Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting - November

Date and Time

Thursday November 21, 2024 at 6:30 PM

Location

Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

2060 Cameron Street

Ventura, CA 93001

 

Room 20

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

Dominic Aguirre, Erika Dowd, Liz Smiley, Sam Estes, Skye Stifel, Tom Mc Nerney

Directors Absent

Tricia McClain

Ex Officio Members Present

Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand

Non Voting Members Present

Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand

Guests Present

Isabelle Rhode, Jenny Barley, Rudy Calasin

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 Nov 21, 2024 at 6:35 PM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

Skye Stifel arrived at 7:05 pm.

C.

Mission Statement

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.

D.

Approval of Minutes for the Regular Board Meeting for October 17, 2024

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting - October on 10-17-24.
Sam Estes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approval of the Agenda

Dominic Aguirre made a motion to approve the agenda.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Consent Agenda

Consent Agenda items were as follows:

 


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 October, 2024.


--Gifts to School

None

 

 

--Credit Cards: September:

                         LHildebrand: $2,408.01

                         CSandbach:  $943.08

                        

-Personnel: 

**none

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Dominic Aguirre seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

Upcoming Events

The Upcoming Events were as follows:

 


--November 22 - Feast at Arroyo Grande Park

--November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break

--December 3-5 - EL National Conference, Atlanta, GA

--December 13 - Winter Boutique

--December 19 - VCS Board Meeting

--December 23 - January 3 - Winter Break

II. Communications

A.

Public Comments

None.

B.

President and Board Report

None.

C.

Board Committee Reports

None.

D.

Teacher Report

Jenny Barley gave a presentation on the Expeditions that classrooms are working on.

E.

Directors' Report

The Directors reported on the school goals from the LCAP.

The Board was given a draft of the 25/26 VCS School Calendar for approval in January

F.

VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report

None.

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

A.

1st Interim Budget Presentation and Approval

Isabelle Rhode presented the 1st Interim Budget. There was a lengthy discussion amongst the Board regarding when it might be possible to give the staff an on schedule raise. More information regarding this will be available in the Spring when we know more about the Governor's Budget. 

Sam Estes made a motion to approve the 1st Interim Budget.
Skye Stifel seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Approval of Revised Art And Music Discretionary Block Grant Expenditure Report

Sam Estes made a motion to approve the revised Art and Music Discretionary Block Grant Expenditure Report.
Liz Smiley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Other Business

A.

Future Topics

- Policy for Administering Naloxone

- 25/26 VCS Calendar

- Presentation from Coverly Pro

B.

Board Meeting Check In

The Board reviewed their yearly 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)

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Erika Dowd made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 pm.
Liz Smiley 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 6:54 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Skye Stifel