Youth Policy Institute Charter Schools (YPICS)
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday April 25, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Location
Monsenor Oscar Romero Charter School - 1157 S. Berendo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90006; Board Members calling in from 17112 Minnehaha Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344 and Board Member calling in from 4000 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90037; Conference Call: (605) 562-3000, Access# 1004153
Instructions for Presentations to the Board by Parents and Citizens
The YPI Charter Public Schools ("Charter Schools") welcome your participation at the Charter Schools' Board meetings. The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Directors ("Board") is to conduct the affairs of the Charter Schools in public. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our Charter Schools. To assist you in the case of speaking/participating in our meetings, the following guidelines are provided:
1. Agendas are available to all audience members at the door to the meeting.
2. "Request to Speak" forms are available to all audience members who wish to speak on any agenda items or under the general category of "Presentations from the Public". "Presentations from the Public" is set-aside for members of the audience to raise issues that are not specifically on the agenda. However, due to public meeting laws, the Board can only listen to your issue, not respond or take action. These presentations are limited to three (3) minutes and total time allotted to non-agenda items will not exceed fifteen (15) minutes. The Board may give direction to staff to respond to your concern or you may be offered the option of returning with a citizen-requested item.
3. You may also complete a "Request of Speak" form to address the Board on Agenda items. With regard to such agenda items, you may specify that agenda item on your "Request to Speak" form and you will be given an opportunity to speak for up to five (5) minutes when the Board discusses that item.
4. When addressing the Board, speakers are requested to state their name and address from the podium and adhere to the time limits set forth.
5. Any public records relating to an agenda item for an open session of the Board which are distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the Board members shall be available for public inspection at 1157 S. Berendo Street, Los Angeles, California 90006 or 9400 Remick Avenue, Pacoima, California 91331.
Americans with Disabilities
YPI Charter Schools, Inc. adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should you require special accommodations, or more information about accessibility, please contact us at least 48 hours in advance at 818-834-5805/ 213-413-9600, or infor@coronacharter.org / info@romerocharter.org. All efforts will be made for reasonable accommodations
The YPI Charter Public Schools ("Charter Schools") welcome your participation at the Charter Schools' Board meetings. The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Directors ("Board") is to conduct the affairs of the Charter Schools in public. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our Charter Schools. To assist you in the case of speaking/participating in our meetings, the following guidelines are provided:
1. Agendas are available to all audience members at the door to the meeting.
2. "Request to Speak" forms are available to all audience members who wish to speak on any agenda items or under the general category of "Presentations from the Public". "Presentations from the Public" is set-aside for members of the audience to raise issues that are not specifically on the agenda. However, due to public meeting laws, the Board can only listen to your issue, not respond or take action. These presentations are limited to three (3) minutes and total time allotted to non-agenda items will not exceed fifteen (15) minutes. The Board may give direction to staff to respond to your concern or you may be offered the option of returning with a citizen-requested item.
3. You may also complete a "Request of Speak" form to address the Board on Agenda items. With regard to such agenda items, you may specify that agenda item on your "Request to Speak" form and you will be given an opportunity to speak for up to five (5) minutes when the Board discusses that item.
4. When addressing the Board, speakers are requested to state their name and address from the podium and adhere to the time limits set forth.
5. Any public records relating to an agenda item for an open session of the Board which are distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the Board members shall be available for public inspection at 1157 S. Berendo Street, Los Angeles, California 90006 or 9400 Remick Avenue, Pacoima, California 91331.
Americans with Disabilities
YPI Charter Schools, Inc. adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should you require special accommodations, or more information about accessibility, please contact us at least 48 hours in advance at 818-834-5805/ 213-413-9600, or infor@coronacharter.org / info@romerocharter.org. All efforts will be made for reasonable accommodations
Trustees Present
A. Reza, G. Straub, J. Lucente (remote), M. Keipp, S. Mendoza
Trustees Absent
C. Vaquerano, J. Williams
Trustees who left before the meeting adjourned
J. Lucente
Guests Present
Angelica Paredes, Blanca Castillo-Aviles, LAUSD, Cynthia Jimenez, I. Castillo, J. Castillo, K. Gamez, K. Myers, Lorenzo Tovar, Luz Tocay, R. Duenas, Saul Chimil, Sharon Bradley, LAUSD, Y. King-Berg, Y. Zubia
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
G. Straub called a meeting of the board of trustees of Youth Policy Institute Charter Schools (YPICS) to order on Monday Apr 25, 2016 at 6:10 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes from February 8, 2016
J. Lucente left.
M. Keipp made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Retreat on 02-08-16 Annual Board Retreat on 02-08-16.
S. Mendoza seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Approve Minutes from March 7, 2016
M. Keipp made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 03-07-16 Board Meeting on 03-07-16.
S. Mendoza seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Consent Agenda
A.
