Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting - January
Date and Time
Thursday January 18, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Location
2060 Cameron Street
Ventura, CA 93001
Room 20
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, Tom Mc Nerney, Tricia McClain
Directors Absent
Liz Smiley, Skye Stifel
Ex Officio Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Non Voting Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Guests Present
Mahika Morin, 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 for November, 2023
E.
Approval of the Agenda
F.
Consent Agenda
Board approval was requested for the following:
--Ratification of attached check register, purchase orders, summary of revenue and expenditures for the months of November and December 2023.
--Gifts to School: none
--Credit Cards:
November:
LHildebrand: $1,719.57
CSandbach: $128.20
December:
LHildebrand: $8,815.48
CSandbach: $2,360.04
-Personnel:
--Substitute Teachers: Sierra Schlesinger, Phillip Santiago, Dawn Blauer, Rugile Pekinas
--Substitute Paraeducators: Kathy Marin, Harmony Eckberg
--1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher: Leah Kahler
--Resignations: Zoe Manoguerra
G.
Upcoming Events
--700 Forms due now
--January 22nd - VCS Anual Programmatic Audit at VCOE - 6:00PM
--January 25th - Challenge Day with 7th/8th graders - 7:30 - 3:30
--January 29th - Beginning of 2nd semester
--February 5th - Teacher In-Service Day
--Tuesday, February 13th - VCS Board Meeting - *Change of Date*
--February 16th - 19th - No School, Presidents' Weekend
II. Communications
A.
Public Comments
There was one public comment requesting more field trips.
B.
President and Board Report
Liz Smiley sent an email to the board encouraging members to attend the 2024 EL Education National Conference in Atlanta, GA.
C.
Board Committee Reports
Cece reported that the Governance Committee is waiting to receive applications from interested persons before scheduling interviews for prospective Board Members.
D.
Parent Liaison Report
Lisa Hildebrand presented that PAC discussed parent drivers on field trips. It was decided there were not enough parents willing to drive on field trips. The SARC and LCAP Mid-Year Review was also discussed.
E.
Staff/Teacher Report
A slide show was shared highlighting the 7/8 Expedition on student mental health.
F.
Directors' Report
Assistant Director Report
* Teachers are working on creating new report cards k-8.
* Christi is observing teachers for teacher growth and evaluation.
* Christi has been busy covering Room 13 until Jenny returns.
* Four staff members will be traveling to the Plain Talk Reading Conference from January 31-February 2 in New Orleans.
Executive Director Report
* Accadiance and MAP Growth testing are taking place during January.
* Math Intervention will begin in February.
* VCS teachers have completed our Staff Agreements.
* We are preparing for our Mid-Year Review with EL Education in February.
G.
VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report
None.
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action
A.
Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Mid-Year Monitoring Report
The Board heard a presentation on the Local Control Accountability Plan Mid- Year Monitoring Report.
B.
School Accountability Report Card (SARC)
The Board heard a presentation on the SARC
C.
Titan HST
D.
Approval of 2023-24 CARS Winter Release
E.
Approval of 2022-23 Audit Report
IV. Other Business
A.
Future Topics
--VCS Safety Plan
--700 Forms
--2nd Interim Budget
--Hire Justus Hicks
The VCS mission was read by Cece Johnston.
VCS engages every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.