April Board Meeting Minutes

April 25, 2024, 3:00-6:00 PM

Minutes Approved

Equitas Academy Charter School

Minutes

April Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday April 25, 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

9601 Wilshire Blvd, Floor 7, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

4324 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

4425 Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505

509 S Lincoln Pl, Monrovia 91016

Topic: April Board Meeting
When: Apr 25, 2024 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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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. Santino (remote), C. Langston (remote), D. Ortiz, O. Bajracharya, P. Reddy, S. Jauregui, T. Bell, T. Hollenberg

Directors Absent

L. Heisser, R. McKenzie

Guests Present

Amanda Pardo, B. Canosa-Carr, C. Melgares, Carla Perez, Carla Perez, Corrie Janssens, J. Edelman, J. Freeman, J. Gonzalez, J. Rayas, J. Rudolph, Julie Chang, K. Farrar, K. Gouveia, Kawika Chun, L. Lofton, N. Peters (remote), R. Spencer, S. Roditti, Samira Estilai, V. Pena, Y. Chiquito

I. Opening Items

A. Record Attendance and Guests

B. Call the Meeting to Order

T. Bell called a meeting of the board of directors of Equitas Academy Charter School to order on Thursday Apr 25, 2024 at 3:17 PM.

C. EQ5 & EQ6 Scholar Performance

EQ5/6 scholars shared a drum performance with the Board.

D. Approve Minutes

D. Ortiz made a motion to approve the minutes from February Board Meeting on 02-22-24.

C. Langston seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
T. Bell	Aye
P. Reddy	Aye
L. Heisser	Absent
R. McKenzie	Absent
O. Bajracharya	Aye
T. Hollenberg	Aye
A. Santino	Aye
D. Ortiz	Aye
C. Langston	Aye
S. Jauregui	Aye

E. Approve Minutes

D. Ortiz made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Board Meeting on 03-19-24.

C. Langston seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
D. Ortiz	Aye
C. Langston	Aye
L. Heisser	Absent
T. Bell	Aye
R. McKenzie	Absent
T. Hollenberg	Aye
A. Santino	Aye
O. Bajracharya	Aye
P. Reddy	Aye
S. Jauregui	Aye

II. Public Comment

A. Public Comment

There was no public comment made during this meeting.

III. Public Report on Action Taken in Closed-Session

A. Student Discipline, Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release, and Conference with Legal Counsel--Anticipated Litigation

There was no action taken in closed session.

IV. Organization Updates

A. Principal Presentations

Robert Spencer and 3 school directors presented updates on their respective school dashboards.

B. EQ2 Renewal Update

Carla Perez, Jason Rudolph and Robert Spencer shared updates on the EQ2 charter renewal process.

C. Strategic Planning Update

Sofia Roditti presented an update on the the Strategic Planning Process.

D. Finish Strong

Robert Spencer and Jason Rudolph shared details on the CA Distinguished School status awarded to EQ2 and EQ4.

Jessica Edelman shared updates on talent data.

Jason Rudolph shared updates on enrollment and absenteeism.

Jennifer Freeman shared updates on academic supports and after school programming.

E. Break

F. Monthly Financials

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve February 24' Monthly Financials.

S. Jauregui seconded the motion.

Yug Fon Chiquito presented a fiscal update.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
P. Reddy	Aye
D. Ortiz	Aye
C. Langston	Aye
T. Hollenberg	Aye
L. Heisser	Absent
O. Bajracharya	Aye
R. McKenzie	Absent
T. Bell	Aye
S. Jauregui	Aye
A. Santino	Aye

G. Second Interim Reports

T. Hollenberg made a motion to Approve Second Interim Reports.

P. Reddy seconded the motion.

Yug Fon Chiquito presented second interim reports.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
P. Reddy	Aye
T. Hollenberg	Aye
S. Jauregui	Aye
O. Bajracharya	Aye
A. Santino	Aye
C. Langston	Aye
T. Bell	Aye
L. Heisser	Absent
D. Ortiz	Aye
R. McKenzie	Absent

H. '24-'25 Network Fee Structure

T. Hollenberg made a motion to Approve Updated Network Fee Structure.

O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.

Jason Rudolph presented updates on the updated Network fee structure.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
T. Bell	Aye
L. Heisser	Absent
O. Bajracharya	Aye
D. Ortiz	Aye
C. Langston	Aye
T. Hollenberg	Aye
A. Santino	Aye
R. McKenzie	Absent
P. Reddy	Aye
S. Jauregui	Aye

I. FY22-23 Audit Report

This is not a voting item; audit previously approved by board.

J. School Safety Plan Updates

C. Langston made a motion to Approve School Safety Plan Addendum.

O. Bajracharya seconded the motion.

Cecilia Melgares shared details on the safety plan addendum.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
O. Bajracharya	Aye
P. Reddy	Aye
D. Ortiz	Aye
C. Langston	Aye
T. Hollenberg	Aye
R. McKenzie	Absent
A. Santino	Aye
T. Bell	Aye
S. Jauregui	Aye
L. Heisser	Absent

K. English Learner Master Plan

O. Bajracharya made a motion to Approve the English Learner Master Plan.

P. Reddy seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
A. Santino	Aye
T. Bell	Aye
P. Reddy	Aye
D. Ortiz	Aye
R. McKenzie	Absent
O. Bajracharya	Aye
C. Langston	Aye
S. Jauregui	Aye
L. Heisser	Absent
T. Hollenberg	Aye

L. Woodcraft Rangers Summer Program Contract

Jennifer Freeman provided updates on the Woodcraft Rangers Summer Program Contract.

M. Afterschool Program Request for Proposals ("RFPs")

Jennifer Freeman provided updates on the After School Program RFP process.

V. Resource Devlopment Committee

A. Update on '23-'24 Goals

Catie Langston provided updates on the 23-24 Resource Development Goals.

VI. Academic Accountability Committee

A. Update on '23-'24 Goals

Alyssa Santino Academic committee updates.

VII. Finance Committee

A. Update on '23-'24 Goals

Prabhu Reddy and Tom Holland shared Financial Committee updates.

VIII. Governance Committee

A. Update on '23-'24 Goals

Committee provided updates on committee goals.

B. New Board Member Appointment

O. Bajracharya made a motion to Approve Moises Gomez as New Board Appointment.

S. Jauregui seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
D. Ortiz	Aye
R. McKenzie	Absent
L. Heisser	Absent
P. Reddy	Aye
T. Hollenberg	Aye
S. Jauregui	Aye
A. Santino	Aye
T. Bell	Aye
O. Bajracharya	Aye
C. Langston	Aye

C. Board Retreat Update

Shared updates on the Board Retreat scheduled on May 17-18th at the LA Athletics Club.

IX. 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 6:13 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

T. Bell