2016 - 2017 Teach For America Agreement
M. Keipp made a motion to approve the Teach for America contract for the 2016-2017 and the 2017-2018 fiscal years.
A. Reza seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
III. Board Governance
A.
Form J-13A Board Resolution
S. Mendoza made a motion to approve the Form J13's for Bert Corona, Monsenor Oscar Romero and YPI Valley Public Charter High School.
M. Keipp seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IV. Academic Excellence
A.
Director of Academic Achievement Report
V. Finance
A.
YPICS February 2016 Financials
A. Reza made a motion to approve the February 2016 financials for YPI Charter Schools including a review of the check registers and financial ledgers as submitted.
M. Keipp seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
YPICS March 2016 Financials
A. Reza made a motion to approve the March 2016 financials for YPI Charter Schools including a review of the check registers and financial ledgers as submitted.
M. Keipp seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Line of Credit Approval Board Resolution
S. Mendoza made a motion to approve the Pacific Western Bank application for the $500,000 line of credit.
M. Keipp seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
LCAP Planning Process and Timeline Update
Executive Director, Yvette King-Berg provided YPICS a schedule to ensure parent engagement for the LCAP. All schools have provided a series of trainings concurrently with their regularly scheduled parent meetings and workshops during the months of January - May on the following topics:
- LCAP - What is it?
- LCAP - Data Review
- LCAP - Survey
- LCAP - Budget Review
- LCAP - Recommendations for 2017 - 2018
E.
GEAR UP - Quantum Learning Proposal
Quantum Learning will house 10 Gear Up students in a camp setting, overnight at LMU. The students will participate in an educational program focused on self-esteem, empowerment, character building and success in high school, college and life. Quantum Learning will also be partnering with Mission College to provide the same program during the day over several sessions to the Gear Up students.
VI. Facility
A.
Chief Operations Office Report
- Central Office Update: Construction is expected to be completed in late June or early July. Staples and Hertz furniture are completing designs, floor layouts, and making recommendations for furniture.
- Parent Conferences: The schools continue to hold high parent attendance percentages. The high school was one student short of 100% parent attendance.
- Going Green: We have a new vendor, Green Econome, who is assisting with becoming energy efficient. The projects include new lighting ($56k) and the replacement of all A/C units ($189k). Projects are worth investing in as there is a ROI (return on investment).
The Chief Operations Officer's full board report is available on Board on Track and the schools' websites.
VII. Executive Director
A.
April 2016 Executive Director Report
The Executive Director's full April board report is available on BoardOnTrack. Highlights of the report as listed below.
- District Update: The LAUSD board approved WISH High School Charter despite the Charter School Division's recommendation against it. The LAUSD Board has continued to support renewals and new petitions.
- State Update: Bill AB 2242 will not move forward. This was the single most threatening piece of legislation against charter schools this year. One Bert Corona parent, Rosa Aguilar, attended the hearing in Sacramento to speak in opposition of this bill. CalPERS has released the proposed a 2% rate increase for employer contribution for the 2016-2017 year.
- National Update: California is the 15th friendliest state for charter schools
- YPI Charter Schools: Spring summer conferences were successful once again with a 96% parent attendance rate. YPICS continues to engage parents through workshop and town hall meetings.
- Monsenor Oscar Romero: The LAUSD oversight visit on April 21, 2016 and went exceptionally well. The leadership team will begin working on the renewal petition and in a good position.
- Bert Corona Charter School: The LAUSD oversight visit is set for April 28th, 2016. Leadership team is preparing for the visit.
- YPI Valley Public Charter High School: The big school had a visit from WASC on April 25, 2016. The board president, Eugene Straub was in attendance. The WASC team commended the high school for the systems in place, leadership, rigor, and culture.
VIII. 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 7:44 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Y. Zubia
Mr. Myers reported the schools' current focus is on standards based grading. They (teachers) are going back to square one to be able to grasp and master the concept and implement it successfully.
The NWEA Maps and bench mark assessments are mirroring the SBAC results from last year. With the new results there was a dip in scores, but in comparison to schools around, we were a little bit above. The Director of Academic Achievement's full report is available on Board On Track and the schools' websites.