El Camino Real Charter High School
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday June 5, 2019 at 5:00 PM
Location
El Camino Real Charter High School, Library, 5440 Valley Circle Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
For board meeting materials, please go to the school's main office, or call (818) 595-7500. Some board meeting materials are also posted on the school's website (https://ecrchs.net - click the ECR Board tab).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD BY PARENTS AND CITIZENS
El Camino Real Alliance (“ECRA”) welcomes your participation at ECRA’s Board meetings. The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Directors (“Board”) is to conduct the affairs of ECRA in public. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our charter school. To assist you in the ease of speaking/ participating in our meetings, the following guidelines are provided:
1. Agendas are available to all audience members at the door to the meeting.
2. “Request to Speak” forms are available to all audience members who wish to speak on any agenda items or under the general category of “Public Comments.” “Public Comments” is set aside for members of the audience to raise issues that are not specifically on the agenda. However, due to public meeting laws, the Board can only listen to your issue, not respond or take action. These presentations are limited to three (3) minutes and total time allotted to non-agenda items will not exceed thirty (30) minutes. A member of the public who requires the use of a translator, in order to receive the same opportunity as others to directly address the Board, shall have twice the allotted time to speak. The Board may give direction to staff to respond to your concern or you may be offered the option of returning with a citizen-requested item.
3. You may also complete a “Request to Speak” form to address the Board on Agenda items. With regard to such agenda items, you may specify that agenda item on your “Request to Speak” form and you will be given an opportunity to speak for up to three (3) minutes before the item, and total time allocated to agenda items will not exceed six (6) minutes for a discussion item and nine (9) minutes per vote item. A member of the public who requires the use of a translator, in order to receive the same opportunity as others to directly address the Board, shall have twice the allotted time to speak, and the total allocated time shall be appropriately increased as well.
4. When addressing the Board, speakers are requested to state their name and adhere to the time limits set forth. In order to maintain allotted time limits, the Board Chair may modify speaker time allocations or the total amount of allotted time for an item.
5. Any public records relating to an agenda item for an open session of the Board which are distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the Board members shall be available for public inspection at 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills, California, 91367.
Consent Agenda: All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered by the Board to be routine and will be approved/enacted by the Board in one motion in the form listed below. Unless specifically requested by a Board member for further discussion or removed from the agenda, there will be no discussion of these items prior to the Board votes on them. The Executive Director recommends approval of all consent agenda items.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, El Camino Real Alliance may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with disabilities. Requests for disability related modifications or accommodations shall be made 24 hours prior to the meeting to Daniel Chang, in person, by email at d.chang@ecrchs.net, or by calling (818) 595-7537.
For board meeting materials, please go to the school's main office, or call (818) 595-7500. Some board meeting materials are also posted on the school's website (https://ecrchs.net - click the ECR Board tab).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD BY PARENTS AND CITIZENS
El Camino Real Alliance (“ECRA”) welcomes your participation at ECRA’s Board meetings. The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Directors (“Board”) is to conduct the affairs of ECRA in public. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our charter school. To assist you in the ease of speaking/ participating in our meetings, the following guidelines are provided:
1. Agendas are available to all audience members at the door to the meeting.
2. “Request to Speak” forms are available to all audience members who wish to speak on any agenda items or under the general category of “Public Comments.” “Public Comments” is set aside for members of the audience to raise issues that are not specifically on the agenda. However, due to public meeting laws, the Board can only listen to your issue, not respond or take action. These presentations are limited to three (3) minutes and total time allotted to non-agenda items will not exceed thirty (30) minutes. A member of the public who requires the use of a translator, in order to receive the same opportunity as others to directly address the Board, shall have twice the allotted time to speak. The Board may give direction to staff to respond to your concern or you may be offered the option of returning with a citizen-requested item.
