Equitas Academy Charter School
Minutes
December Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday December 12, 2024 at 3:30 PM
Location
1612 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
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
Topic: December Board Meeting
When: Dec 12, 2024 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
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Webinar ID: 836 5987 3589
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
C. Langston, D. Ortiz, L. Heisser, M. Gomez, P. Reddy, S. Jauregui, T. Hollenberg
Directors Absent
R. McKenzie, T. Bell
Guests Present
C. Melgares, J. Edelman, J. Freeman, J. Rudolph, K. Farrar (remote), N. Peters, R. Spencer, S. Roditti
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Scholar Speakers
D.
Approve Minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
II. Public Comment
A.
Public Comment
No public comment.
III. Public Report on Action Taken in Closed-Session
A.
Public Report on Action Taken in Closed-Session
Board met to discuss CEO mid-year review and there is no action taken.
IV. Organizational Updates
A.
Key Strategies to Achieve Breakthrough Academic Results
Robert Spencer and Jennifer Freeman presented on key strategies to achieve breakthrough academic results for emergent bilingual scholars and scholars with disabilities.
B.
Principal Presentation
Carla Perez (Principal at EQ2) presented on:
- Reading proficiency goals/wildly important goal.
C.
Board Resolution
Jason Rudolph present on board resolution and board to vote on submission of request for material revision regarding Equitas Academy Charter Schools, Inc. merger and acquisition of Collegiate Charter High School of Los Angeles.
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
D.
CEO Fundraising Update
Sofia Roditti, CEO, presented to the board on fundraising goals and the amount to get to these goals for:
- TK-12 expansion
- Literacy and Language Acquisition
Sofia also presented on fundraising amount so far, this fiscal year.
E.
Equitas Approach Priorities
Staff answered questions from the board on regarding:
- Organizational updates including iReady
- Reading proficiency
- Math SBAC Proficiency
- iReady
- Chronic Absenteeism
- Board support for WIG
- Student belonging
- Student Site Council (SSC)
- Parent Action Team
F.
Break
G.
'23-'24 Audit
Lili Huang (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) presented to the board on the '23-'24 financial audit.
Roll Call | |
---|---|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
H.
Monthly Financials
Jason Rudolph (COO) presented on monthly financials.
Roll Call | |
---|---|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
I.
Sanctuary Policy
Dakota Ortiz introduced the policy to the board.
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
J.
Vision for Equity
Brittany Rush (Director of DEIA) provided an update on Vision for Equity policy, including
Roll Call | |
---|---|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
K.
Equitas Academy #5 Renewal
Jason Rudolph (COO) presented to the board on Equitas Academy #5 renewal, which is fall of 2025.
L.
Revised Classroom-Based Attendance Policy & Related Truancy Procedures
Roll Call | |
---|---|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
V. Consent
A.
LAUSD Compliance Monitoring Document
Roll Call | |
---|---|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
B.
Annual Update of the School Safety Plan
Roll Call | |
---|---|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
VI. Resource Development
A.
Committee Goals
C.Langston encouraged everyone to ask their networks to donate.
VII. Academic Accountability
A.
Committee Goals
S.Jauregui shared that two potential committee members toured Equitas today.
VIII. Finance
A.
Committee Goals
T. Hollenberg shared that interest rates are dropping, it is important to prioritize cash investment strategy Q1. One time funds will run out and the school will need to make choices, so it would be helpful to get a multi-year financial model.
IX. Governance Committee
A.
Recruitment Updates: New Committee Members
New Committee members have joined and they will be great supports for meeting the strategic goals. The board will vote to approve new committee members to join, the committee they will join still needs to be decided.
Roll Call | |
---|---|
L. Heisser |
Aye
|
R. McKenzie |
Absent
|
T. Hollenberg |
Aye
|
D. Ortiz |
Aye
|
T. Bell |
Absent
|
P. Reddy |
Aye
|
C. Langston |
Aye
|
M. Gomez |
Aye
|
S. Jauregui |
Aye
|
Two EQ2 scholars, Marcia Juarez and Violet Gonzalez, presented to the board on what they presented to the LAUSD board for the EQ2 charter renewal on 11/19/24.