Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting - March

Date and Time

Thursday March 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:
  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

Elyse Martin, Li Chen, 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 Mar 19, 2026 at 6:38 PM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

C.

Mission Statement

Erika Dowd read the VCS Mission Statement.

D.

Approval of Minutes from February 19, 2026

Sam Estes made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting - February on 02-19-26.
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.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Consent Agenda

Tricia McClain 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 discussed the Upcoming Events.

II. Communications

A.

Public Comments

None

B.

President and Board Report

None

C.

Board Committee Reports

The Governance Committee is interviewing a potential Board Member soon.

D.

Teacher Report

Elyse Martin presented her Teacher Report.

E.

Directors' Report

Christi Sandbach and Lisa Hildebrand presented their Director 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 Prop 28 Annual Certification

Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the Prop 28 annual certification.
Sam Estes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Decision to Match the VUSD Start and End Dates Beginning in 2027/2028

Sam Estes made a motion to match the VUSD calendar start and end dates beginning in 2027/2028.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

St. Paul Lease Agreement

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the St. Paul Lease Agreement.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

VCS Student and Family Surveys

The Board looked at the VCS mid-year student and family survey data for the 2025/2026 school year.

IV. Other Business

A.

Future Topics

-- LCAP

B.

Board Meeting Check In

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Liz Smiley made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Tricia McClain 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 7:55 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Erika Dowd