Equitas Academy Charter School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday June 27, 2019 at 6:00 PM
Location
1612 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015
PUBLIC COMMENT AT EQUITAS ACADEMY BOARD MEETINGS – An opportunity for the public, including those attending via teleconference, to address the Board regarding items listed on the agenda. Comments on an agenda item will be accepted during consideration of that item, or prior to consideration of the item in the case of a closed session item. 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. Members of the public who need a translator will be provided a maximum of six (6) minutes to speak.Testimony shall be limited in content to matters pertaining to Equitas Academy. The Board will not take any action on matters discussed during the public testimony period that are not listed on the agenda.
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.
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.
Directors Present
A. Perez, A. Sowrirajan, A. Valentine, C. Sanii, D. Krishna, J. Cruz, J. Troletti, O. Bajracharya, P. Buelna, P. Reddy, T. Bell
Directors Absent
None
Guests Present
Cecilia Melgares, Jessica Edelman, M. Borrego, M. Ford, N. Orlando, S. Estilai
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
Pilar Buelna arrived at 6:15pm
Tyler Bell and Julie Troletti arrived at 6:30pm
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C. Sanii called a meeting of the board of directors of Equitas Academy Charter School to order on Thursday Jun 27, 2019 at 6:01 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
O. Bajracharya made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 05-23-19 Board Meeting on 05-23-19.
A. Valentine seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Board Retreat Minutes
P. Reddy made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Retreat on 05-04-19 Board Retreat on 05-04-19.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Public Comment
A.
Public Comment
No public comment.
III. Consent Agenda
A.
Approval of FY 19-20 ExED Contract
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the FY 19-20 ExED contract.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Approval of FY 19-20 EPA Spending Plans for Equitas schools
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the FY 19-20 EPA spending plans for Equitas schools.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Approval of FY 19-20 Consolidated Application for Federal Funding
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the FY 19-20 consolidated application for federal funding.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Certification of Signatures for Equitas #5
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the Certification of Signatures for Equitas #5.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
E.
Approval of Resolution to Issue Funds for Equitas #5
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the Resolution to Issue Funds for Equitas #5.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
F.
Approval of California State Teachers Retirement System Employer Paid Member Contribution Resolution
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the California State Teachers Retirement System Employer Paid Member Contribution Resolution.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
G.
Approval of California State Teachers Retirement System of Pre-Tax Receivable Resolution for EQ5
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the California State Teachers Retirement System of Pre-Tax Receivable Resolution for EQ5.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
H.
Resolution to Delay the Opening of Equitas Academy #6
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the Resolution to Delay the Opening of Equitas Academy #6.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
I.
Approval of the General Insurance and Workers Compensation Insurance 19-20 Contract with Alliant
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the General Insurance and Workers Compensation Insurance 19-20 Contract with Alliant.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J.
Resolution of the Equitas Governing Board to Approve the Execution of the Loan Agreement
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the Equitas Governing Board to Approve the Execution of the Loan Agreement.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
K.
Employee Handbook
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the Employee Handbook.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
L.
Finance Handbook
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the Finance Handbook.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
M.
Student & Family Handbook
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the Student & Family Handbook.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IV. Facilities
A.
Contract for Architect Services for 1612 W Pico Blvd
Tabled.
V. Compliance
A.
LAUSD Oversight Report
Margaret Ford presented on LAUSD Oversight Report. As part of the fiduciary responsibilities of board members, compliance, governance, and fiscal oversight are critical to their role. LAUSD as the authorizer compels boards to review the oversight reports for all schools. The reports were submitted and discussed at the annual board meeting.
VI. Finance
A.
Board Review of May 2019 Financials
Samira Estilali presented on Board Review of May 2019 Financials. The income statement, balance sheet, check register and cash statement were reviewed and approved by the board.
J. Troletti made a motion to Approve May 2019 Financials.
A. Sowrirajan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Adoption of FY 19-20 Budget
Samira Estilali presented on Adoption of FY 19-20 Budget. She reviewed the assumptions, process and protocols for the budget.
A. Sowrirajan made a motion to Approve the adoption of FY 19-20 budget.
P. Reddy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VII. Organizational Updates
A.
Teacher Talent Strategy
Jessica Edelman, Director of Teacher Talent, presented on teacher talent recruitment vision and strategy.
Cecilia Melgares, Director of Network Operations, presented on benefits packages and philosophy to allow board members to understand the budget implications and people strategy involved.
Cecilia Melgares, Director of Network Operations, presented on benefits packages and philosophy to allow board members to understand the budget implications and people strategy involved.
B.
LCAP
P. Reddy made a motion to Approve LCAP.
O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
LCAP for EQ, EQ2,EQ3, EQ4, EQ5 were reviewed and discussed by the board.
VIII. Governance
A.
Nominating Slate for FY19-20
A. Perez made a motion to Approve nominating slate for FY 19-20.
C. Sanii seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
The board review the nominating slate at the annual board meeting each year. The committees, officer and time period for each board member was reviewed.
B.
Timeline for Setting Committee Goals for FY19-20
Oliver Bajracharya introduced the timeline for setting committee goals discussion and requested the committee chairs have this finalized before the August board meeting.
IX. Resource Development
A.
Development Dashboard
Aarthi Sowrirajan presented on the development dashboard to review the give/get policies and achievements to date.
B.
Development Committee Update
X. At Will Agreement
A.
CEO At Will Agreement & Bonus
Aarthi presented on the CEO at-will. The Equitas Board conducted a performance evaluation of the CEO on April 2019 conducted a comparison of market salaries and took action on the FY19-20 at will agreement by board vote to determine a just and reasonable compensation. The committee distributed compensation surveys, deliberated and then voted on CEO compensation whereby they approved a yearly compensation based on comparables of CEOs compensation using a national comp analysis for similar CEO salaries. An increase of 5% was proposed using the organizational structure of 2-5% raises and aligning to national comparison of CEO salaries along with a bonus.
Aarthi confirmed that a lawyer reviewed and approved the CEO at will agreement.
P. Reddy made a motion to approve the CEO At Will Agreement & Bonus.
J. Troletti seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
XI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Malka Borrego thanked the leaving board members who will be staying on as committee members.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
O. Bajracharya