Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting - March

Date and Time

Thursday March 20, 2025 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

Erika Dowd, Liz Smiley, Sam Estes, Skye Stifel, Tom Mc Nerney, Tricia McClain

Directors Absent

None

Ex Officio Members Present

Lisa Hildebrand

Non Voting Members Present

Lisa Hildebrand

Guests Present

Isabelle Rhode, Jenny Barley

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 20, 2025 at 6:33 AM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

C.

Mission Statement

The VCS mission was read by Liz Smiley - 
 

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 20, 2025

Tricia McClain made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting - February on 02-20-25.
Erika Dowd 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.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Consent Agenda

The Board approved the Consent Agenda as presented below:

 

--Ratification of attached check register, purchase orders, summary of revenue and expenditures for the month of February, 2025.


--Gifts to School

 

 

--Credit Cards

February

                         LHildebrand: $589.13

                         CSandbach:  $4,534.83

 

-Personnel: 

Resignations:

     - Heather Johnston - 3/21/25

 

Hiring:

     - Monika Cirsch - Long-term Substitute (3/17 - 6/13)

     - Priya  Allen - Long-term Substitute 

 

Tom Mc Nerney made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Tricia McClain seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

Upcoming Events

Lisa HIldebrand presented the upcoming events:

 


--March 24-28 - Spring Break

--April 18 - No School

--April 27 - EcoFest

II. Communications

A.

Public Comments

None

B.

President and Board Report

None

C.

Board Committee Reports

Sam Estes presented on his attendance at the 2025 CCSA Conference he attended in March.

D.

Teacher Report

Jenny Barley presented on what is happening in the classrooms currently at VCS. 

E.

Directors' Report

The Executive Director presented a report on hiring for the 5th grade position and special ed position for the 2025/2026 school year. 

F.

VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report

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

A.

2023-2024 Prop 28 Annual Report

Board approval was requested for the 23/24 Prop 28 Annual Report.

Skye Stifel made a motion to approve the 23/24 Prop 28 Ammual Report.
Erika Dowd seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Title IX Policy

Board approval was requested for the Title IX Policy.

Liz Smiley made a motion to approve the Title IX Policy.
Skye Stifel seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Other Business

A.

Future Topics

B.

Board Meeting Check In

Board members checked in on the following:

 


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

Tricia McClain made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
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 7:22 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Tricia McClain