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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)

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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

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

L. Heisser called a meeting of the board of directors of Equitas Academy Charter School to order on Thursday Dec 12, 2024 at 3:35 PM.

C.

Scholar Speakers

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. 

D.

Approve Minutes

C. Langston made a motion to approve the minutes from October Board Meeting on 10-24-24.
M. Gomez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Hollenberg
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
L. Heisser
Aye
M. Gomez
Aye
R. McKenzie
Absent
C. Langston
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
D. Ortiz
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

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve Board Resolution.
S. Jauregui seconded the motion.

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. 

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
P. Reddy
Aye
T. Hollenberg
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
D. Ortiz
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
M. Gomez
Aye
L. Heisser
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
R. McKenzie
Absent

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

D. Ortiz made a motion to Approve '23-'24 audit.
M. Gomez seconded the motion.

Lili Huang (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) presented to the board on the '23-'24 financial audit. 

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Bell
Absent
P. Reddy
Aye
L. Heisser
Aye
R. McKenzie
Absent
C. Langston
Aye
T. Hollenberg
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
D. Ortiz
Aye
M. Gomez
Aye

H.

Monthly Financials

C. Langston made a motion to Approve monthly financials and first interim report.
P. Reddy seconded the motion.

Jason Rudolph (COO) presented on monthly financials. 

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
D. Ortiz
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
T. Hollenberg
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
M. Gomez
Aye
L. Heisser
Aye
R. McKenzie
Absent

I.

Sanctuary Policy

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve the updated sanctuary policy.
L. Heisser seconded the motion.

Dakota Ortiz introduced the policy to the board.  

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
D. Ortiz
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
L. Heisser
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
T. Hollenberg
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
R. McKenzie
Absent
M. Gomez
Aye
C. Langston
Aye

J.

Vision for Equity

M. Gomez made a motion to Approve Vision for Equity.
S. Jauregui seconded the motion.

Brittany Rush (Director of DEIA) provided an update on Vision for Equity policy, including  

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
D. Ortiz
Aye
L. Heisser
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
M. Gomez
Aye
T. Hollenberg
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
R. McKenzie
Absent

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

T. Hollenberg made a motion to Approve Revised Classroom-Based Attendance Policy & Related Truancy Procedures.
C. Langston seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
L. Heisser
Aye
M. Gomez
Aye
R. McKenzie
Absent
D. Ortiz
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
C. Langston
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
T. Hollenberg
Aye

V. Consent

A.

LAUSD Compliance Monitoring Document

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve LAUSD Compliance Monitoring Document.
S. Jauregui seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
D. Ortiz
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
P. Reddy
Aye
R. McKenzie
Absent
C. Langston
Aye
L. Heisser
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
M. Gomez
Aye
T. Hollenberg
Aye

B.

Annual Update of the School Safety Plan

P. Reddy made a motion to Approve Annual Update of the School Safety Plan.
S. Jauregui seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
D. Ortiz
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
R. McKenzie
Absent
P. Reddy
Aye
L. Heisser
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
M. Gomez
Aye
T. Hollenberg
Aye

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. 

M. Gomez made a motion to Approve new committee members to join.
L. Heisser seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
L. Heisser
Aye
C. Langston
Aye
R. McKenzie
Absent
D. Ortiz
Aye
T. Bell
Absent
M. Gomez
Aye
S. Jauregui
Aye
P. Reddy
Aye
T. Hollenberg
Aye

B.

Committee Goals

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 6:00 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. Heisser