Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting - September
Date and Time
Thursday September 19, 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, Sam Estes, Skye Stifel, Tom Mc Nerney
Directors Absent
Erika Dowd, Tricia McClain
Ex Officio Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Non Voting Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Guests Present
Isabelle Rhode, Jenny Barley, Marlo Hartsuyker
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 August 15, 2024
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dominic Aguirre |
Aye
|
| Tom Mc Nerney |
Aye
|
| Tricia McClain |
Absent
|
| Erika Dowd |
Absent
|
| Liz Smiley |
Aye
|
| Sam Estes |
Abstain
|
| Skye Stifel |
Aye
|
E.
Approval of the Agenda
F.
Consent Agenda
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 August, 2024.
--Gifts to School: Aki and Scott Freshman through Schwab Charitable sent $5,000 to VCS on behalf of Visionary Solutions Inc.
--Credit Cards: August:
LHildebrand: $6,363.20
CSandbach: $1,587.83
-Personnel:
**Hiring of Karina Gamez. 2nd grade long-term substitute.
**Hiring of Willow Buck as a Yard Duty person, Signe Harvout as a Paraeducator sub
G.
Upcoming Events
--September 3-20 - Beginning of Year Academic Screening
--October 3 - No School
--October 9 - 11 Annual VCS Campout at Steckel Park
--October 15th - 5:30 - 7:30PM - Board Governance Training
--October 17, 18, 21, 22 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
--October 25 - Teacher In-Service
--October 28 - November 1 - Fall Break
II. Communications
A.
Public Comments
None
B.
President and Board Report
None
C.
Board Committee Reports
The Governance Committee met and will make a recommendation at the next regularly scheduled board meeting in October.
D.
Teacher Report
Jenny Barley presented on what is happening in classrooms this month.
E.
Directors' Report
Lisa Hildebrand and Christi Sandbach reported on
* Back to School Night
* The new VCS Website hosted by Smart Sites
* Teacher PDs
* Fieldtrip opportunities
* New Response to Behavior plan
F.
VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report
VCOE is hosting a Charter Board Governance Workshop via Zoom on October 17th from 5:30 - 7:30. Please let Lisa know if you cannot attend.
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action
A.
Presentation on Board Governance
Marlo Hartsuyker provided a presentation to the VCS Board on Board Governance.
B.
Approval of the 2023-24 Unaudited Actuals Financial Report
Approval of the 2023-24 Unaudited Actuals Financial Report was requested.
C.
Approval of the Final 2023-24 Prop 30 Report
Approval of the Final 2023-24 Prop 30 Report was requested.
D.
Certification of Signatures
Approval of the Certification of Signatures was requested.
E.
Approval of the 24/25 Independent Study Policy
Approval of the 24/25 Independent Study Policy was requested. The Board approved with the following changes:
* Students must be made available for Local assessments in September, January, and April.
* Students in grades 6-8 can participate in long term independent study with administrative approval.
F.
Approval of the Independent Study Master Agreement
The Independent Study Master Agreement will be brought back at the October Board Meeting with the removal of the word Skype and the addition of the requirement for students to be made available for Local Assessments three times a year.
G.
Approval of the VCS Attendance Policy
Approval of the VCS Attendance Policy was requested.
H.
VCS Workplace Violence Prevention Plan
Approval of the VCS Workplace Violence Prevention Plan was requested.
IV. Other Business
A.
Future Topics
*Independent Study Master Agreement
B.
Board Meeting Check In
The Board discussed their 24/25 VCS Board Goals.
VCS Board Goals for the 2024/2025 School Year:
Goal 1: Develop a well-governed organization- Governance Committee (Recruit diverse board members from the community, review/revise annual board survey.)
Goal 2: Students progressing towards the highest level of achievement.
Goal 3: Build community presence/outreach for a sustainable organization (Marketing plan, increase enrollment and a waiting list, promote VCS as a leader in education in Ventura County)
Liz Smiley read the VCS Mission Statement.
VCS engages every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.