Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting - April
Date and Time
Thursday April 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Location
Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
2060 Cameron Street
Ventura, CA 93002
Room 19
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
Erika Dowd, Liz Smiley, Sam Estes, Skye Stifel, Tricia McClain
Directors Absent
Tom Mc Nerney
Ex Officio Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Non Voting Members Present
Christi Sandbach, Lisa Hildebrand
Guests Present
Isabelle Rhode
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 March 20, 2025
E.
Approval of the Agenda
F.
Consent Agenda
It was requested that the Board approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
--Ratification of attached check register, purchase orders, summary of revenue and expenditures for the month of March, 2025.
--Gifts to School:
--Credit Cards:
February
LHildebrand: $6,579.90
CSandbach: $716.42
-Personnel:
None
Hiring:
None
G.
Upcoming Events
--April 18 - No School
--April 27 - EcoFest
--May 9 - Parent Appreciation Day
--CAASPP Testing
--ELPAC Testing
II. Communications
A.
Public Comments
None
B.
President and Board Report
None
C.
Board Committee Reports
Governance Committee met to discuss the process for nominating potential Board members.
D.
Teacher Report
None
E.
Directors' Report
Christi Sandbach reported on a new CAASPP testing schedule, the development of Class Lists for the 25/26 school year, and her work with our School Designer for finishing up our Expedition work and the ELA curriculum maps.
Lisa Hildebrand reported on working with the District on multiple facility projects including Rooms 1 and 2 and Room 20.
F.
VCOE Director of Charter School Support and Oversight Report
None
III. Items Scheduled for Information, Discussion, and/or Action
A.
Youth Truth Survey Results
The Board held a discussion about the Youth Truth Survey Results from the 2025 Youth Truth Survey of students in grades 3-8, parents, and staff. The Board's discussion will influence the development of the 2025/2026 VCS LCAP.
B.
Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators
IV. Other Business
A.
Future Topics
--LCAP 2024 Report
--2025 LCAP
--Closed Session - Executive Director Review
B.
Board Meeting Check In
The Board checked in on their 2024/2025 Board Goals which are as follows:
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)
Sam Estes read the VCS Mission Statement:
VCS engages every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.