Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting - May
Date and Time
Thursday May 23, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Location
Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
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
Dominic Aguirre, Liz Smiley, Skye Stifel, Tom Mc Nerney, Tricia McClain
Directors Absent
Cecilia Johnston
Ex Officio Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Non Voting Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Guests Present
Erika Dowd, Mahika Morin, Rudy Calasin, Samuel Estes, 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 April 2024
E.
Approval of the Agenda
F.
Consent Agenda
G.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events were discussed:
--5/21 - 5/24 - 8th Grade Naturalists at Large Trip to Morro Bay
--5/22 - Kindergarten Orientation
--5/22 - Impact II Dinner *Congratulations Emily Noel!
--5/27 - No School - Memorial Day
--5/29 - 5/31 - 5th Grade Naturalists at Large Trip to Leo Carillo
--5/30 - Finance Committee meeting at 3:00 via Zoom
--6/6 & 6/7 - 7:00pm - Willy Wonka 6th Grade Musical - DATA Cafeteria - correction: the play is 6/5 and /6/6 at 7:00pm
--6/11 - Promotion - 11:00 - K-3rd Grade Clap Out, 4:45 - picnic, 5:30 - 4th - 8th Grade Promotion
--6/12 - Last Day of School for Students - School at San Buenaventura State Beach
--6/13 & 6/14 - Teacher Post-Service Days
--6/20 - VCS Board of Directors Meeting - 6:30pm
--7/1 - 7/31 - VCS School Office Closed for Summer Break
II. Communications
A.
Public Comments
No Public Comments
B.
President and Board Report
Liz Smiley reported on her meeting with Marlo Hartsuyker. Marlo talked with Liz about our 27/28 renewal with the County.
C.
Board Committee Reports
The Finance Committee and the CEO Evaluation Committee will meet before the June Board Meeting.
D.
Parent Liaison Report
Tony discussed the May PAC meeting with the Board. At the PAC meeting the Youth Truth survey results were reviewed as well as the 2024 LCAP plan.
E.
Staff/Teacher Report
This slide show was shared.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FKnsQUw0ytfi57M3tSxF0ihyTH-ZSRnV1zUDLrBqwv0/edit
F.
Directors' Report
The Directors shared that they are busy completing all testing and evaluations of staff. Three meetings will take place in June after teachers have left. All three meetings have teachers/staff attending who will be paid an hourly rate to attend. The meetings are Special Education, the Instructional Leadership Team, and to revamp our Discipline Plan.
G.
VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report
No report was given.
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action
A.
Nomination for a New Board Member
The Board Selection Committee presented Erika Dowd for nomination to the VCS Board. Voting will take place at the June 2024 meeting.
B.
Board Nominating Committee
The Board Selection Committee made a recommendation for Samuel Estes to join the VCS Board.
C.
LCAP
The Board heard a presentation of the 24/25 Local Control and Accountability Plan. The plan will be voted on at the June Board meeting.
D.
Form 990
E.
MOU with Ventura County Indian Education Consortium
F.
Year End Resolutions
Board approval of the attached was requested.
1. Appropriation-Budget Transfers 24-25 Resolution #23-24-03
2. Ventura County Office of Education to make budget transfers. Resolution #23-24-04
3. Appropriation of the ending balance to a reserve. Resolution #23-24-05
G.
Certificate of Signatures
IV. Other Business
A.
Future Topics
Closed Session
--CEO Evaluation
--possible legal action
Other
--LCAP
--Salary Schedule
--Cece sign Certificate of Signatures
--No Skye or Tom next month
--Charter Board Governance Workshop (Brown Act Training) on October 15 from 6;00 - 8:00pm
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,
Dominic Aguirre read the VCS Mission Statement:
VCS engages every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.