Youth Policy Institute Charter Schools (YPICS)
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday April 23, 2018 at 6:00 PM
Location
Bert Corona Charter School - 9400 Remick Avenue, Pacoima CA 91331
Meeting Call In Number: (641) 715-3680, Access# 1004153.
Board Members calling in from 17112 Minnehaha Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344; 501 S. Bixel Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017; 25024 Highspring Avenue, Newhall, CA 91321; 1625 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015; 17037 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, California 91344.
Board Members calling in from 17112 Minnehaha Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344; 501 S. Bixel Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017; 25024 Highspring Avenue, Newhall, CA 91321; 1625 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015; 17037 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, California 91344.
Trustees Present
A. Reza (remote), J. Lucente, M. Green, M. Keipp, S. Mendoza (remote)
Trustees Absent
C. Vaquerano
Guests Present
Blanca Castillo, LAUSD CSD, Cesar Lopez, APEX Academy, I. Castillo, Kirk Takeyama, L. Simonsen, R. Duenas, Remedios Dizon, LAUSD CSD, Ryan Bradford, Y. King-Berg, Y. Zubia
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
M. Keipp called a meeting of the board of trustees of Youth Policy Institute Charter Schools (YPICS) to order on Monday Apr 23, 2018 at 6:14 PM.
C.
Flag Salute
D.
Additions/Corrections to Agenda
There were no additions or corrections to the agenda.
E.
Approve March 19, 2018 Minutes
J. Lucente made a motion to approve minutes from the Regular Board Meeting on 03-19-18 Regular Board Meeting on 03-19-18.
M. Green seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| S. Mendoza |
Aye
|
| C. Vaquerano |
Absent
|
| M. Green |
Aye
|
| M. Keipp |
Aye
|
| A. Reza |
Aye
|
| J. Lucente |
Aye
|
F.
Approve April 9, 2018 Minutes
M. Green made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 04-09-18 Board Meeting on 04-09-18.
J. Lucente seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Lucente |
Aye
|
| S. Mendoza |
Aye
|
| C. Vaquerano |
Absent
|
| M. Green |
Aye
|
| M. Keipp |
Aye
|
| A. Reza |
Aye
|
II. COMMUNICATIONS
A.
Presentations from the Public
There were no presentations from the Public.
III. ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR INFORMATION
A.
Data-Driven Board Retreat
The President, Mary Keipp informed the Board of a retreat taking place on July 19, 2018. The retreat will be hosted by BoardOnTrack at a charter school in the Los Angeles area and is expected to have a multitude of charter school leaders present. The President, Mary Keipp will obtain further information about the retreat from a BoardOnTrack representative and is asking the members of the Board to hold the date.
B.
Committee/ Council Reports
Each month council and committee meeting minutes are provided for the board to review. Board members will direct senior staff regarding any minutes or committee concerns that may arise.
C.
Facilites Update
The MORCS building continues to progress although as a result of the recent rain, the completion date has been pushed back to September 4, 2018. This is a significant change from the scheduled August 15, 2018.
The School and the project's management team continue to work with LA Department of Water and Power to renew an expired permit that is needed to obtain permanent power at the School. The work is set to take two to three months to complete and the delay of the permanent power will affect completion of HVAC Testing & Air Balancing and commissioning of all electrical, low voltage, & lighting systems.
The School and the project's management team continue to work with LA Department of Water and Power to renew an expired permit that is needed to obtain permanent power at the School. The work is set to take two to three months to complete and the delay of the permanent power will affect completion of HVAC Testing & Air Balancing and commissioning of all electrical, low voltage, & lighting systems.
D.
Bert Corona Executive Administrator Report
The testing season has started. The Students will begin state testing (CAASPP) on May 7th and will continue testing through May 21, 2018. Mr. Bradford leads the testing efforts as the Coordinator of Instruction.
The Bert Corona staff are preparing for new student orientations as it is that time of year again. The waitlist is unusually small this time around in comparison to previous years. The team plans on doubling their outreach efforts for the following year. The fifth-grade culmination is set to take place on June 5, 2018 at 5PM on the basketball courts and the eighth-grade graduation will be June 9, 2018.
In efforts to continue with building the culture and climate at the school, the eighth-graders went on a field trip to Castle Park, an amusement center. The students were able to play miniature golf, arcade games, eat pizza and enjoy friend bonding time.
The Bert Corona staff are preparing for new student orientations as it is that time of year again. The waitlist is unusually small this time around in comparison to previous years. The team plans on doubling their outreach efforts for the following year. The fifth-grade culmination is set to take place on June 5, 2018 at 5PM on the basketball courts and the eighth-grade graduation will be June 9, 2018.
In efforts to continue with building the culture and climate at the school, the eighth-graders went on a field trip to Castle Park, an amusement center. The students were able to play miniature golf, arcade games, eat pizza and enjoy friend bonding time.
