Equitas Academy Charter School
Minutes
February Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday February 22, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Location
1612 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Additional call-in locations:
1700 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
2723 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005
1050 Beacon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015
2501 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
2420 Mathews Ave #A, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
509 S Lincoln Pl, Monrovia, CA 91016
9601 Wilshire Blvd, Floor 7, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
4425 Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA 91505
Topic: February Board Meeting
When: Feb 22, 2024 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
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Webinar ID: 823 2204 7636
Passcode: 891990
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, D. Ortiz, L. Heisser, O. Bajracharya, P. Reddy, S. Jauregui (remote), T. Bell, T. Hollenberg
Directors Absent
R. McKenzie
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
L. Heisser
Guests Present
A. Figueroa, Adriana Perez, Alaina Pariano, Amanda Pardo, Andres Figueroa, B. Canosa-Carr, Bobby Canosa-Carr, C. Melgares, Carla Perez, J. Edelman, J. Freeman, J. Gonzalez, J. Rayas, J. Rudolph, Joanna Montgomery, Jose Gonzalez, Julie Chang, Junior Rayas, K. Farrar, K. Gouveia, Kawika Chun, L. Lofton, N. Peters (remote), R. Spencer, S. Roditti, Samira Estialai, Sarah Hughes, V. Pena, Y. Chiquito
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
EQ6 Scholar Presentation
D.
Approve Minutes
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
| R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
II. Public Comment
A.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
III. Public Report on Action Taken in Closed-Session
A.
Student Discipline & Principal Personnel
No action was taken during closed session.
IV. Organization Updates
A.
EQ2 Renewal Update
Carla Perez presented an update on scholar data and details on the start of Saturday School.
B.
Strategic Planning Update
C.
Equitas' Mission, Vision, Equitas Approach, Learner Profile, Core Values
Sofia Rodiitti shared final updates to the the Equitas Mission, Vision, Equitas Approach, Learner Profile & Core Values resulting from the strategic planning process.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
| S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
D.
Strategic Planning Update
Sofia Roditti shared an update on Equitas #5 & #6 alignment and Fifth Grade Academy (5GA).
E.
Actualizing Key Priorities
Sofia Roditti, Robert Spencer and staff answered questions submitted by the board focused on actualizing key priorities including the following areas of focus.
- Organizational Dashboard
- Academic and Parent Satisfaction Data
- Enrollment
- Intent to Stay and Community of Care Data
F.
Break
G.
Monthly Financials
Yug Fon Chiquito presented December 2023 monthly financials.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
| S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
H.
Budget Update
Yug Fon Chiquito shared details on the budget update process.
I.
Updated Fiscal Policies
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
| T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
J.
Approval of '22-'23 Audit
Jason Rudolph shared an update on the 22'-23' Audit. There was no vote was taken on this item.
K.
Declaration of Need
Jessica Edelman presented the declaration of need.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
| S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
L.
'24-'25 Academic Calendar
Cecilia Melgares presented the updated academic calendar
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
| T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
| S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
M.
Form 700/Conflict of Interest
Cecilia Melgares shared an update on Form 700 guidelines and requirements
N.
School Nutrition Program Request for Proposal (RFP) Packet
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
| P. Reddy |
Aye
|
| C. Langston |
Aye
|
| T. Bell |
Aye
|
| S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
| A. Santino |
Aye
|
| D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
| O. Bajracharya |
Aye
|
| R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
| L. Heisser |
Aye
|
O.
Request for Proposals ("RFPs")
Jennifer Freeman and Jason Rudolph shared an update on upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) for School Business Services and After School Programs.
P.
LCAP Mid-Year Review
Kate Farrar shared a mid year update on the Equitas LCAP.
V. Consent
A.
'23-'24 Expanded Learning Opportunities Plan
B.
Title III Plan
C.
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP ("CLA") Contract
VI. Resource Devlopment Committee
A.
Update on '23-'24 Goals
Catie Langston shared an update on fundraising goals and the upcoming opportunity for March Madness.
VII. Academic Accountability Committee
A.
Update on '23-'24 Goals
Alyssa Santino shared an update that the Academic Committee goals and are on track.
VIII. Finance Committee
A.
Update on '23-'24 Goals
Prabhu Reddy shared that the finance committee goals are on track.
IX. Governance Committee
A.
Update on '23-'24 Goals
Lindsey Heisser shared updates on additional committee and board member candidates and ongoing work to grow a strong board.
B.
Board Retreat Update
Lindsey Heisser shared details on the Board Retreat scheduled for May 17-18th.
X. Culmination of Meeting
A.
Announcements
No Announcements were made.
B.
Evaluation of Meeting
Highlights, Thoughts & Questions:
- Having the scholars in the room. The board would like to know in advance for further engagement.
- Loved hearing EQ2 scholar and would like to hear more from students about the academic warriors.
- Loves seeing the sense of pride that we saw demonstrated by scholars. How do we allow that opportunity with more students.
- Would Academic warriors or Saturday school be an appropriate venue for Board members to get more involved?
- Equitas is intentional in empowering students and their voices.
- So many topics were covered and it was a great journey.
- The questions that pushed the practicality of the plans.
- Data and the collection of the data.
- Restructure of the meeting that allowed things that required more time to land at the end.
- Enjoyed time to think during portions of the meeting.
- Kudos to Carla for sharing so much progress and demonstrating leadership.
EQ6 3rd grade scholars provided a presentation on Black leaders to celebrate Black History Month.