Equitas Academy Charter School

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday April 22, 2021 at 7:00 PM

Location

Nadine Peters is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: April Board Meeting
Time: Apr 22, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://equitasacademy.zoom.us/j/96218268723
Meeting ID: 962 1826 8723
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Meeting ID: 962 1826 8723
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.

Directors Present

A. Perez (remote), A. Santino (remote), C. Langston (remote), F. Spindler (remote), O. Bajracharya (remote), P. Reddy (remote), T. Bell (remote)

Directors Absent

D. Krishna

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

F. Spindler

Guests Present

Andresfigeroa (remote), C. Belcher (remote), C. Casey (remote), C. Melgares (remote), J. Rayas (remote), L. Chang (remote), L. Lofton (remote), M. Borrego (remote), M. Ford (remote), N. Orlando (remote), S. Sobkov (remote), vpena@equitasacademy.org (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 Apr 22, 2021 at 7:02 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

A. Perez made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 03-25-21.
C. Langston seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
P. Reddy
Aye
F. Spindler
Absent
O. Bajracharya
Aye
T. Bell
Aye
A. Santino
Aye
A. Perez
Aye
D. Krishna
Absent
C. Langston
Aye

II. Closed Session: Conference with Legal Counsel

A.

Anticipated Litigation

Board members held a closed session.

III. Public Comment

A.

Public Comment

There were no members of the public present so no comment was made.

IV. Consent

A.

HealthCare RFP/Contract

P. Reddy made a motion to Pass the Healthcare RFP/Contract.
A. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Santino
Aye
A. Perez
Aye
T. Bell
Aye
F. Spindler
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
O. Bajracharya
Aye
D. Krishna
Absent
F. Spindler arrived at 7:08 PM.

B.

2021-2022 School Calendar

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve the 2021 - 2022 School Calendar.
A. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Perez
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
T. Bell
Aye
A. Santino
Aye
F. Spindler
Aye
D. Krishna
Absent
C. Langston
Aye
O. Bajracharya
Aye

C.

LCAP Federal Addendum for Equitas Academy 6

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve the LCAP Federal Addendum for Equitas Academy 6.
A. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Bell
Aye
A. Perez
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
A. Santino
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
D. Krishna
Absent
O. Bajracharya
Aye
F. Spindler
Aye

V. Org Updates

A.

CEO Update

Malka Borrego provides the CEO update that included insights on the the following: 
  • Board Partnership 
  • Equity Work
  • Organizational Strategy and Health
  • Key Priorities and Action Steps
Ms. Borrego also highlights that the Equitas Operations team is now attending the Board meetings to support. 

 

Cecilia Melgares briefly shared regarding the professional development plans for all managers. 

 

Dr. Leslie Chang provided the Board an update that she will be leaving the Equitas Team.

B.

Board Review of Monthly Financials

A. Perez made a motion to Approve the March Monthly Financials.
P. Reddy seconded the motion.
Slav Sobkov provided a review of March 2021 Financial Package, including Income Statements, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Variance Analysis, and Check Register. Overview of the impact of COVID19 on FY20 revenues and spending.

 

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
F. Spindler
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
A. Santino
Aye
O. Bajracharya
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
T. Bell
Aye
D. Krishna
Absent
A. Perez
Aye

VI. Finance Committee

A.

Update on Committee Goals

Prabhu Reddy provides an update from the Finance Committee.  The Finance committee determines that a draft budget will submitted in May. During the Finance Committee meeting guardrails and enrollment updates were covered. 

 

There are currently no concerns from the Finance Committee regarding current financial health or the future. 

VII. Resource Development Committee

A.

Board Give/Get Status

Catie Langston provides an update on Give/Get. $17,000 of the $22,500 goal has been met on the Give side.  $6,000 of the Get goal has been met and there is still time to participate in the Give/Get program. 

B.

Equitas Volunteer Opportunities

Catie Langston shares an update on Equitas volunteer opportunities. Ms. Langston shares that she volunteered at EQ5 and had a great experiences and encourages the Board to participate with in-person volunteering. For volunteer opportunities, email Cathy Casey.

C.

Q4 Virtual Events & Campaigns

Catie Langston provides an update on Virtual Events & Campaigns. Ms. Langston shares that this quarter the Resource & Development Committee is partnering with Lisa Finelli in the Manger of the Alumni program to identify needs they have in the Alumni circles and opportunities that would allow the Board to support the Alumni. 

D.

Individual/Corporate Donors

Catie Langston provides an update on Individual and Corporate donors.  Ms. Langston shares that a corporate donor has given $65,000 donation to Equitas and the team is grateful for this donation.

VIII. Governance Committee

A.

Board Retreat

Tyler Bell provides an update on the upcoming Board Retreat. The Board Retreat has been rescheduled in an effort to obtain 100% attendance. Mr. Bell shares that Nik Orlando will be sending out two surveys soon regarding the Board retreat to identify additional date availability and poll the comfort level of all attendees to participate in person

 

Mr. Bell shares that the new Board retreat proposal will include pre-work that will be required prior to the upcoming retreat and a slide deck will be sent out.

B.

Governing Board Meetings - Propose Scheduling Changes

The Board discussed possible structural changes to the Board Meetings including length of each meeting, frequency of meetings and time of meetings. The Board is focused on ensuring that all Brown Act requirements are met when in-person meetings resume

IX. CEO Support and Evaluation Committee

A.

CEO Support and Evaluation Update

Tyler Bell gave an update on the CEO Support and Evaluation.  Malka Borrego has completed her self assessment and the Board has until Saturday May 8th to complete their portion of the evaluation. 

 

The committee with synthesize the information and report out to the Board. 

X. 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 8:26 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
O. Bajracharya