Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting - August
Date and Time
Thursday August 18, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Location
Ventura Charter School campus. 2060 Cameron Street, Ventura, CA 93001. Room 13
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
Cecilia Johnston, Dominic Aguirre, Liz Smiley, 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
Rudy Calasin, Sarah Purdy, Tony Biasotti
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Mission Statement
D.
Approval of Minutes for the Regular Board Meeting June 16, 2022.
E.
Approval of Minutes of the VCS Board Annual Retreat - August 5, 2022
F.
Approval of the Agenda
G.
Consent Agenda
The hiring of Lindsay Murray - Classroom Teacher, FTE: 1.0 was removed from the Consent Agenda.
The Board voted to approve:
--Ratification of attached check register, purchase orders, summary of revenue and
expenditures for the month of May, 2022.
--Gifts to School: $10K from Charles Scwabb via the Fitches.
--Credit Cards: LHildebrand: $3,058.50
-Personnel:
Board ratification of the following is requested:
--Administrative approval of Resignations: Diana Costibile - Special Education Aide and
James Forsythe - Special Education Teacher
--Approval of the increase of the School Psychologist position from .50 to 1.0 FTE and from hourly to salaried.
The hiring of:
--Brittney Parkin - Kindergarten Aide, FTE: 0.60
--Jessica Chavez - Special Education Paraeducator, FTE: 0.70
--Amanda Munoz - Special Education Paraeducator, FTE: 0.70
--Ernesto Villicano - Campus Supervisor, FTE: 1.0
--Anya Tobin - Special Education Teacher, FTE: 1.0
--Rachel Fulton - Classroom Teacher, FTE: 1.0
--Paige Olson - Classroom Teacher, FTE: 1.0
--Elyse Martin - Classroom Teacher, FTE: 1.0
--Mahika Morin - School Psychologist, FTE: 1.0
--Scott Savin - Math Intervention, FTE: 0.5 - PE Teacher, FTE: 0.3
--Joseph Granados - increase School Counselor from 0.8 to 1.0, FTE: 1.0
--Approval of a Variable Educational Waiver for Short-Term Staff Permit/Educational Specialist
H.
Upcoming Events
The following upcoming events were announced:
--Campus Work Day: August 20 - 9:00 - 2:00 - Everyone is welcome!
--First Day of School: August 24
--New Parent Meeting: August 29
--No School: September 5
--Back to School Night w/ Shoshana speaking on NVC: September 6
--PAC Budget Meeting: September 8
--Picture Day: September 9
--Board Meeting: September 15 - virtual - 6:30PM
--No School: September 26
--Board Governance Training: October 12 at 5:30 - 7:30PM
II. Communications
A.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
B.
President and Board Report
There was no president/board report.
C.
Board Committee Reports
There were no board committee reports.
D.
Parent Liaison Report
There was no parent liaison report.
E.
Teacher Report
There was no teacher report.
F.
Directors' Report
The directors reported on the opening of school including the hiring of 10 new staff members. Christi reported on the professional development sessions that the teachers have participated in with EL Education School Designer, Sarah Purdy.
Declining enrollment was also discussed. As of 8/18/22 VCS is down 12 spots for the site-based program and 11 spots for the homeschool program. This is reflective of the declining enrollment Countywide.
We are now allowing parents who have a valid teaching credential to sub for us.
G.
VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report
There was no report.
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action
A.
EL Education Implementation Review
Saray Purdy, the VCS School Designer from EL Education presented on the Implementation Review process. Implementation Review is a process for EL schools to be rated on their success over the year. The goal is 90 points. The VCS yearly goal for 21/22 was 66 and VCS received a score of 56. The low score reflected the challenges of the partnership starting and continuing during the COVID restrictions. VCS is poised to bring the score up during the 22/23 school year.
B.
COVID Update
The Executive Director announced the new CDC guidelines for COVID. VCS will be following these guidelines including weekly testing for non-vaccinated staff and parent volunteers.
C.
Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) Plan
Lisa presented the ELOP Plan to the Board for approval.
D.
Apollo After School Care Agreement
Lisa presented a revised agreement between Apollo and VCS to reflect the changes made for the Extended Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP),
E.
2022-23 VCS Salary Schedule
Lisa presented amendments to the 22/23 VCS Salary Schedule which raised salaries for classified employees including paraeducators and custodians.
F.
Local Executive Compensation
The Executive Director's salary and fringe benefits were discussed:
Salary: $124,904
Benefits Cap: $17,906
Cell Phone Stipend: $100/month
G.
Home School Curriculum Allocation
Lisa requested the Board approve increasing the allocation for home school families from $500/year to $850/year. This money is used for families to purchase consumables and classes offered at the VCS home school site.
H.
Executive Director Goals
Lisa presented the Executive Director's goals for the 22/23 school year.
I.
Resolution for exemption to the separation-from-service requirement pursuant to SECTION 24214.5 OR 26812 OF THE EDUCATION CODE - Resolution #2022-23-04
This resolution authorized Ventura Charter School to reemploy Erin Looker as a Substitute Teacher and Special Education teacher on consult.
J.
2022-2023 Employee Handbook
Lisa presented the changes to the 22/23 Employee Handbook.
K.
Professional Development Stipend
L.
2022-2023 VCS Parent/Student Handbook
Lisa presented the changes to the 22/23 VCS Parent/Student Handbook.
M.
Title IX Policy
Board approval was requested for updates and revisions to the VCS Independent Study policy and Master Agreement provided by VCS Counsel.
N.
VCS Independent Study Policy and Master Agreement
Board approval was requested for updates and revisions to the VCS Independent Study Policy and Master Agreement provided by VCS Counsel.
O.
Pioneer Healthcare Services Agreement
VCS has hired a telehealth Speech Language Pathologist for the 2022/2023 school year through Pioneer Healthcare.
P.
Campus Supervisor Job Description
Approval was requested for the Campus Supervisor Job Description.
IV. Other Business
A.
Future Topics
--AB 361 Resolution for the September Board Meeting.
-- Contract with Mastercraftsman Construction for bathroom remodel
-- minutes didn't work on August meeting...add as PDF just in case?
--Braulio time card for July
--Move November meeting
B.
Board Meeting Check In
The Board reviewed their new goals for the 22/23 school year.
Tricia McClain read the VCS Mission Statement:
VCS engages every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.