E.
Bert Corona Charter High School Executive Director's Report
Enrollment at Bert Corona Charter High School this year has been eighteen percent under the budgeted projection. As of April 20th, enrollment was 206. Looking at next year, the enrollment numbers will be far better with the anticipated additional students from PUC Nueva Esperanza, a local high school set to close this fiscal year. The enrollment projection is set at 357 which represents an approximate 75% increase in the size of the school.
Looking at the current seniors, eleven out of the twelve are graduating on time. This graduating class has acceptances from a total of six universities and will be graduating the week of June 5th at Pacoima City Hall.
Looking at the current seniors, eleven out of the twelve are graduating on time. This graduating class has acceptances from a total of six universities and will be graduating the week of June 5th at Pacoima City Hall.
F.
Executive Director's Report
CCSA Conference
At the end of March, some YPICS employees had the opportunity to attend the annual California Charter Schools Association conference in San Diego. This year Ms. King-Berg was asked to be a part of a plenary session focused on honoring the panelist of women, reflecting upon the past, present and looking to the future.
MORCS Oversight Visit
On Wedneday, April 11, 2018 Monsenor Oscar Romero Charter School had their yearly Charter School Division (CSD) visit. Overall, the CSD was complimentary of the instructional practices that were evident in the classrooms. The CSD felt their interview with students did not yield what they are accustomed to and concluded the students did not talk because of their lack of trust in adults and perhaps adults on campus. MORCS disagreed and stated given the current political climate and the part of the city they are in, students are not trustful of adults they do not know. Moving forward we will add support so the students feel safe with adults other than staff on campus.
Parent Conferences
Last month all three YPICS schools held Spring semester conferences. The middle schools had over a 95% attendance rate and the high school came in around 88%. Parents were also given the opportunity to take a parent survey to help the schools gage how the parents feel about the schools and obtain other data for future decision making.
Reoganization
YPICS is currently reviewing the costs of special education services and potentially hiring an in-house specialist. The schools hope to have all vacant positions filled by the end of the school year.
At the end of March, some YPICS employees had the opportunity to attend the annual California Charter Schools Association conference in San Diego. This year Ms. King-Berg was asked to be a part of a plenary session focused on honoring the panelist of women, reflecting upon the past, present and looking to the future.
MORCS Oversight Visit
On Wedneday, April 11, 2018 Monsenor Oscar Romero Charter School had their yearly Charter School Division (CSD) visit. Overall, the CSD was complimentary of the instructional practices that were evident in the classrooms. The CSD felt their interview with students did not yield what they are accustomed to and concluded the students did not talk because of their lack of trust in adults and perhaps adults on campus. MORCS disagreed and stated given the current political climate and the part of the city they are in, students are not trustful of adults they do not know. Moving forward we will add support so the students feel safe with adults other than staff on campus.
Parent Conferences
Last month all three YPICS schools held Spring semester conferences. The middle schools had over a 95% attendance rate and the high school came in around 88%. Parents were also given the opportunity to take a parent survey to help the schools gage how the parents feel about the schools and obtain other data for future decision making.
Reoganization
YPICS is currently reviewing the costs of special education services and potentially hiring an in-house specialist. The schools hope to have all vacant positions filled by the end of the school year.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
A.
Background
B.
Consent Items
J. Lucente made a motion to approve the consent agenda items.
M. Green seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| C. Vaquerano |
Absent
|
| M. Keipp |
Aye
|
| S. Mendoza |
Aye
|
| M. Green |
Aye
|
| A. Reza |
Aye
|
| J. Lucente |
Aye
|
V. ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR ACTION
A.
YPICS February and March 2018 Financials
J. Lucente made a motion to approve the YPICS' February and March 2018 financials and check registers as submitted.
M. Green seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| A. Reza |
Aye
|
| M. Green |
Aye
|
| J. Lucente |
Aye
|
| C. Vaquerano |
Absent
|
| M. Keipp |
Aye
|
| S. Mendoza |
Aye
|
B.
YPICS Recommendation to Receive and File LAUSD Annual Performance-Based Oversight Visit Reports
No motion was made on this item.
Board Treasurer, Joe Lucente, stated there seem to be many errors/inconsistencies in the report.
Board Treasurer, Joe Lucente, stated there seem to be many errors/inconsistencies in the report.
VI. CLOSED SESSION
A.
Matters to be discussed are those permitted by Government Code Section 54957 and 54956.9
The Closed Session began at 6:53 PM.
VII. OPEN SESSION
A.
Items Scheduled for Action
The Open Session reconvened at 7:16 PM.
No action was taken in Closed Session.
No action was taken in Closed Session.
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 7:22 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Y. Zubia