Literacy First Charter Schools

Minutes

Literacy First Charter School Board of Trustees

Regular Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday April 10, 2024 at 5:30 PM

Location

To attend this meeting in person go to:

 

698 W Main Street

El Cajon, CA 92020

 

To attend this meeting remotely:

 

Join Zoom Meeting


https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85170923140?pwd=THQvVWQ3ZGtxTWNOTG90ZzkyZDM1UT09

 

Meeting ID: 851 7092 3140
Passcode: TmAe1e

Literacy First Charter Schools exists to nurture the whole child from kindergarten through high school graduation by igniting a passion for comprehensive Literacy and equipping our students to wholeheartedly participate in their community.

Trustees Present

B. Johnson, K. Evans, M. Simone, P. Schreiber

Trustees Absent

J. Lewis

Guests Present

D. Beyer, L. Amorteguy, S. Robinson

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

P. Schreiber called a meeting of the board of trustees of Literacy First Charter Schools to order on Wednesday Apr 10, 2024 at 5:38 PM.

C.

Flag Salute

D.

Approve the Minutes from the March 13, 2024 Regular Board Meeting

K. Evans made a motion to approve the minutes from March 13th 2024 Literacy First Charter School Board of Trustees on 03-13-24.
M. Simone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approve Current Agenda

M. Simone made a motion to Approve the Current Agenda for April 10th 2024.
K. Evans seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Public Comment on Agenda Items

None

G.

Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

None

II. Executive Director's Report

A.

School Events, Program, and Staffing Updates

Debbie Beyer CEO shared the current commercials that are currently being played on television. She shared the current newsletter for all campus and the events coming up, presented current attendance and enrollment.

 

 

B.

Academic Report

Debbie Beyer introduced the following staff members to present programs at LFCS

Tammy Harrell and her staff made a presentation on the Visual Arts program at our school. 

Jamie Robinson made a presentation on the CAASPP testing.  

Troy Beyer made a presentation on the SPED program. 

III. Chief Business Officer's Report

A.

Current Financial Report

Steve Robinson CBO shared the school's financials as of 3.31.24.

B.

Contracts and Large Purchases Notifications

Jesus Higuera: tree trimming at the PA and JA: $7,050.

 

American Made Logistics: JA marquee repair and improvement: $9,525.
 

Perry Plumbing & Pipelining: install two sweeps in classroom lines, replace old lines at
kitchen sink, replace old lines for bathroom sink: $12,090
 

San Diego Applied Behavioral Analysis: 6 weeks of ELO-P 6.24.24-8.2.24: $339,600

Wise Roofing: Seal eyebrow roofs at PA due to rain damage: $8,900.

C.

Facilities Report

LCHS Alpine: Solar system appears fixed but still waiting on a new online monitoring
platform to be set up. We are in communication with the district and the technician.
SDGE bill for January showed less solar production than this time last year. Plumbing
issues being resolved in first two rows of classrooms. Plumbing sweeps scheduled to
be installed during Easter break. Discussions begun for a weight room and an another
portable classroom. LCHS internet will run directly to SDCOE.
 

Junior Academy: 3 more trees trimmed and one more removed. We are replacing a
dilapidated fence at the Summer Drive cul de sac. Internet bandwidth increased by
250% when LA / SDCOE bandwidth increase an rerouting is completed. We submitted
the permit for the installation of the left hand turn lane and "no blocking" signs on
Bradley per the new CUP. The architect for the ADA work at the Freedom House has
finalized the drawings for the ADA improvements and the plans have been submitted
to the city for permitting. Construction is planned for summer 2024.
 

Primary Academy: Internet bandwidth increased by 250% when LA / SDCOE
bandwidth increase and rerouting is complete. Playground equipment being replaced
summer 2024. Fence behind playground equipment being replaced. Solar contribution
lease amendment enacted. Eyebrow roofs being resealed due to rain damage this
winter.

