Equitas Academy Charter School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday March 25, 2021 at 6:00 PM
Location
Nadine Peters is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: March Board Meeting
Time: Mar 25, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Time: Mar 25, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
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https://equitasacademy.zoom.us/j/98521017404
https://equitasacademy.zoom.us/j/98521017404
Meeting ID: 985 2101 7404
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Meeting ID: 985 2101 7404
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Meeting ID: 985 2101 7404
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.
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 (remote), A. Santino (remote), C. Langston (remote), D. Krishna (remote), O. Bajracharya (remote), P. Reddy (remote), T. Bell (remote)
Directors Absent
F. Spindler
Guests Present
C. Belcher (remote), C. Casey (remote), C. Melgares (remote), Junior Rayas (remote), L. Chang (remote), L. Lofton (remote), M. Borrego (remote), M. Ford (remote), S. Estilai (remote), S. Sobkov (remote), mike@boardontrack.com (remote), rksenyak@boardontrack.com (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
O. Bajracharya called a meeting of the board of directors of Equitas Academy Charter School to order on Thursday Mar 25, 2021 at 6:03 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
D. Krishna made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 02-25-21.
A. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| A. Perez |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
II. Public Comment
A.
Public Comment
There were no members of the public present so no comment was made.
III. Consent
A.
Equitas Academy Charter School High School and College Application Reimbursement Policy
C. Langston made a motion to Pass a new policy implementation for scholars as they prepare for college.
P. Reddy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| A. Perez |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
IV. Training Session
A.
BoardOnTrack: Board 201 Training
Mike Mizzoni and Rachel Ksenyak from Board on Track present Board 201 on Goal Setting. This presentation included framing thoughts, structuring board for success, role in organizational planning and breakout groups.
Presenters split into two breakout groups with management training scenarios:
Group 1: Explored a scenario to fundraise $500,000.
Group 2: Explored a scenario where there is an option to expand schools with a prominent funder.
Board members discussed the most viable options to achieve the scenarios above.
V. Org Updates
A.
CEO Update
Malka Borrego shares CEO updates that included insights on the following:
- CEO update email
- Opportunities to increase CEO communication org wide
Malka Borrego presents Stakeholder Feedback: Teacher, Parent, Student and Commitment to Equity.
- Ms. Borrego suggested the possibility that the Equitas board create an ADHOK re-entry committee to increase progress monitoring.
B.
Enrollment Update
Enrollment updates were given by Maggie Ford including information on the Equitas lottery and current scholar enrollment.
- Ms. Ford reports that fully vaccinated teams will begin canvasing Pico Union neighborhoods soon.
C.
Board Review of Monthly Financials
Slav Sobkov reviews February financials including trends, expense adjustments and the cash balance position health.
P. Reddy made a motion to Pass February Financials.
A. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| A. Perez |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
D.
CEO Compensation
Maggie Ford presents 2% compensation increase for the CEO and the board voted to approve.
P. Reddy made a motion to Increase CEO Compensation.
C. Langston seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| A. Perez |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
VI. Academic Accountability
A.
Student Learning Outcomes Winter Presentation
Catherine Belcher presents Academic Committee Data showing preliminary results from MAP testing.
During the presentation the board Discussed the following:
- How to address the unique challenges due to Distance Learning
VII. Finance Committee
A.
Update on Committee Goals
Prabhu Reddy provides an update on committee goals including financial health and Improvement on financial metrics, long term financial planning, annual plan and budget, real estate, and next years priorities. The committee is on track in meeting all annual goals.
VIII. Audit Committee
A.
Board Review and Approval of FY19-20 Audit
Oliver Bajracharya shares that Board Member Jospehti Cruz (co-member of the Audit Committee) stepped down from the board as well as updates from the Audit Committee.
Our board treasurer, ExED and COO work to prepare the audit but final review is provided by the auditor to the Audit committee.
P. Reddy made a motion to Approve the FY 19-20 audit prepared by an Independent Auditor.
A. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| A. Perez |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
IX. Resource Development Committee
A.
Board Give/Get Status
Deepa Krishna provides background on Give/Get and requested the board look at increasing participation on the "Give" side.
- Ms. Krishna updates that $14,000 of the current goal has been met.
B.
Individual/Corporate Donors
Ms. Krishna provides an update on individual and corporate donors.
- Ms. Krishna would like the board to continue engaging with Equitas staff member, Cathy Casey, and partnering with additional donors.
X. Governance Committee
A.
Board Retreat
Tyler Bell shares the current planning for the Board Retreat.
- Mr. Bell provides the board with a survey with Board Retreat preferences
B.
FY21 Scope & Sequence
Tyler Bell shares update on the FY 21 Scope and Sequence.
XI. Closed Session - CEO Leader Support
A.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE (Gov. Code section 54957(b)(1).)
Board members held a closed session.
XII. 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 8:51 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
O. Bajracharya