919

Meeting ID: 843 9926 1919
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Meeting ID: 843 9926 1919

PUBLIC COMMENT AT EQUITAS ACADEMY BOARD MEETINGS – An opportunity for the public to address the Board will be provided prior to discussion and action on agenda items. Members of the public who wish to speak on any item are requested to identify themselves and indicate on which agenda item they wish to speak. The Board will provide an opportunity for the public to speak for a maximum of three (3) minutes, unless granted additional time at the discretion of the Board. Testimony shall be limited in content to matters pertaining to Equitas Academy. The Board may not take any action on matters discussed during the public testimony period that are not listed on the agenda. Brown Act Compliance: Agenda posted at School.

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 a meeting of the Board of Directors, may request assistance in advance of the meeting by contacting Equitas Academy Charter School at 1700 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015 or by phone (213) 201-0440.

Agenda

      Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 3:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record Attendance and Guests   Cecilia Melgares 1 m
  B. Board findings pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(e) Vote Tyler Bell 1 m
   

The Charter School Board of Directors determines, in accordance with Government Code Section 54953(e)(1)(B), that meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.  Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(e)(3), the Board has also reconsidered the circumstances of the State of Emergency declared by the Governor on March 4, 2020, and finds the State of Emergency continues to directly impact the ability of the Directors to meet safely in person and/or that State or local officials continue to impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing.

 

 

 
  C. Call the Meeting to Order   Tyler Bell
  D. Approve Minutes Approve Minutes Catie Langston
   

Board to approve minutes from 6/23/2022 meeting. 

 
    Approve minutes for Board Meeting on June 23, 2022  
II. Public Comment 3:02 PM
  A. Public Comment FYI Tyler Bell 1 m
III. Closed Session 3:03 PM
  A. Closed Session - Conference with legal counsel Discuss John Lemmo 25 m
   

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION

(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)

Name of case: Equitas Academy Charter School v. LAUSD et al.


 

 
IV. Brown Act Training 3:28 PM
  A. Brown Act Training FYI Kate Farrar 35 m
   

Per LAUSD oversight requirements, our board participates in yearly training on Brown Act training, which requires us to conduct all business in open sessions (except in limited circumstances). 

 
V. Consent 4:03 PM
  A. Independent Study Policy Vote Maggie Ford 1 m
   

Board to vote to approve the Independent Study Policy to allow us to provide remote instruction to students below the threshold of 20% as allowable by our charters. 

 
  B. Consolidated Application for Federal Funding Vote Maggie Ford 1 m
   

Board to approve the FY22-23 Consolidated Application for Federal Funding.  

 
  C. Renewal of Line of Credit with Capital Impact Partners Vote Slav Sobkov 1 m
   

Board to approve Delegation of Authority to the CEO and COO to renew the Line of Credit with Capital Impact Partners (CIP).  

 
VI. Organizational Updates 4:06 PM
  A. 21-22 LAUSD Oversight Reports Discuss Cecilia Melgares 2 m
   

On an annual basis LAUSD works with each school to conduct an audit and assess the following buckets: Governance, Student Achievement and Educational Performance, Organizational Management, Programs, and Operations, Compliance with Clearance, and Fiscal Oversight. The Board will review the reports below. Here is a document with an overview on our results for the 21-22 SY and below have attached the full report for each school. 

 
  B. Review of FY22 Unaudited financial statements. Vote Slav Sobkov 3 m
   

​The board will review of FY22 Unaudited financial statements.

 

 

 
  C. Credential Limited Assignment Options (LAO) Vote Jessica Edelman 1 m
   

Board to vote on Credential Limited Assignment Options (LAO).

Limited Assignment Options - EC 44256(b) and EC 44258.3 - Google Docs

 
  D. Update to Bank Accounts Vote Maggie Ford 1 m
   

Approval by Board to remove Malka Borrego add Dr. Sofia Roditti to the following bank accounts as signer:

 

Pacific Western Bank: Equitas Academy Charter Inc ***8200

California Credit Union ***9889


 

 
  E. Open Business Account with American Express Vote Maggie Ford 1 m
   

Approval by Board to open a business account with American Express authorizing the issuance of cards to its CEO Sofia Roditti and it's COO Margaret Ford. 

 
VII. Resource Development 4:14 PM
  A. Committee Goals Discuss Catie Langston 10 m
   

Committee to approve FY22-23 goals and meeting sequence.

 

Development Goals Brainstorm - Google Docs

 
VIII. Academic Accountability 4:24 PM
  A. Committee Goals Discuss Alyssa Santino 10 m
   

Committee to approve FY22-23 goals and meeting sequence.

 

Academic Goals 22-23.docx - Google Docs

 
IX. Finance 4:34 PM
  A. Committee Goals Discuss Prabhu Reddy 10 m
     
X. Governance Committee 4:44 PM
  A. Committee Goals Discuss Lindsey Heisser 10 m
     
XI. Organization Updates: Strong School Opening 4:54 PM
  A. CEO Update & Org Dashboard Discuss Sofia Roditti 10 m
   

CEO to provide an update on goals and organizational dashboard. Board provide feedback, support and evaluates the CEO. The focus for the August Board meeting is on Strong School Opening.

Organizational Updates: Strong School Opening Overview Deck 8_25_22 

 
  B. State Testing Update (SBAC) Discuss Robert Spencer 5 m
   

Robert Spencer (Chief Schools Officer) will provide an update on State Testing (SBAC). 

 
  C. Enrollment Update Discuss Seidy Pacheco 5 m
   

Seidy Pacheco (Director of Enrollment) will provide an update on enrollment. 

 
  D. Facilities Update Discuss Cecilia Melgares 5 m
   

Cecilia Melgares (Managing Director of Operations) to provide an update on facilities. 

 
  E. Talent Update Discuss Jessica Edelman 5 m
   

Jessica Edelman (Director of Teach Talent) to provide an update on the following:

  • Open seat and goals to hiring
  • Diversity
  • Retention 


 

 
  F. Priorities for FY 22-23 Discuss Sofia Roditti 5 m
   

Priorities for FY 22-23 to be discussed: 

  • Soffia Roditti to provide an update on the org
  • Kate Farrar to provide an update on the network
  • Robert Spencer to provide an update for schools
 
XII. Evaluation of Meeting 5:29 PM
  A. Evaluation Discuss Tyler Bell 15 m
   

Committee to discuss how the group did in relations to governance and management and where we might upgrade practices for our next meeting.

 
XIII. Closing Items 5:44 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Tyler Bell 1 m