Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting - August

Date and Time

Thursday August 20, 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, Seana-Marie Sesma, Tom Mc Nerney

Directors Absent

None

Ex Officio Members Present

Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand

Non Voting Members Present

Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand

Guests Present

Elyse Martin, Leesander Almaraz, 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 Aug 20, 2026 at 6:32 PM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

C.

Mission Statement

The VCS Mission Statement was read by Liz Smiley.

D.

Approval of Minutes from June 23, 2026

Erika Dowd made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting - June on 06-23-26.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approval of the minutes from August 11, 2026

Sam Estes made a motion to approve the minutes from Annual Retreat - August on 08-11-26.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Approval of the Agenda

Sam Estes made a motion to approve the agenda.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

Consent Agenda

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Sam Estes seconded the motion.

Correction to Consent Agenda: Jennifer Butler, not Jennifer Barley resigned.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

H.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events were discussed.

II. Communications

A.

Public Comments

None

B.

President and Board Report

None

C.

Board Committee Reports

None

D.

Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Liaison Report

Stephanie Tauber presented a PAC report.

E.

Teacher Report

Elyse Martin presented a teacher slide show introducing the teaching teams.

F.

Directors' Report

The Assistant Director and Executive 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.

VCS Board Goals

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the 2026/2027 VCS Board Goals.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

VCS Salary Schedule

Sam Estes made a motion to approve the VCS Salary Schedule.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

OT Addendum

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the SELPA OT Addendum.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Consideration and Approval of Funding for 5th and 8th Grade Camping Trips

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve adding funding for the 5th and 8th grade camping trips to the annual budget.
Sam Estes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Exceptionally Good Leadership, LLC Agreement

Sam Estes made a motion to approve the Exceptionally Good Leadership, LLC Agreement.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

VCS Cell Phone Policy

It was agreed that this policy should be brought to lawyers during renewal before being voted on.

G.

Executive Director Goals for the 2026/2027 School Year

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the Executive Director Goals for the 2026/2027 School Year.
Tom Mc Nerney seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

H.

Executive Director Succession Plan

This will be brought to the September Board meeting due to the clerical error of it being listed as a FYI item instead of a vote.

I.

VCS IRS Form 990

Sam Estes made a motion to approve the IRS Form 990.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

J.

VUSD Lease Agreement

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

IV. Other Business

A.

Future Topics

--October 1 - Brown Act Training

--October Board Meeting - Marlo Governance Training

B.

Board Meeting Check In

The Board checked in about their 2026/2027 Board Goals.

 

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Sam Estes made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Tom Mc Nerney 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 8:02 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Erika Dowd