Equitas Academy Charter School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday December 8, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Location
1612 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Zoom Webinar
https://equitasacademy.zoom.us/j/86432339986?pwd=NXRTanJDcUViMlZQYS9DcUVnZDBvdz09
Passcode: 535441
Call-in address:
4324 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
4919 Biloxi Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91601
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. Santino (remote), C. Langston (remote), D. Krishna, L. Heisser, O. Bajracharya, T. Bell
Directors Absent
D. Ortiz, F. Spindler, P. Reddy
Guests Present
B. Rush, C. Melgares, E. Wyatt, G. Ottinger, J. Edelman, J. Rayas, K. Farrar, K. Gouveia, L. Lofton
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Board findings pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(e)
L. Heisser made a motion to approve Board Findings Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(e).
D. Krishna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| P. Reddy |
Absent
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Absent
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
C.
Call the Meeting to Order
T. Bell called a meeting of the board of directors of Equitas Academy Charter School to order on Thursday Dec 8, 2022 at 3:05 PM.
D.
Approve Minutes
O. Bajracharya made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 10-27-22.
D. Krishna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Absent
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
| P. Reddy |
Absent
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
II. Public Comment
A.
Public Comment
III. Board Development and Training
A.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism (DEIA): Professional Development with National Equity Partners
Mark Salinas from the National Equity Project provided professional Development for the Equitas Board.
B.
Break
C.
Family, Alumni, and Community Engagement Highlights
Lilia Mitre, Lisa Finelli and Isis Gomez presented updates and highlights on Family, Alumni and Community Engagement.
IV. Consent
A.
LAUSD Compliance Monitoring Document
O. Bajracharya made a motion to Approve LAUSD Compliance Monitoring Document.
D. Krishna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| P. Reddy |
Absent
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Absent
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
B.
Annual Update of the School Safety Plan
O. Bajracharya made a motion to Approve Annual Update of the School Safety Plan.
D. Krishna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Ortiz |
Absent
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Absent
|
C.
First Interim Report
O. Bajracharya made a motion to Approve First Interim Report.
D. Krishna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Absent
|
| D. Ortiz |
Absent
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
V. Talent Policy Update
A.
Holding of CALSTRS Sick Time
D. Krishna made a motion to Approve Holding of CALSTRS Time.
L. Heisser seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Absent
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Absent
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
VI. Organizational Updates
A.
Board Review of Monthly Financials
C. Langston made a motion to Approve Monthly Financials.
L. Heisser seconded the motion.
Greg Ottinger and Brian Badillo presented the monthly financial updates.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| F. Spindler |
Absent
|
| P. Reddy |
Absent
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| D. Krishna |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
B.
From “Strong Start” to Forward Initiatives
Sofia Roditti shared updates on the following topics:
- Transition from Strong Start to Forward Initiatives.
- LA Board of Education action on petition for EQ7 Nov. 15th.
Equitas staff shared updated in the following topics:
- enrollment and recruitment
- talent
- student learning data
- strong start to forward initiatives.
VII. Resource Development Committee
A.
Update on 22-23 Goals
Deepa Krishna shared resource committee updates.
VIII. Academic Accountability Committee
A.
Update on 22-23 Goals
Alyssa Santino presented Academic Accountability updates.
IX. Finance Committee
A.
Update on 22-23 Goals
No Finance Committee update was given and will be given.
X. Governance Committee
A.
Recruitment Updates
Lindsey Heisser presented Governance Committee Updates on the following topics:
- Recruitment updates on candidate visits, processes and outcomes.
- 1 candidate interested in academic accountability
- 4 candidates interested finance committee
B.
Update on 22-23 Goals
Lindsey Heisser presented updates on Governance Committee 22-23 Goals.
XI. Evaluation of Meeting
A.
Evaluation
Address public comment:
- Evaluating the values and the mission
- This will be thought about as the team goes into the retreat
- Reflect and plan
- Get the feedback from the school and larger community
- Apply learning from NEP - create an experience with the host approach to create authentic engagement
- Ask for CEO is to facilitate - identify what the gaps in the mission, who we are today, and what are we standing for?
- Ask for the board - who do you think we are? where are we in 3 years? where are we in 5 years?
Glows for meeting
- Format of getting items ahead of time - it is great to have the discussion
- Interactive components were helpful
- Glad that staff are participating
- It is great to have insight into different pieces
- Appreciate the thoughtfulness for speakers
Grows for meeting
- It was challenging to be at home during the NEP meeting - it was hard to engage remotely. If communication was clearer about the experience for NEP, remote participants could have attended.
- Having trouble following along when the questions are submitted in relation to topic
- For board members it would be helpful to add topic in relation to the questions
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 6:09 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
T. Bell
Public Comment was shared by Kawika Chun, School Director of EQ5, regarding Equitas Mission statement and values.