Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting - March

Date and Time

Thursday March 21, 2024 at 6:30 PM

Location

Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

2060 Cameron Street

Ventura, CA 93001

Room 20 on the VCS campus.

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

Cecilia Johnston, Liz Smiley, Tom Mc Nerney, Tricia McClain

Directors Absent

Dominic Aguirre, Skye Stifel

Ex Officio Members Present

Lisa Hildebrand

Non Voting Members Present

Lisa Hildebrand

Guests Present

Mahika Morin, Rudy Calasin, Tony Biasotti

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

Liz Smiley called a meeting of the board of directors of Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education to order on Thursday Mar 21, 2024 at 6:31 AM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

C.

Mission Statement

Tom McNereny read the VCS mission statement.

 


VCS engages every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.

D.

Approval of Minutes for the Regular Board Meeting for February 2024

Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting - February on 02-13-24.
Cecilia Johnston seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approval of the Agenda

Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the agenda.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Consent Agenda

The Consent Agenda was approved.

 


All items listed under consent are considered to be routine and may be enacted by approval of a single motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items; however, any item may be removed from the consent agenda upon request of any member of the Board and acted upon separately.

--Ratification of attached check register, purchase orders, summary of revenue and expenditures for the month of February 2024.
--Gifts to School

 

 

--Credit Cards

                         February:

                         LHildebrand: $4,812.42

                         CSandbach: $4,682.19

 

                        

-Personnel: 

Hiring

Substitutes:

--Kendall Lynch 

--Michelle Sittel

--Jeffery Bingham (custodian)

--Heather Johnston

--Hayden Hickerson

--Kristen Hammonds

 

Resignation

--Nicole Clark (4/8/24)

 

Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Cecilia Johnston seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

Upcoming Events

--700 Forms due now

--3/22 - Middle School Dance

--3/29 - No School

--4/1 - 4/5 - No School

--4/28 - EcoFest on the VCS Campus!

II. Communications

A.

Public Comments

None

B.

President and Board Report

None

C.

Board Committee Reports

The Board Selection Committee is in the process of interviewing one candidate. The CEO Evaluation Committee will meet soon to discuss the evaluation process.

D.

Parent Liaison Report

None

E.

Staff/Teacher Report

Mahika Morin presented this slide showl

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lRvhTqzmGiR6ATNC2JPrhNsdthvHKZh5Mwvosi2HEAY/edit?usp=sharing

F.

Directors' Report

Christi Sandbach was not present. Lisa presented that Parent/Teacher Conferences have been completed. The Youth Truth survey for students, parents, and staff will close on 3/22/24. GATE screening is complete. Christi is spending time in classrooms conducting teacher observations.

G.

VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report

None

III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action

A.

Apollo Contract - ELOP Funding

Approval was requested for the Apollo ELOP Funding Contract for the 23/24 school year.

Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the Apollo Contract.
Cecilia Johnston seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Board on Track Renewal

Cecilia Johnston made a motion to approve the Board on Track renewal contract.
Tricia McClain seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Smart Sites Contract

Approval was requested for the Smart Sites Contract which is Parent Square's website service. Switching to Smart Sites for our website hosting will save VCS $9,000 per year.

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the Smart Sites Contract.
Tom Mc Nerney seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Other Business

A.

Future Topics


--700 Forms - DUE NOW

--LCAP

--Charter Safe Contract

B.

Board Meeting Check In

The Board considered how they are doing on their goals which are:

 


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.)

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Cecilia Johnston made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:23pm.
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 7:23 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Cecilia Johnston