3. You may also complete a “Request to Speak” form to address the Board on Agenda items. With regard to such agenda items, you may specify that agenda item on your “Request to Speak” form and you will be given an opportunity to speak for up to three (3) minutes before the item, and total time allocated to agenda items will not exceed six (6) minutes for a discussion item and nine (9) minutes per vote item. A member of the public who requires the use of a translator, in order to receive the same opportunity as others to directly address the Board, shall have twice the allotted time to speak, and the total allocated time shall be appropriately increased as well.
4. When addressing the Board, speakers are requested to state their name and adhere to the time limits set forth. In order to maintain allotted time limits, the Board Chair may modify speaker time allocations or the total amount of allotted time for an item.
5. Any public records relating to an agenda item for an open session of the Board which are distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the Board members shall be available for public inspection at 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills, California, 91367.
Consent Agenda: All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered by the Board to be routine and will be approved/enacted by the Board in one motion in the form listed below. Unless specifically requested by a Board member for further discussion or removed from the agenda, there will be no discussion of these items prior to the Board votes on them. The Executive Director recommends approval of all consent agenda items.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, El Camino Real Alliance may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with disabilities. Requests for disability related modifications or accommodations shall be made 24 hours prior to the meeting to Daniel Chang, in person, by email at d.chang@ecrchs.net, or by calling (818) 595-7537.
Directors Present
Beatriz Chen, Brian Archibald, Gregory Basile, Lisa Crosthwait, Scott Silverstein
Directors Absent
Darin Ryburn, Kenneth Lee, Steven Kofahl
Guests Present
Daniel Chang
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
Scott Silverstein called a meeting of the board of directors of El Camino Real Charter High School to order on Wednesday Jun 5, 2019 at 5:01 PM.
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Pledge of Allegiance
D.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
II. School Business
A.
Public Hearing on Annual Update to Local Control Accountability Plan
The Board allowed any members of the public to make suggestions and comments regarding the specific actions and expenditures to be included in the Annual Update to the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).
Mr. Archibald asked as to the budgetary numbers set forth in the Update, the total amount budgeted and the total amount actually spent, a single number for each of the columns.
Ms. Ring stated that we get LCFF funding for certain subgroups; of particular interest are low-income, foster, and juvenile offenders. Except for low-income, we have very low amounts that get identified as foster or juvenile offenders. As our population changes from a majority of our students coming from within our boundary to a majority now coming from outside our boundary, our demographics will change and we should see an increase in the Free and Reduced Price Meal (FRPM) students. One option we are looking at is providing bus passes to those students who are outside our boundary; it would cost $24 a month for each student; if we could increase attendance by 3 days a month for each student, it would pay for itself in ADA. We are looking into having the County pay for those bus passes. We also can get extra funding if we hit certain numbers of FRPM students. We are currently at 33%; if we exceed 45%, we would get a certain amount, and if we exceed 55%, we would get a significant extra amount of funding.
Regarding how much Alternative Ed costs the school, it was noted that all students in Alt Ed meet at-risk factors, even if they are not FRPM. However, Ms. Ring stated that Alt Ed may cost the school because attendance is not as high in the Alt Ed student group as it is in the general population; but if Alt Ed was not there, those Alt Ed students would be part of the general population and would still impact attendance.
Mr. Archibald asked how we ensure that we are not being erroneously charged for school lunches; Susan Kim noted that we get audited by the California Department of Education, and we passed our most recent audit. So Chartwells is aware that they are being monitored and audited, so we believe we are being charged correctly.
Mr. Basile asked how the Board was to know whether the funds listed in the LCAP were being used to help student achievement as opposed to creating new positions or new coordinatorships. Ms. Ring noted that, when ECR last went through WASC, certain needs were identified. The LCAP and the updates are based on the needs identified, and there is no plan to hire new staff.
Ms. Crosthwait noted that substitute teachers were not included on this, and will that make an impact; Ms. Ring noted that substitutes are from general fund, which is not what this is. Ms. Crosthwait asked, if one of the teachers in the program goes to a conference, a substitute for that teacher is not accounted for in the document? Ms. Ring noted that those types of substitutes would be identified (though a teacher being out sick would not be included), but still comes from the general fund.
