Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting - January
Date and Time
Thursday January 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Location
Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
2060 Cameron Street
Ventura, CA 93001
Room 20
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:
- Agendas are available to all audience members at the door to the meeting and online at venturacharterschool.org
- “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”.
- “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.
- 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.
- When addressing the Board, speakers are requested to state their name and affiliation with the School.
- 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.
- 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.
- Public requests for agenda and materials should be directed in writing to the Executive Director at lisa.h@venturacharterschool.us
- 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
Directors Absent
Tricia McClain
Ex Officio Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Non Voting Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Guests Present
Elyse Martin, Leesander Almarez, Li Chen, Marlo Hartsuyker, Stephanie Tauber
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Mission Statement
D.
Approval of Minutes from November 20 2025
E.
Approval of the Agenda
F.
Consent Agenda
G.
Upcoming Events
The Upcoming Events were presented:
--January - Mid Year Assessment of Students
--January 12 - Family Survey Opens
--January 19 - No School - Martin Luther King Day
--January 23 - Minimum Day - Report Card Writing
--January 27 - Tony's Pizza FUNdraiser - 6:00 - 8:00 PM (although all orders all day give 20%)
--January 30 - No School - Teacher In-Service
--February 25 -- VCS Color Run FUNdraiser
II. Communications
A.
Public Comments
None
B.
President and Board Report
Tom Mc Nerney reported on attending the PAC Meeting in January.
C.
Board Committee Reports
None
D.
Teacher Report
Elyse Martin gave a teacher report.
E.
Directors' Report
Lisa Hildebrand and Christi Sandbach gave their Director Reports
F.
VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report
Marlo Hartsuyker was present and gave an oversight report.
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action
A.
VCS 2025 Audit Report
B.
Approval of the 2025-20206 Consolidated Application - Winter Release
C.
VCS Salary Schedule
D.
2026/2027 VCS Calendar
IV. Other Business
A.
Future Topics
--700 Forms
--Board Member needed for Enrollment Lottery February
B.
Board Meeting Check In
VCS Board Goals for the 2025/2026 School Year:
2025/26 VCS Board Goals
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.
The VCS Mission Statement was read by Liz Smiley:
VCS engages every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.