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Equitas Academy Charter School

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday May 27, 2021 at 6:00 PM

Location

Topic: May Board Meeting
Time: May 27, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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https://equitasacademy.zoom.us/j/98603821391

Meeting ID: 986 0382 1391
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Meeting ID: 986 0382 1391
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), D. Krishna (remote), F. Spindler (remote), O. Bajracharya (remote), P. Reddy (remote), T. Bell (remote)

Directors Absent

None

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

F. Spindler, T. Bell

Directors who left before the meeting adjourned

F. Spindler

Guests Present

C. Belcher (remote), C. Casey (remote), J. Rayas (remote), L. Lofton (remote), M. Borrego (remote), M. Ford (remote), N. Orlando (remote), S. Estilai (remote), S. Sobkov (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 May 27, 2021 at 6:02 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

C. Langston made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 04-22-21.
A. Perez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
F. Spindler
Absent
A. Santino
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
A. Perez
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
O. Bajracharya
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
D. Krishna
Aye

II. Public Comment

A.

Public Comment

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

III. Consent

A.

Approval of 2019-2020 Tax Return.

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve the 2019-2020 Tax Return.
D. Krishna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Perez
Aye
A. Santino
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
C. Langston
Aye
F. Spindler
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
D. Krishna
Aye
O. Bajracharya
Aye
F. Spindler arrived at 6:05 PM.

B.

Renewal of Lease for the Property at 631 S Commonwealth Los Angeles, CA 90005

P. Reddy made a motion to Pass the Renewal of Lease for the Property at 631 S Commonwealth.
D. Krishna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Santino
Aye
O. Bajracharya
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
F. Spindler
Aye
A. Perez
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
D. Krishna
Aye

C.

Renewal of Contract for General Insurance Policy

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve Renewal of Contract for General Insurance Policy.
D. Krishna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. Langston
Aye
F. Spindler
Aye
A. Perez
Aye
D. Krishna
Aye
A. Santino
Aye
O. Bajracharya
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
P. Reddy
Aye

IV. Org Updates

A.

CEO Update

Malka Borrego provides the CEO update and shares on goal progress and review on re-organization.

Ms. Borrego includes insights on the the following:
  • Supporting the Organization
  • Supporting the Chief Team
  • Supporting the Board
T. Bell arrived at 6:20 PM.

B.

Board Review of Monthly Financials

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve the April 2021 Monthly Financials.
A. Perez seconded the motion.
Slav Sobkav reviews the April 2021 monthly financial package.  Not much significant change from the previous forecast. 
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
F. Spindler
Absent
D. Krishna
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
T. Bell
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
O. Bajracharya
Aye
A. Santino
Aye
A. Perez
Aye
F. Spindler left at 6:35 PM.

C.

Re-Entry Pay

C. Langston made a motion to Approve Re-Entry Pay for CEO.
P. Reddy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
D. Krishna
Aye
A. Santino
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
O. Bajracharya
Aye
A. Perez
Aye
T. Bell
Aye
F. Spindler
Absent

D.

Expanded Learning Grant Plan

A. Santino made a motion to Approve the Expanded Learning Grant Plan.
D. Krishna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
D. Krishna
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
T. Bell
Aye
F. Spindler
Absent
O. Bajracharya
Aye
A. Santino
Aye
A. Perez
Aye

E.

21-22 Budget Outlook

Margaret Ford shares the budget outlook. Ms. Ford shares that multiple stakeholders have been a part of the budget development process.  She shares a presentation with details in the following areas: 
  • Guardrails
  • COVID-19 Funding Timeline
  • Allowable Uses for Funds (Not Exhaustive)
  • Summary of One Time Funds
  • Projected Equitas Enrollment
  • Timeline for Budget Completion

V. Academic Accountability

A.

Update on Committee Goals

Alyssa Santino shares an update on committee goals and the development of new structure within the committee. 

Ms. Santino requests feed back on data, and proposals provided. 

VI. Finance Committee

A.

Update on Committee Goals

No update from the finance committee was given. 

VII. Resource Development Committee

A.

Update on Upcoming Virtual Events & Campaigns

Deepa Krisha gave a presentation on Virtual Events & Campaigns.  Ms Krishna shares update that the Board has reached $20,000 of the $40,000 Give/Get goal.

Additional updates regarding virtual events and campaigns include: 
  • A fundraising link for the campaign was shared with all Board members.
  • The Give/Get directly impacts scholarship for Equitas alumni.  There are currently 350 alumni and there will be 500 alumni by 2022. 

B.

Volunteer Participation

Deepa Krishna shares a presentation on the opportunities available to Board members to volunteer with Equitas scholars.  Ms Krishna and Prabu Reddy both spend time volunteering with scholars. Additional Board members are scheduled to participate in volunteer opportunities. 


Nik Orlando shares that he will be transitioning from Equitas at the end of this school year. 

VIII. Governance Committee

A.

Board Retreat Date

Tyler Bell shares updates on the annual Board retreat.  The retreat has been rescheduled in an effort to get 100% attendance from the Board.  The Board collectively determined to hold the Board retreat on Saturday August 21, 2021 for a full day. 

B.

Board progress towards goals

Tyler Bell presents on Board process towards goals. Mr. Bell shares that in the June board meeting a more detailed presentation on the Board progress towards annual goals will be shared.

C.

21-22 Board Calendar

Tyler Bell requests that the discussion on the 21-22 Board Calendar be discussed at the next Board meeting. 

Mr. Bell also shares the proposed Board Slate for the upcoming school year as follows:
  • Chair: Tyler Bell
  • Vice Chair: Deepa Krishna (Tyler having convo with her 1st)
  • Treasurer: Prabhu Reddy
  • Secretary: Catie Langston
  • RD: Deepa Krishna
  • Academic: Alyssa Santino, Oliver Bajracharya
  • Governance: Frank Spindler, Tyler Bell
  • Finance: Prabhu Reddy, Aaron Perez, Brett Snyder
  • CEO Eval: Aaron Perez, Oliver Bajracharya, Tyler Bell, Prabhu Reddy (Tyler or Frank having convo with him 1st)
  • Audit: Oliver Bajracharya
  • Facilities: ask Maggie Ford

IX. CEO Support and Evaluation Committee

A.

CEO Support and Evaluation Update

Tyler Bell shares that the CEO Evaluation is being completed by all Board members.

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 8:25 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
O. Bajracharya