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Amethod Public Schools

Minutes

Regular Meeting of the AMPS Board of Directors

Date and Time

Wednesday January 18, 2023 at 6:00 PM

This meeting will be by teleconference pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(e).

The Board of Directors (Board) and employees of Amethod Public Schools shall meet via the Zoom meeting platform. Members of the public who wish to access this Board meeting may do so at:

 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3374735360

 

Participating by Telephone:  669 444 9171  Meeting ID: 337 473 5360


Public Comment:  Members of the public who wish to comment on an agenda item please use the raise hand tool in the reactions tab located at the bottom of the zoom screen or press star (*) nine if joining by telephone. The Board Chair will call on you. Please note that comments are limited to two minute. The Board Chair may increase or decrease the time allowed for public comment, depending upon the topic and number of persons wishing to be heard.

Access to Board Materials: A copy of the written materials which have been submitted to the School Board with the agenda relating to open session items may be reviewed by any interested persons on the Amethod Public School’s website at www.amethodschools.org following the posting of the agenda.  Amethod reserves the right to show or distribute additional information and/or documents to the School Board at the meeting, and will make copies of such documents relating to open session items available to the public upon request.

Disability Access: Requests for disability-related modifications or accommodations to participate in this public meeting should be made 72 hours prior to the meeting by calling (510) 965-4562. All efforts will be made for reasonable accommodations. The agenda and public documents can be modified upon request as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE 

 

Directors Present

E. Gallegos (remote), E. Quiroz (remote), G. Lopez Jr. (remote), J. Azubuike (remote), N. Driver (remote)

Directors Absent

M. Obaid

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

N. Driver

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

G. Lopez Jr. called a meeting of the board of directors of Amethod Public Schools to order on Wednesday Jan 18, 2023 at 6:05 PM.

B.

Record Attendance

N. Driver arrived at 6:07 PM.

C.

Announcements

No announcements were made.

D.

Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items

No public comments were made.

II. Preliminary Matters

A.

Approval of Findings Regarding Virtual Board Meetings Pursuant to AB 361 and Government Code Section 54953

J. Azubuike made a motion to Approve of Findings Regarding Virtual Board Meetings Pursuant to AB 361 and Government Code Section 54953.
E. Gallegos seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Azubuike
Aye
E. Quiroz
Aye
E. Gallegos
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye
N. Driver
Aye

III. Business

A.

Board Nomination Committee to Discuss Board Member Candidate

Board Chair Gilbert Lopez Jr. moved from Closed Session Item C to Business Item A.

 

Board Chair Gilbert Lopez Jr and Board Member Edgar Quiroz met with Father Andres Emmanuelli who is a Catholic Priest of 15+ years, with multiple Masters Degree, a leader of Cristo Rey High School, and have done many fundraising efforts for schools.

 

The Board Nomination Committee conducted an interview and recommends to appoint Andres Emmanuelli to the Board of Directors.

E. Gallegos made a motion to Approve the recommendation of Andres Emmanuelli to the Board of Directors.
J. Azubuike seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Azubuike
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
E. Gallegos
Aye
E. Quiroz
Aye
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye
N. Driver
Aye

B.

Approval of Recommendation of the Nominating Committee to Appoint Edgar Quiroz to the Board of Directors

N. Driver made a motion to Approve of Recommendation of the Nominating Committee to Appoint Edgar Quiroz to the Board of Directors.
J. Azubuike seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Azubuike
Aye
E. Quiroz
Abstain
N. Driver
Aye
E. Gallegos
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye

C.

Approval of First Interim Financial Budget Report for 2022-2023

Financial Analyst Michele Walton presents First Interim Budget.

 

Board Member John Azubuike asks why OCHS surplus went down and more clarification of cost incerase.

 

Board Member Elisa Gallegos asks about low enrollment and it's current percentages compared to prior enrollment reports.

 

Board Member Edgar Quiroz asks likelihood of students transferring from other schools to AMPS and what the potential benefits would be.

E. Gallegos made a motion to Approve First Interim Financial Budget Report for 2022-2023.
J. Azubuike seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye
E. Gallegos
Aye
J. Azubuike
Aye
E. Quiroz
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
N. Driver
Aye

IV. Closed Session

A.

ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: (1 Case)

No reportable action taken.

B.

CEO Public Employee Evaluation and Compensation

The Board of Directors voted to increase CEO compensation by 8%

C.

Board Nomination Committee to Discuss Board Member Candidate

Board Chair Gilbert Lopez Jr amends the agenda and pulls this Closed Session item to Business.

V. Consent

A.

Approval of Board Meeting Minutes: 11/16/2022

E. Quiroz made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Meeting of the AMPS Board of Directors on 11-16-22.
J. Azubuike seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye
E. Quiroz
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
E. Gallegos
Aye
N. Driver
Aye
J. Azubuike
Aye

B.

Approval to Amend Bylaws of Amethod Public Schools

J. Azubuike made a motion to Approve to Amend Bylaws of Amethod Public Schools.
N. Driver seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Driver
Aye
J. Azubuike
Aye
E. Quiroz
Aye
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
E. Gallegos
Aye

C.

Approval of Academic Calendar 2023-2024

E. Gallegos made a motion to Approve Academic Calendar 2023-2024.
J. Azubuike seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye
E. Gallegos
Aye
N. Driver
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
J. Azubuike
Aye
E. Quiroz
Aye

D.

Approval of Resolution for Notice of Intent to Withdraw from CharterSafe

E. Quiroz made a motion to Approve Resolution for Notice of Intent to Withdraw from CharterSafe.
E. Gallegos seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Driver
Aye
E. Gallegos
Aye
J. Azubuike
Aye
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
E. Quiroz
Aye

E.

Approval of School Accountability Report Card (SARC): Benito Juarez Elementary, Richmond Charter Academy, John Henry High School, Oakland Charter Academy, Downtown Charter Academy, and Oakland Charter High School

E. Quiroz made a motion to Approve School Accountability Report Card (SARC): Benito Juarez Elementary, Richmond Charter Academy, John Henry High School, Oakland Charter Academy, Downtown Charter Academy, and Oakland Charter High School.
J. Azubuike seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
E. Gallegos
Aye
E. Quiroz
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye
N. Driver
Aye
J. Azubuike
Aye

F.

Approval to Revise Board Policies Based on the Recommendations of 2023 Legal Updates (8 Items)

J. Azubuike made a motion to Approve Revised Board Policies Based on the Recommendations of 2023 Legal Updates (8 Items).
E. Quiroz seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
E. Gallegos
Aye
J. Azubuike
Aye
N. Driver
Aye
M. Obaid
Absent
E. Quiroz
Aye
G. Lopez Jr.
Aye

VI. Discussion

A.

CEO Report

CEO makes her update with topics discussed about JHHS CDE site visit, security camera upgrades, upcoming Pahara Cohort, Professional Development week, DCA: The Century Foundation Visit, Lunar New Year recruitment booth, staff recruitment, OCHS, JHHS, and attendance update.

B.

Director of Finance Update

Financial Analyst Michele Walton makes her presentation with topics on 2021-2022 Financial Audit extension, 2022-2023 Budget Monitoring, CharterSafe insurance, and ESSERs.

VII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Gilbert Lopez Jr, Nick Driver, and Evelia Villa thanks John Azubuike for serving on the AMPS board in the last few years.

 

John Azubuike says his farewells and thanks the organization for the opportunities and all he has learned.

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:24 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
G. Lopez Jr.

THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE. Notice is hereby given that the order of consideration of matters on this agenda may be changed without prior notice. REASONABLE LIMITATIONS MAY BE PLACED ON PUBLIC TESTIMONY. The Governing Board’s presiding officer reserves the right to impose reasonable time limits on public testimony to ensure that the agenda is completed. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY. 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 this meeting of the Governing Board may request assistance by contacting the Amethod Public School Inc., 1450 Marina Way South Second Floor. Richmond, CA 94804; telephone, (510) 965-4562 lromo@amethodschools.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION. For more information concerning this agenda, please contact Amethod Public Schools Main Administration, 1450 Marina Way South Second Floor. Richmond, CA 94804; telephone, (510) 965-4562; Email: lromo@amethodschools.org