 

Liberty Academy: The LA will no longer be the hub of the school sites' internet service
through SDCOE. Waiting on construction of the wall between this campus and 203 N
Johnson to start however considerable demolition has occurred on the property to
make room for the wall and the containers of batteries. Roof to be resealed,
playground equipment to be replaced, artificial turf to be replaced, and some carpet to
be replaced summer 2024. 250% internet bandwidth increase when rerouting to
SDCOE is complete.

D.

Legal Issues

SOS v. San Diego County Board of Supervisors: The judge did not award attorney's
fees at the February 9, 2024 hearing as there is no official "judgement" in the case. A
dismissal stipulation has been signed off by the court with the hearing on attorney's
fees set for August 2, 2024.
 

SOS v. SDCOE: Next hearing has been rescheduled from March 1, 2024 to May 31,
2024. Since our first settlement offer has expired with no response from SOS counsel,
a second offer was sent to SOS counsel on 2.7.24 which also expired on 2.16.24 with
no response. We received a public records request for documents related to the
purchase and sale of the Chase property and our communication with SDCOE
regarding the Material Revision to relocate and operate LCHS at the Chase property
once construction was completed. SDCOE and LFCS are pursuing a third settlement
offer. Mediation occurred on March 29 but no final settlement was reached. SDCOE
counsel is drafting final settlement language.
 

Zori Case: Settlement has been made.  Discussion in closed session.  

E.

Health Care Renewal for 2024-25

Steve Robinson, CBO, recommends the board approve the 2024-25 Health, Vision, Dental
insurance renewal. LFCS plans to renew the current Sharp and Kaiser plans with the
Difference Card cost sharing feature to help mitigate the rising costs of health care.
Sharp premiums rose 3.5%. Kaiser costs rose 8.5%. Out of the projected savings to
the school, LFCS also plans to increase its per employee contribution for health,
vision, and dental insurance from $11,000 to $12,000. The rest of the savings to the
school will go toward maintaining the 2% step in the salary schedules within a state
budget projected to have a .76% COLA. The Difference Card will also now cover all
co-pays for office visits and urgent care so employees no longer need to pay with their
Difference Card and with their credit card.

M. Simone made a motion to Approve Health Care Renewal for 2024-25.
K. Evans seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Renew CD with East County Schools Federal Credit Union

The CBO recommends the board approve the $2,000,000 CD for 12 months at 3.95%
beginning May 2, 2024. The expected yield is $79,216.44. The current rate is 4.4%.

The current rate with the county treasury is 3.89%. Interest rates are expected to drop
over the next 12 months.
The 3.95% rate would require ECSFCU staff an opportunity to share their products
and services with our staff during training week which we have planned to do for over
a year but have not organized yet. Services include ECSFCU forwarding members
half of their monthly salary on the 15th of each month when employees are paid
monthly to help with cash flow. They also deliver banking services in person at school
sites (deliver cashier's checks, etc). Otherwise, the rate would be 3.7%.

K. Evans made a motion to Renew CD with East County Schools Federal Credit Union at 3.95%.
M. Simone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Governance

A.

Governance Committee Report

Priscilla Schreiber discussed looking at the Board Bylaws and seeing if they need to be updated within the next few years.  

B.

Finance Committee Report

C.

Facilities Committee Report

Matthew Simone discussed that the finance committee would be meeting in May or June. 

V. Closed Session

A.

Enter Closed Session

K. Evans made a motion to Enter into Closed Session.
M. Simone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Zori v. Literacy First Charter Schools : Settlement

K. Evans made a motion to Approve Settlement in Zori VS Literacy First Schools.
M. Simone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Save Our Students-Safety Over Sorry, et al v. San Diego County Board of Education, et al: Settlement

Postponed 

D.

Adjourn Closed Session

M. Simone made a motion to Adjourn Closed Session.
P. Schreiber seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

P. Schreiber made a motion to Adjourn.
M. Simone 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 8:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
S. Robinson