El Camino Real Charter High School

Minutes

Special Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday May 5, 2020 at 5:00 PM

Location

Teleconference Only - see below
SPECIAL 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 in the school's website (https://ecrchs.net - click the ECR Board tab).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD BY PARENTS/GUARDIANS 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 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.

PARTICIPATING TELEPHONICALLY

To participate in the Board meeting telephonically, please call (872) 240-3311, access code 389-903-213.  Please note that, in order to conduct an orderly meeting, all members of the public will be placed on mute during the Board meeting, except during public comments.  If you would like to speak on a specific agenda item, please advise the Board during the public comments section.  Note that members of the public attending a meeting conducted via teleconference do not need to give their name when entering the conference call.

If you have any questions or issues, please contact Daniel Chang at d.chang@ecrchs.net.

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 (remote), Brian Archibald (remote), Darin Ryburn (remote), Gregory Basile (remote), John Perez (remote), Kenneth Lee (remote), Scott Silverstein (remote), Steven Kofahl (remote)

Directors Absent

Jeff Davis

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

John Perez

Guests Present

Daniel Chang (remote), David Hussey (remote)

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 Tuesday May 5, 2020 at 5:03 PM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

C.

Pledge of Allegiance

D.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.
John Perez arrived.

II. School Business

A.

Discuss and Vote On Investment Policy Statements: ECRA OPEB and General Account

The draft Investment Policy Statements were shared at the last Board meeting.  There was no feedback or disputes with the proposed Statements. 
Darin Ryburn made a motion to approve the Investment Policy Statements, for the Lifetime Benefits (OPEB) Account and the General Account.
Gregory Basile seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Brian Archibald
Aye
Gregory Basile
Aye
Jeff Davis
Absent
Scott Silverstein
Aye
John Perez
Aye
Kenneth Lee
Aye
Steven Kofahl
Aye
Darin Ryburn
Aye
Beatriz Chen
Aye

B.

Discuss and Vote on Application for SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loan

Mr. Hussey noted that there are positives and negatives on both sides of this issue.  Currently, we have sufficient assets to get us through, as well as a $5 million line of credit.  Our fixed operational cost is about $3.3 million a month, of which $2.7 million is salary and benefits.  At this time, we do not know if there will be a reduction in the funding for next year, nor whether there will be any deferrals on payments received from the State.  It is possible that we may have funding cut like it was during the last recession.  We are attempting to modify the budget to prepare for a budget cut without cutting jobs.  It is also noted that the other conversion charter schools have also applied for the loan, and two have been approved and funded.  Loan payments are deferred for 6 months, and the interest rate is at 1%; the interest rate on the line of credit is about 3.5%.  
Mr. Archibald asked what the basis is for asking for these funds.  If we were to get a reduction in funding, could we run the school for the next 12 months?  Mr. Hussey stated that if there was such a reduction in funding, we would not be able to operate at our current levels for the next 12 months.  
Mr. Perez asked if someone had contacted the Office of the State Superintendent; Mr. Hussey indicated we had not.  Mr. Perez noted that there was an article about a well-funded private school being shamed into returning the loan, and he would like to know the official position of the State Superintendent before proceeding.
Mr. Ryburn stated that he would not support pursuing this loan, as there are many other businesses that have much greater need.  He also asked that Mr. Hussey prepare for a funding cut in advance.  
Mr. Archibald also noted that ECR's enrollment may increase next year, as students who have been attending private school may want to come to ECR, whether due to economics or because ECR's distance learning program is well established.  
Mr. Silverstein asked if someone wanted to make a motion to apply for the loan.  No one made the motion, and so the motion did not proceed.

III. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Gregory Basile made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Steven Kofahl 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 5:37 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Daniel Chang