Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

Annual Retreat - August

Date and Time

Tuesday August 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT

Location

Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

2060 Cameron Street

Ventura, CA 93001

 

Room 20

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD BY PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY
 
The Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education (“School”) welcomes your participation at the School’s Board meetings.  The purpose of the public meeting of the Board of Directors (“Board”) is to conduct the affairs of the School in public.  We are pleased that you are in attendance and hope that you will visit these meetings often.  We honor our partners in education.  We recognize that we are a collective group of teachers, parents, students, and community.  We encourage written and verbal communication.  Your participation is vital to the healthy operation of our school.  Our guidelines:
  1. Agendas are available to all audience members at the door to the meeting and online at venturacharterschool.org
  2. “Request to Speak” forms are available to all audience members who wish to speak on any agenda item(s) or under the general category of “Oral Communications”.
  3. “Public Comments" is set aside for members of the audience to address the Board.  However, due to public meeting laws, the Board can only listen to your issue, not respond or take action.  These presentations are limited to five (5) minutes each and total time allotted to non-agenda items that will not exceed thirty (30) minutes.  The Board may give direction to staff to respond to your concern or you may be offered the opinion of returning with a community-requested item.
  4. With regard to items that are on the agenda, you may specify that agenda item on your request form and you will be given an opportunity to speak for up to five (5) minutes when the Board discusses that item.
  5. When addressing the Board, speakers are requested to state their name and affiliation with the School.
  6. Community members may request that a topic related to School business be placed on future agenda in accordance with the guidelines in Board Governance Policy.  Once such an item is properly agendized and publicly noticed, the Board can discuss, respond, and possibly act upon such an item.
  7. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, the School may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Individuals who require appropriate alternative modification of the agenda in order to participate in Board meetings are invited to contact the Director’s office.  To request assistance contact (805) 648-5503.
  8. Public requests for agenda and materials should be directed in writing to the Executive Director at lisa.h@venturacharterschool.us 
  9. Board agendas for regular meetings are posted 72 hours in advance at www.venturacharterschool.org and at 2060 Cameron Street, Ventura, CA  93001.

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 3:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Call the Meeting to Order   Tom Mc Nerney
  B. Record Attendance and Guests   Tom Mc Nerney
  C. Mission Statement   Tom Mc Nerney 1 m
   

VCS engages every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.

 
  D. Approval of the Agenda Vote Tom Mc Nerney 1 m
II. Communications 3:02 PM
  A. Public Comments FYI Tom Mc Nerney 5 m
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action 3:07 PM
  A. VCS Board Crew Discuss Lisa Hildebrand 20 m
   

The board will participate in a CREW activity.

 
  B. Annual Review of Board Bylaws FYI Tom Mc Nerney 15 m
  C. Board Officer Elections Vote Tom Mc Nerney 10 m
  D. Board Meeting Date Selection 2026-2027 Vote Tom Mc Nerney 5 m
   

The Board will select monthly meeting dates for the 2026/2027 school year.

 

The 3rd Thursday of each month for the 2024/2025 school year are as follows:

 

August 20

September 17

October 15

November 19

December 17

January 21

February 18

March 18

April 15

May 20

June 17

 

 
  E. Board Committee Membership for the 2026/2027 School Year Vote Tom Mc Nerney 10 m
   

25/26 Board Committee Members:

 

Governance Committee: Tom McNerney (Chair) and Tricia McClain

Finance Committee: Liz Smiley (Chair), Sam Estes, and Tricia McClain

CEO Support and Evaluation Committee: Tom McNerney (Chair), Erika Dowd, and Sam Estes

Fundraising Liaison: Sam Estes

 

 
  F. Board Self Evaluation Discuss Tom Mc Nerney 20 m
  G. Annual Board Goals Vote Tom Mc Nerney 15 m
   

VCS Board Goals for the 2025/2026 School Year:

 

1.)  Students progressing towards the highest level of achievement 

a.    Support and monitor student growth so that students are consistently progressing toward mastery of grade-level standards, with increasing numbers achieving proficiency and advanced performance across all learning areas.

2.)  Oversee and Manage the School Budget Responsibly

a.    Approve a balanced annual budget, 2026/27 fiscal year, that reflects academic priorities and long-term financial sustainability.

3.)  Improve School Facilities to Support Learning

a.    Develop a sustainable facilities plan by working with Ventura Unified to complete a comprehensive facilities assessment by December 31, 2025, to identify safety, maintenance, capacity, and facility improvement needs.

4.)  Build and Strengthen Board Capacity

a.    Increase board capacity by adding 3 board members to the board by June 30th, 2026.

b. Actively recruit board members with diverse professional expertise that aligns with the school’s strategic priorities, including areas such as fundraising, facilities management, finance, legal, and education.

 

 

 

Potential Goal Areas for 2026/2027:

* Facililties

* Board Recruitment

* Budget

 

 

 
  H. Board on Track Platform Discuss Tom Mc Nerney 10 m
  I. Naturalist at Large Camping Trips Discuss Lisa Hildebrand 15 m
  J. Executive Director Goals for the 2026-2027 School Year Vote Lisa Hildebrand 15 m
   

Board approval is requested for the attached Executive Director goals for the 2025-2026 school year.

 
  K. Executive Director Succession Plan Vote Lisa Hildebrand 15 m
IV. Other Business
V. Closing Items
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Liz Smiley