Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting - February
Date and Time
Thursday February 19, 2026 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:
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, Tricia McClain
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Non Voting Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Guests Present
Elyse Martin, Rudy Calasin, Stephanie Tauber
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 Feb 19, 2026 at 6:32 PM.
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Mission Statement
D.
Approval of Minutes from January 15, 2026
Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting - January on 01-15-26.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
E.
Approval of the Agenda
Erika Dowd made a motion to approve the agenda.
Sam Estes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
F.
Consent Agenda
Erika Dowd made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Sam Estes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
G.
Upcoming Events
Lisa Hildebrand announced the Upcoming Events.
II. Communications
A.
Public Comments
None
B.
President and Board Report
None
C.
Board Committee Reports
None
D.
Teacher Report
Elyse Martin went over her Board Report
E.
Directors' Report
The Directors went over their Board Reports.
F.
VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report
None
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action
A.
Approval of the VCS 2nd Interim Budget
Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the VCS 2nd Interim Budget.
Sam Estes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Approval of the 2025 VCS SARC
Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the 2025 VCS SARC.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Approval of the VCS AB 153 - POLICY ADDRESSING STUDENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFERRAL PROTOCOLS
Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the VCS AB153 Policy addressing student behavioral health referral protocols.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Approval of the VCS 2026 LCAP Mid-Year Report for the 2025-26 LCAP
Sam Estes made a motion to the VCS 2026 LCAP Mid-Year Report.
Tom Mc Nerney seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
E.
Approval of the VCS Safety Plan
Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the VCS Safety Plan.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Erika Dowd |
Aye
|
| Tricia McClain |
Aye
|
| Tom Mc Nerney |
Aye
|
| Liz Smiley |
Aye
|
| Sam Estes |
No
|
Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the VCS Safety Plan.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
Vote was 4/5 with Sam Estes voting No
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Tricia McClain |
Aye
|
| Sam Estes |
No
|
| Erika Dowd |
Aye
|
| Liz Smiley |
Aye
|
| Tom Mc Nerney |
Aye
|
F.
VCS Policy Regarding Immigration Enforcement Activity
Sam Estes made a motion to approve the VCS Policy Regarding Immigration Enforcement Activity.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
G.
Information on the VCS Calendar Decision for the 2027/2028 VCS Calendar
The Board heard information for a March vote on VCS aligning with the VUSD Calendar beginning in the 2027/2028 school year. All stakeholders, including classified and certificated staff and parents, voted yes to proceed with changing the VCS calendar to match the VUSD calendar.
IV. Closed Session
A.
Closed Session – Conference with Legal Counsel (Anticipated Litigation)
Sam Estes made a motion to adjourn to closed session at 8:02 pm.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Tricia McClain made a motion to return to open session at 8:17.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There was nothing to report from Closed Session
V. Other Business
A.
Future Topics
--700 Forms due April 1st
--Vote on VCS Calendar
--Family and Student Survey
B.
Board Meeting Check In
The Board checked in on their 2025/2026 Goals.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Sam Estes 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 8:18 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Erika Dowd
Liz Smiley read the VCS Mission Statement.