Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting - November

Date and Time

Thursday November 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM

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.

Directors Present

Erika Dowd, Liz Smiley, Sam Estes, Tom Mc Nerney, Tricia McClain

Directors Absent

None

Ex Officio Members Present

Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand

Non Voting Members Present

Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand

Guests Present

Allison Beck, Amanda Kelly, Carly Stine, Elyse Martin, Ikia Kardaras, Leesander Almerez, Rudy Calasin

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

Tom Mc Nerney called a meeting of the board of directors of Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education to order on Thursday Nov 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

C.

Mission Statement

Liz Smiley read our Mission Statement.

 

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

D.

Approval of Minutes from October 16, 2025

Sam Estes made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting - October on 10-16-25.
Tricia McClain seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approval of the Agenda

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the agenda.
Tom Mc Nerney seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Consent Agenda

Tom Mc Nerney made a motion to appprove the consent agenda.
Sam Estes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events were reviewed.

II. Communications

A.

Public Comments

None

B.

President and Board Report

C.

Board Committee Reports

D.

Teacher Report

See slide show in Agenda.

E.

Directors' Report

See reports in agenda.

F.

VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report

None

III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action

A.

EcoFest Presentation

The Board heard a presentation by Amanda Kelly and Allison Beck, the EcoFest coordinators.

B.

Coverly Pro Marketing Presentation

The Board heard a presentation by the VCS marketing group, Coverly Pro.

C.

1st Interim Budget Presentation and Approval

Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the VCS 1st Interim Budget.
Sam Estes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

2026/2027 VCS Calendar

IV. Other Business

A.

Future Topics

-No Board meeting in December

B.

Board Meeting Check In

The Board reviewed its goals for the year.

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Tricia McClain made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:31 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Erika Dowd