Wonderful College Prep Academy
Minutes
WCPA March Board of Directors Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday March 24, 2022 at 5:30 PM
Location
Virtual Meeting
This meeting is being held in accordance with subdivision (e) of Section 54953 of the California Government Code, that allows the Board to conduct the meeting and the Board members and the public to participate by teleconference, videoconference, or both.
Virtual Meeting Information:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85092897194?pwd=S21TT2Z6S0RIb1N5UlBaenZaUnl2QT09&from=addon
Meeting ID: 850 9289 7194
Passcode: 537323
Dial-in Information:
(669) 900-9128
Meeting ID: 850 9289 7194
Passcode: 537323
Directors Present
D. Criona (remote), E. Unruh (remote), K. Tomono (remote), M. Avilez (remote), V. Reynolds (remote)
Directors Absent
None
Guests Present
A. Blandon (remote), B. Toomey (remote), Brenda Santana (remote), D. Kumar (remote), D. Samari (remote), E. Cortez (remote), E. Hernandez (remote), E. Soto (remote), G. Gunasekera (remote), J. Guzman (remote), K. Goss (remote), L. Sanchez (remote), M. Morillo (remote), Nichole Angulo (remote), T. Garrison (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Flag Salute
C.
Record Attendance
D.
Public Comments
A. Rivera, Delano Elementary 5th Grade student spoke to the Board. She asked the Board to consider allowing one free dress day per week as long as it is appropriate to help student morale. Interim Chairperson Criona thanked Ms. Rivera for her participation in the process and asked WCPA leadership to look into Ms. Rivera's request.
II. Public Hearing
A.
A-G Completion Improvement Grant Program - Delano
Superintendent Martinez presented the A-G Completion Improvement Grant Program Plan for the Wonderful College Prep Academy (Delano) campus. This grant program provided by the State is intended to increase the number of students graduating high school A-G eligible. Three grants are available through this program: Access Grant, Success Grant and the Learning Loss Mitigation Grant. Superintendent Martinez informed the public that schools could only qualify for two out of the three options at most. All LEAs with grades 9-12 were eligible for the Learning Loss Mitigation Grant. WCPA Delano qualified for the Success Grant and the Learning Loss Mitigation Grant for a total allocation of $467,050. Proposed items for expenses include Small Group Instructors (Success grant funding) and Plato course recovery programming (Learning Loss Mitigation funding).
No public comments were made during this public hearing.
B.
A-G Completion Improvement Grant Program - Lost Hills
The Wonderful College Prep Academy - Lost Hills was not eligible for either the Access or Success grants since we that campus just launched the High School in 2020-21 school year and has not yet served grade 12 students. The Lost Hills campus did receive funds for Learning Loss Mitigation Grant for a total of $75,000. Proposed expenses include Plato course recovery programming.
No public comments were made during this public hearing.
III. Consent Agenda
A.
Action Item: Approval of Resolution No. 2021/22-017 Making Findings Regarding the Continued Safety Risk of Meeting in-Person in Compliance with Government Code Section 54953
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
B.
Review and Approve: Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of February 22, 2022
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
C.
Ratification of Delano February 2022 Vendor Payments
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
D.
Ratification of Lost Hills February 2022 Vendor Payments
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
Consent Agenda Items A-D were approved as presented with one motion.
IV. Regular Agenda - Policies and Compliance
A.
Action Item: Update to the Attendance Policy for Delano & Lost Hills
Superintendent Martinez presented an updated Attendance Policy to be in compliance with new Education Code requirements. Changes to this Attendance Policy include: (1) addition of an excused absence for the benefit of the student’s mental or behavioral health; and (2) an excused absence for the purpose of participating in a cultural ceremony or event. The updates to the policy reflect current practice at WCPA.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
B.