Ms. Ring noted that the numbers included on tables for target numbers are internal only; we set goals, and then we determine why we did not meet certain goals.
Mr. Archibald noted the survey of % of parents who agree that the teachers care about students' progress, in 2016 the % was 73%, but is now 51%. This year's survey is now out.
Starting next school year, LAUSD's Charter Schools Division will be looking at our LCAP and look at the financials, to determine whether we are spending more or less than what we budgeted.
Can we use information like this satisfaction survey in a teacher's evaluation? Certainly feedback from the survey can be discussed by administration.
Ms. Chen asked if ELAC was self-funding; Ms. Ring responded yes.
Ms. Crosthwait asked why there was no expenditures on the foster youth/homeless outreach; Ms. Ring noted that the foster youth/homeless coordinator volunteered her time as opposed to being paid for it.
Mr. Archibald asked as to the budgetary numbers set forth in the Update, the total amount budgeted and the total amount actually spent, a single number for each of the columns.
Ms. Ring stated that we get LCFF funding for certain subgroups; of particular interest are low-income, foster, and juvenile offenders. Except for low-income, we have very low amounts that get identified as foster or juvenile offenders. As our population changes from a majority of our students coming from within our boundary to a majority now coming from outside our boundary, our demographics will change and we should see an increase in the Free and Reduced Price Meal (FRPM) students. One option we are looking at is providing bus passes to those students who are outside our boundary; it would cost $24 a month for each student; if we could increase attendance by 3 days a month for each student, it would pay for itself in ADA. We are looking into having the County pay for those bus passes. We also can get extra funding if we hit certain numbers of FRPM students. We are currently at 33%; if we exceed 45%, we would get a certain amount, and if we exceed 55%, we would get a significant extra amount of funding.
Regarding how much Alternative Ed costs the school, it was noted that all students in Alt Ed meet at-risk factors, even if they are not FRPM. However, Ms. Ring stated that Alt Ed may cost the school because attendance is not as high in the Alt Ed student group as it is in the general population; but if Alt Ed was not there, those Alt Ed students would be part of the general population and would still impact attendance.
Mr. Archibald asked how we ensure that we are not being erroneously charged for school lunches; Susan Kim noted that we get audited by the California Department of Education, and we passed our most recent audit. So Chartwells is aware that they are being monitored and audited, so we believe we are being charged correctly.
Mr. Basile asked how the Board was to know whether the funds listed in the LCAP were being used to help student achievement as opposed to creating new positions or new coordinatorships. Ms. Ring noted that, when ECR last went through WASC, certain needs were identified. The LCAP and the updates are based on the needs identified, and there is no plan to hire new staff.
Ms. Crosthwait noted that substitute teachers were not included on this, and will that make an impact; Ms. Ring noted that substitutes are from general fund, which is not what this is. Ms. Crosthwait asked, if one of the teachers in the program goes to a conference, a substitute for that teacher is not accounted for in the document? Ms. Ring noted that those types of substitutes would be identified (though a teacher being out sick would not be included), but still comes from the general fund.
Ms. Ring noted that the numbers included on tables for target numbers are internal only; we set goals, and then we determine why we did not meet certain goals.
Mr. Archibald noted the survey of % of parents who agree that the teachers care about students' progress, in 2016 the % was 73%, but is now 51%. This year's survey is now out.
Starting next school year, LAUSD's Charter Schools Division will be looking at our LCAP and look at the financials, to determine whether we are spending more or less than what we budgeted.
Can we use information like this satisfaction survey in a teacher's evaluation? Certainly feedback from the survey can be discussed by administration.
Ms. Chen asked if ELAC was self-funding; Ms. Ring responded yes.
Ms. Crosthwait asked why there was no expenditures on the foster youth/homeless outreach; Ms. Ring noted that the foster youth/homeless coordinator volunteered her time as opposed to being paid for it.
III. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Gregory Basile made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Brian Archibald 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 6:09 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Daniel Chang