Mr. Wright led the Board members and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America (USA).

No public comments were received for this meeting.

Executive Director Update – David Hussey 

• Winter Sports Update
  • Winter athletic programs are underway: boys’ and girls’ soccer, basketball, and wrestling.
  • Most teams are performing well, with several having strong seasons so far.
• MAP Testing (Measures of Academic Progress)
  • MAP testing is nearing completion.
  • Assessment compares student growth from August to January.
  • Subjects tested: English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science.
  • Results will be presented to the board in February.
• Enrollment & Lottery Update
  • School lottery has been completed with 540 applicants, same as last year.
  • 116 additional families expressed interest after the lottery and will be contacted with application information.
  • Approximately 50 ninth-grade applicants were noted.
• Recruitment & Outreach
  • Prospective students come from a mix of private schools, local schools, and outside the immediate area.
  • Recruitment efforts include:
    • Social media outreach
    • School website information and applications
• Open Enrollment
  • Enrollment remains open even after the lottery.
  • Applications will continue to be accepted until all available spaces are filled.
  • Preferred process: families apply online first, then schedule enrollment appointments.
• Feeder School Pipeline
  • Local middle school has 257 residential students who may potentially enroll.
  • If all enroll along with other applicants, total enrollment could reach around 750 students, slightly higher than the current year.
  • Additional students may still come from private and non-local schools.
• Public Clarification
  • The lottery has concluded, but applications are still accepted due to remaining openings.
  • Audience questions were deferred; board business continued with follow-up discussions offered after the meeting.

Chief Business Officer Update – Fernando Delgado 

• Budget Planning & Conference Participation
  • Attended a conference on the Governor’s proposed 2026–2027 state budget.
  • Insights from the conference will help guide budget assumptions and projections for the upcoming fiscal year.
• Enrollment Update
  • Email confirmations sent to lottery applicants who were accepted, outlining next steps.
  • Current enrollment stands at 2,857 students.
  • 47 students withdrew last month, typical during the winter session transition:
    • 23 foreign exchange students
    • 24 students transferred to other public schools.
• External Audit
  • Annual external audit conducted by Christy White.
  • Target completion date: January 30, 2026.
  • Final audit report to be submitted to LAUSD.
• Second Interim Financial Report
  • Legally required mid-year financial review for schools/districts.
  • Preparation underway.
  • Submission deadlines:
    • February 16 – internal/LUZ submission
    • March 15 – county submission
  • Report will include:
    • Actual revenues and expenditures through January
    • Updated projections for the full fiscal year
    • Three-year financial forecast
    • Cash flow and current financial position
• Reporting Process
  • Completed report will move from LUZ → County → State for review and compliance.

Board Chair Update – Brad Wright 

• Open Floor for Board Comments
  • Board Chair invited members to share updates, comments, or announcements.
  • Most board members had no additional updates.
• Student Technology Concern
  • A concern was raised regarding students who enroll after 9th grade receiving used/refurbished laptops instead of new devices.
  • Administration clarified:
    • All new students are assigned a device.
    • Devices may be refurbished due to inventory limits.
    • Equipment is fully wiped and reset before reassignment.
  • Suggestion noted to consider support for transfer students who may face device issues.
• Athletics Recognition
  • Board Chair congratulated school athletic teams:
    • Soccer team for a win against Birmingham with strong attendance.
    • Boys’ basketball team for a last-second three-pointer victory over Taft.
    • Girls’ basketball team for a dominant win (by over 50 points) against Taft.
  • Chair showed support by wearing ECR basketball apparel in recognition of team achievements.