Action Item: Update to the Independent Study Policy for Delano and Lost Hills
Superintendent Martinez presented the update to this policy. The Independent Study Policy included minor updates, specifically, this policy includes very limited circumstances to allow for more than 14 days of Independent Study. These unique circumstances are only approved by the Superintendent or an appointed designee as WCPA Leadership strongly promotes that students learn best when they are on campus.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
V. Regular Agenda - Finance & Operations
A.
Information Item: Monthly Business Report - Delano
Kyle Goss from ExED presented his final report to the Board as he will be transitioning into a role at a new organization. Gihan Gunasekera will be working with Chief Business Officer Bill Toomey moving forward.
Kyle presented the update on the budget and shared that the forecast for the Delano campus shows a healthy fund balance through the end of the fiscal year.
B.
Information Item: Monthly Business Report - Lost Hills
Mr. Goss presented the Lost Hills budget and showed a higher enrollment than budgeted which put the school's finances in better shape and forecast than previously anticipated.
C.
Action Item: Approval of Agreement No. 2021/22-017 between Mobile Modular Management Corporation and Wonderful College Prep Academy for Modular Buildings Lease (Ref: 436152)
Marcus Morillo, Chief Operations Officer presented the agreements for the two modular classroom buildings under this agreement. Mr. Morillo noted to the board that the Academy is still finalizing an ancillary contract provision. As time is of the essence, the Academy requested the Board to approve the main contract provisions and the Academy will bring the finalized agreement to the Board for ratification.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
D.
Action Item: Approval of Agreement No. 2021/22-018 between Mobile Modular Management Corporation and Wonderful College Prep Academy for Modular Buildings Lease (Ref: 436240)
Mr. Morillo presented this agreement, similar to the previously presented Modular agreement. As was the case in the previous agreement, the Academy is still in the process of finalizing the ancillary terms of the agreement and will bring the final contract to the board for ratification.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
VI. Regular Agenda - Human Resources/Talent/Academics
A.
Action Item: Revision to 2022-2023 Academic Calendar
Ms. Martinez presented the revision of the 2022-2023 school year Academic Calendar to the board for consideration. The significant change from the previously approved calendar is the update to the week of Spring Break which was moved up to the week of March 13-17 to balance out the second half of the school year. The number of instructional days will remain at 180. Mr. Unruh asked Ms. Martinez to bring to the board the attendance rate for the new Spring Break versus the previously approved rate as he has some concerns regarding the change.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
B.
Action Item: Approval of Agreement No. 2021/22-019 between MGT of America, LLC and Wonderful College Prep Academy for Education Consulting Services
Ms. Martinez presented the MGT of America agreement for the education consulting services. Wonderful College Prep Academy is in need of additional academic and curricular support due to recent shifts in leadership. The MGT team will initially support the Lost Hills campus but will then transition to support the two schools.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
VII. Communications
A.
Superintendent's Report
Ms. Martinez introduced the WCPA team that presented to the board. The enrollment update for both the Delano and Lost Hills campuses was presented by Javier Guzman, Family & Community Engagement Manager. The update included the list of reasons for student withdrawal along with a brief attendance update and a series of events supported by WCPA. Nichole Angulo, new Director of Special Education was introduced and shared updates related to services offered to Students with Disabilities. Brenda Santa, EL Coordinator presented an update to the ELD program and Devinder Kumar, Food Services Director, presented a health and wellness update to the board. Marcus Morillo presented a status update on Covid-19 mitigation measures for both schools.
B.
Other Business
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
VIII. Closed Session
A.
Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov’t. Code § 54596.9(d)(2) – One (1)
The Board of Directors returned to Open Session at 6:35pm.
IX. Board Comments
A.
Board Comments
No comments were made at this meeting.
X. Future Meeting
A.
Future Meeting
Virtual Meeting: Tuesday, April 26, 2022
XI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Criona |
Aye
|
| V. Reynolds |
Aye
|
| E. Unruh |
Aye
|
| M. Avilez |
Aye
|
| K. Tomono |
Aye
|
D. Criona led in the flag salute