Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting - May
Date and Time
Thursday May 21, 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:
- 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, Leesander Almarez, Li Chen, Rudy Calasin, Stephanie Tauber
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Mission Statement
D.
Approval of Minutes from April 16, 2026
E.
Approval of the Agenda
F.
Consent Agenda
G.
Upcoming Events
Lisa Hildebrand presented the Upcoming Events
II. Communications
A.
Public Comments
There were three Public Comments all regarding staff asking for cost of living raises
B.
President and Board Report
None
C.
Board Committee Reports
None
D.
Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Liaison Report
Stephanie Tauber reported on the May PAC meeting.
E.
Teacher Report
Elyse Martin gave a teacher report which reported on what the classrooms have been focused on in May.
F.
Directors' Report
The Executive Director and Assistant Director presented their reports.
G.
VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report
None
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action
A.
Board Nominating Committee
Tricia McClain presented Seana-Marie Sesma a committee recommendation for nomination to the Board in June.
B.
2026/2027 Local Control Accountability Plan
The Board was presented the 2026/2027 LCAP.
C.
SELPA Contracts 26-27
D.
Year End Resolutions
E.
Certificate of Signatures
F.
CalSTRS Certification (Form 0765); Required Amendments to Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
IV. Other Business
A.
Future Topics
--LCAP
--Tricia McClain's last Board Meeting
--Con App
--26/27 Proposed Budget
B.
Board Meeting Check In
The Board checked in on their 25/26 goals.
V. Closed Session
A.
Motion to go to Closed Session
B.
Return to Regular Session
C.
Report of Action Taken in Closed Session
No action taken
Tricia McClain read the VCS Mission Statement.