December 2025 Investment Update – Janneyra Verduzco 

• Reporting Period & Scope
  • Investment performance covered July–December 2025.
  • Includes both the OPEB/OPA Trust and General Fund investment portfolios across all accounts.
• Overall Portfolio Performance
  • Combined portfolio grew from $41,606,096 (July) to $43,994,581 (December).
  • Represents a 5.6% year-to-date increase.
  • Investments remain stable and aligned with long-term financial strategy.
• OPEB/OPA Trust Performance
  • Began the year at $33,470,633.
  • Generated $2,207,876 in gains after retiree payments.
  • Ended December at $35,333,944.
• General Fund Investments
  • Managed by Beacon Point with a ~7% year-to-date return (approx. 7.1%).
  • Performance described as strong and consistent.
• Fixed Income Investments
  • Accounts with U.S. Bank, Midland, and City National Bank.
  • Delivering steady returns ranging from 1.9% to 5.4%.
• Overall Assessment
  • Combined investments increased to approximately $43.9M, maintaining 5.6% growth year to date.
  • Portfolio remains stable across equities and fixed-income holdings.

December 2025 Financial Update – Fernando Delgado, CBO 

• State Budget Outlook (2026–2027 Governor’s Proposal)
  • State projecting higher revenues but facing long-term structural deficits.
  • Budget focuses on sustaining existing programs; no major new mandates expected.
  • K–12 education remains a top priority with record per-pupil funding and continued statewide initiatives.
• Education & Enrollment Landscape
  • California serves nearly 6 million students across districts and ~1,300 charter schools.
  • Statewide trend shows declining enrollment, already factored into projections.
  • High schools expected to emphasize:
    • Career pathways
    • Dual enrollment
    • Workforce alignment
• Key Funding Updates
  • LCFF (Local Control Funding Formula) projected 2.41% COLA (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • Per-pupil funding expected to reach a record ~$20,427 under Proposition 98.
• Charter School Impacts
  • New accountability requirements targeting fraud prevention and proper fund use.
  • Verified data required for charter renewals through June 2028.
  • County offices receiving additional resources to support struggling districts and charter schools.
  • School’s charter renewal planned for spring–summer submission (late summer target).
• High School Funding Opportunities
  • State proposing $100M one-time funding to expand dual enrollment and career pathways.
  • Block grants expected to support:
    • Teacher training
    • Enrollment stabilization
    • Expansion of CTE (Career Technical Education) pathways
• Implications for ECR
  • Expect stable base funding with no growth beyond COLA.
  • Budget planning must be conservative due to enrollment decline and tighter oversight.
  • Increased scrutiny on:
    • Auditing practices
    • Enrollment reporting accuracy
    • Governance and compliance
• Strategic Priorities
  • Use block grants strategically for:
    • Literacy and math improvement
    • Teacher professional development
    • Enrollment stabilization
    • Career pathways and dual enrollment expansion
  • Align resources to strengthen college and workforce readiness initiatives.
• Budget Planning Approach
  • Focus on managing contraction rather than growth.
  • Budget calendar will:
    • Guide the planning process
    • Align spending with instructional goals
    • Avoid last-minute decisions
    • Ensure compliance with state and district deadlines
    • Include stakeholder participation.
• Staffing & One-Time Funds
  • Best practice: avoid funding permanent instructional roles with one-time funds.
  • One-time funding currently used mainly for external vendors/services to maintain flexibility.
  • Previous learning-loss supports funded with one-time money were reduced in prior budget adjustments.

