Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting - February
Date and Time
Tuesday February 13, 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, Liz Smiley, Skye Stifel, Tom Mc Nerney
Directors Absent
Tricia McClain
Ex Officio Members Present
Lisa Hildebrand
Non Voting Members Present
Lisa Hildebrand
Guests Present
Isabelle Rhode, Mahika Morin, Marlo Hartsuyker, Rudy Calasin
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 January 2024
E.
Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was changed for item III, B. to change "not exceeding $45,00" to "not exceeding $45,000".
F.
Consent Agenda
Consent Agenda
--Ratification of attached check register, purchase orders, summary of revenue and expenditures for the month of January 2024.
--Gifts to School: William Kearney donated $1,500.
--Credit Cards:
January:
LHildebrand: $497.16
CSandbach: $565.88
-Personnel:
Hiring
--Substitute Teachers: Kendall Lynch
--Substitute Paraeducators: Justus Hicks
Resignation
--Substitute Teacher Barbara Hynes
G.
Upcoming Events
--700 Forms due now
--February 14th - Fill a Bowl, Fill a Heart fundraisers - 12:00PM
--February 16th - 19th - No School, Presidents' Weekend
II. Communications
A.
Public Comments
None
B.
President and Board Report
None
C.
Board Committee Reports
The Finance Committee met to discussed the Second Interim Budget.
D.
Parent Liaison Report
None
E.
Staff/Teacher Report
Mahika presented events from Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, and 5th Grade.
F.
Directors' Report
The Directors reported on
- Middle of the Year universal screening data and Data Days
- Four staff members went to the Plaintalk Reading Conference in New Orleans on Science of Reading.
- VCOE Annual Programmatic Audit is complete
-Youth Truth SEL survey for staff, teachers, and parents is open.
- Lisa took two teachers to the West Regional Leadership Conference in San Diego.
G.
VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report
Marlo presented the VCOE Equity Conference on Tuesday, March 12, and invited the Board to attend. She also presented the 12 Responibilities of a Charter School Board Member and offered to present to the Board at the annual Board Retreat in Augus.
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action
A.
VCS 2023 - 2024 2nd Interim Budget
B.
Withdrawal of funds from the Capital Outlay Reserve
Board approval was requested for the withdrawal of funds, not exceeding $45,000 (amended at the beginning of the meeting), from the Capital Outlay Reserve. The funds will be allocated towards the acquisition and installation of additional rooms dedicated to student assessments and hosting Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. This initiative is aligned with our commitment to providing high-quality educational services and will allow the creation of dedicated spaces for student assessments, facilitating collaborative IEP meetings, and other meeting space needs.
C.
VCS Comprehensive Safety Plan
Link removed for safety. Plan is available in the VCS school office.
D.
VCS LCAP Mid-Year Report
E.
Clifton Larson Allen LLP Statement of Work - Audit Services Agreement
IV. Other Business
A.
Future Topics
--700 Forms
B.
Board Meeting Check In
VCS Board Goals for the 2023/2024 School Year
Goal 1: Develop a well-governed organization- Governance Committee (Recruit diverse board members from the community, Develop Short & Long Term Executive Director Succession Plan. CEO Evaluation Committee: Redo CEO Evaluation Survey.)
Goal 2: Students progressing towards the highest level of achievement.
Goal 3: Build community presence/outreach for a sustainable organization (Marketing plan, increase Home School Program enrollment and waiting list, create an online presence, promote VCS as a leader in education in Ventura County.)
Tom McNerney read the VCS Mission Statement.
VCS engages every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.