ECRCHS's Drama students performed a musical number from the upcoming musical, Urinetown, directed by ECRCHS Drama teacher Sue Freitag and Musical Director Joel Maki.

Parent Marlene Widawer questioned the Board's practice of hiring consultants and suggested that the Board ascertain if consultants are necessary, how much is ECRHS paying consultants, what is the cost benefit of hiring consultants and how does the work these consultants do help the students in the classroom?

Jackie Keene reported that the Ad Hoc committee is working on a draft document with guidelines for electing different representatives including community, teacher, parent and classified positions for the Board, to be presented at a future meeting.

Melanie Horton updated the Board on the Highlander site.  ECRCHS's K-8 Charter petition for the Highlander site was on the Agenda for a vote at LAUSD's Board meeting on the previous day.  Hale Middle School teachers presented a proposal for a 6th - 14th grade Performing Arts program for the Highlander site.  There was a lot of enthusiasm for the project but a concern is why the project is tied to the Highlander site when ECRCHS was selected by the LAUSD Board as a first proposer for the Highlander site and there were other sites around the valley, the Platt Ranch site or on Hale Middle School's existing campus that were suggested in the original document for a performing arts program. The LAUSD Board voted to authorize up to $500,000. for Board member Scott Schmerelson to proceed with due diligence on the Highlander site (doing what ECR has been doing for the past 1 1/2 years) including engaging in community outreach, assessing the condition of the Highlander property and reporting back to the LAUSD Board with his findings.  A big concern of several of the Board members is that LAUSD doesn't have the money to fund the project since the buildings at Highlander will have to be torn down and rebuilt and Monica Ratliff voiced her concern on the lack of transparency by Mr. Schmerelson on the new proposal for Highlander.  Three Board members voted in favor of ECRCHS's proposal, Monica Ratliff, Monica Garcia and Ref Rodriguez, and four Board members voted against ECRCHS and for Hale's proposal, George McKenna, Scott Schmerelson, Steve Zimmer and Richard Vladovic.
 

Dave Fehte recognized ECR 9th grade student, Vanessa Sanchez, who has started her own business designing and selling bathing suits.  She was featured in a swimming magazine.

Chang Patel reviewed the December financial update prepared by EdTec.

Marshall reported that LAUSD is requiring fiscal changes that will require additional staffing.  He and Susan Kim have absorbed many of Duc Quach's duties.  Two new employees have been hired to help input information in the ERP system and will eventually assist teachers with requisitions and purchase orders.  The ERP is being updated and will hopefully be fully implemented by Spring Break.
He explained how ECRCHS works to operate efficiently and keep costs down by hiring consultants for specialty work, and maintain a good working culture.

An update on the Shoup site will be added on next month's agenda. Marshall informed the Board that if for any reason ECRCHS decides not to proceed with the Shoup site, there is a buyer.
The Executive Director now needs to assign an administrator for the committee on the elections to fill the upcoming vacant Board positions.