ECR School Accountability Report Card (SARC) 2024–2025 – David Hussey 

• Teacher Credentials & Staffing
  • All teachers fully credentialed.
  • Historical data:
    • 2022–2023: 137 fully credentialed; 4 university interns.
    • 2023–2024: 135 fully credentialed.
  • No current university interns; future reports expected to reflect fully credentialed staff only.
  • Zero teacher misassignments reported across multiple years.
• Instructional Materials
  • All textbooks and instructional materials publicly listed and accessible.
• Academic Performance (CAASPP/CAST Trends)
  • Increases observed from 2023–2024 to 2024–2025 in:
    • English Language Arts (ELA)
    • Mathematics
    • Science
  • Subgroup performance areas needing improvement:
    • English Learners (ELA proficiency ~27%; small sample size of 13 students).
    • Students with disabilities require additional support.
• Mathematics Subgroup Performance
  • African American students: ~38% proficient.
  • Hispanic/Latino students: ~30%.
  • English learners: ~18%.
  • Students with disabilities: ~9%.
  • School providing targeted supports:
    • Study skills classes
    • After-school tutoring
    • Teacher collaboration and subgroup monitoring.
• Science Performance
  • Overall proficiency ~37%.
  • English learners: ~5%.
  • Students with disabilities: ~15%.
  • Identified as priority areas for continued intervention.
• Career Technical Education (CTE)
  • Five programs offered:
    • Filmmaking
    • Food service & hospitality
    • Building & construction
    • Woodworking
    • Game design & integration
    • Audio/music production
  • 772 students participated in CTE.
  • 11.5% completed multi-level CTE pathways.
  • 13% articulation with postsecondary institutions.
  • School positioned ahead of state expectations in pathway development.
• Physical Education & Fitness Results
  • Strong outcomes on California Physical Fitness Test:
    • Aerobic capacity: 89%
    • Abdominal strength: 92%
    • Trunk strength/flexibility: 83%
    • Upper body strength: 92%
    • Flexibility: 91%
• Graduation & Dropout Rates
  • Graduation rate increased from 91.8% to 92.8%.
  • Dropout rate decreased from 4.6% to 2.1%.
  • English learners and students with disabilities may take longer to graduate due to additional support needs and extended eligibility (up to age 22).
• Alternative & Specialized Programs
  • Students with disabilities monitored through IEPs.
  • Approximately eight students enrolled in non-diploma/alternative programs.
• Discipline & School Climate
  • No expulsions since charter conversion.
  • Suspension rate decreased from ~1.7% to 0.69%.
  • Focus on reteaching and restorative approaches.
  • Monitoring subgroup suspension rates, including African American students and students with disabilities.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Program
  • 33% of students enrolled in at least one AP course.
  • 65 AP courses offered.
  • Pass rate above 80%, indicating strong college readiness and instructional support.
• Overall Summary
  • Positive trends in academic growth, graduation, discipline, and program expansion.
  • Continued focus needed on English learners and students with disabilities.
  • SARC reflects stable performance and alignment with accountability and improvement goals.

Updated Guidance on Required Local Policies for Immigration Enforcement at School Sites – David Hussey 

• State Guidance Requirement
  • California Department of Education (CDE) issued updated guidance under AB 49.
  • All Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) must adopt model or equivalent policies by March 1, 2026.
• Recommendation
  • Executive Director recommended adopting the CDE’s model policies to ensure compliance and consistency.
  • Following state-recommended policies viewed as the most efficient approach for the school.
• Purpose of the Policy
  • Provides guidance for school communities on:
    • Family preparedness (e.g., childcare planning)
    • Understanding rights related to immigration enforcement
    • Available resources and support
• Clarification Provided
  • Policy does not allow immigration enforcement officers onto campus.
  • Focus is informational and protective rather than enforcement-related.
• Alignment with Existing Policies
  • Updates build on previously approved local policies (adopted earlier by the board).
  • Ensures school practices remain current with state requirements and expectations.

Policy on Referral Protocols for Addressing Student Behavioral Health Concerns – David Hussey 

• State Requirement
  • California Education Code 49428.2 requires LEAs and charter schools serving grades 7–12 to adopt a behavioral health referral policy by January 31, 2026.
  • Policy must be adopted during a regular governing board meeting.
  • Must be developed in consultation with:
    • School staff
    • Community stakeholders
    • School-linked behavioral health professionals.
• Compliance & Timeline
  • LEA must certify compliance with staff training requirements to the California Department of Education (CDE) by July 1, 2029.
  • School already implements many related practices; focus will be on formalizing and increasing public visibility.
• Policy Components
  • Identification and support for high-risk student groups.
  • Needs assessment and capacity-building efforts.
  • Professional development for staff.
  • Clear referral pathways and documentation procedures.
  • Parent notification consistent with legal requirements.
  • Ongoing evaluation through:
    • Data collection
    • Surveys
    • Feedback from staff, families, and community stakeholders.
• Training & Legal Boundaries
  • Staff training will cover:
    • Recognizing behavioral health concerns
    • Importance of early intervention
  • School staff cannot diagnose or treat behavioral health disorders unless properly licensed.
  • Emphasis on referring students to qualified professionals.