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James Jordan Middle School Board of Trustees

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday February 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM

This Board Meeting is open to the public.

There will be a public meeting on campus but the public can also listen and participate via the zoom link listed below.


https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84542354836?pwd=MkxQRE50aEpFV1VETmxjYVliYlMvZz09

 

Meeting ID: 845 4235 4836 Passcode: V02flaYT

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El propósito de una reunión pública de la Junta de Síndicos ("Board") es llevar a cabo los asuntos de la Escuela en público. Nos complace que esté presente y esperamos que visite estas reuniones con frecuencia. Su participación nos asegura una comunidad con interés por nuestra Escuela.

La traducción al español está disponible en cada reunión de la junta.
 

The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Trustees ("Board") is to conduct the
affairs of the School in public. We are pleased that you are in attendance and hope that
you will visit these meetings often. Your participation assures us of continuing community
interest in our 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 on the home page of
www.jamesjordanms.com.
2. If you  wish to make a public comment, expect to be limited to 3 minutes. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes in English and 6 minutes withtranslation. Spanish translation will be provided by the school at every board meeting. If
you need translation for another language, please contact the school 48 hours in
advance to allow us to find a translator.
a. Non-agenda items: any person may address the Board concerning any item not on the
agenda provided that no individual presentation shall be for no more than 3 minutes (or 6
minutes with translation) and the total time for this purpose shall not exceed 20 minutes
(provided that the President may grant additional time if circumstances permit).
Ordinarily, Board members will not respond to such presentations and no action can be
taken as the Board is allowed to take action only on items on the agenda. However, the
Board may give direction to staff following a presentation or calendar the issue for further
discussion. Individuals may also request that a topic related to school business be placed

on a future agenda and once such an item is properly agendized and publicly noticed,
the Board can discuss, respond, and possibly act upon such an item.
b. Agenda Items:The presentation to the Board shall be made at the time a specific item
is under discussion. Any person may address the Board concerning any item on the
agenda provided that no individual presentation shall be for no more than 3 minutes (6
minutes with translation) and the total time for this purpose shall not exceed 30 minutes
(provided that the Board Chair may grant additional time if circumstances permit).
Speakers are requested to state their name and address and adhere to the time limits
set forth herein. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes in English and 6 minutes with
translation. Spanish translation will be provided by the school at every board meeting. If
you need translation for another language, please contact the school 48 hours in
advance to allow us to find a translator.
4. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, the
School may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with
disabilities. Individuals who require appropriate alternative modification of the agenda in
order to participate in Board meetings are invited to contact the Principal
(lara@jamesjordanms.com, 818-882-2496)

Trustees Present

E. Castillo, N. Mondragon, P. Garza, T. Barillas, V. Garza

Trustees Absent

None

Guests Present

G. Lara, Janelle Ruley (remote), M. Marsh (remote), V. Albores

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

N. Mondragon called a meeting of the board of trustees of James Jordan Middle School Board of Trustees to order on Thursday Feb 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

E. Castillo made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting on 01-16-25.
T. Barillas seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
V. Garza
Aye
P. Garza
Aye
T. Barillas
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye

D.

Public Comment

No public comment. 

II. GOVERNANCE

A.

Training in Brown Act and to prevent Conflict of Interest

Ethics training course by YMC

  • Training is required by January 1, 2026. Each board member is required to get this 2-hour training. 
  • Tonight's focus includes- Ethics and the Brown Act. 
  • AB 2158 states the course has to cover ethical principles and ethical laws
  • Ethics- securing public trust as part of the board service 
    • Fairness
    • Avoiding Appearance of Impropriety 
    • Responsibility 
    • Respect 
    • Trustworthiness 
  • AB 2158
    • Personal Financial gain, transparency, Fairness process, use of public funds, bribery and gifts. 
  • "Leaders understand those they govern because leaders do not enjoy special privileges."
  • Ethical lapses may lead to charter petition denial 
  • Brown Act- enacted in 1953
    • Purpose- Open the doors of government 
    • Accomplished by giving the public notice and having public meetings 
    • A meeting is when the majority of the members of the board discuss any item of Charter school business. 
    • Committees have to meet Brown Act rules.
    • Serial meetings are prohibited 
    • Limit on unilateral communications 
    • Meeting locations - physical boundaries of the county 
    • Two-way teleconference location shall be established 
    • Remote participation- 
      • Standard teleconference 
        • All votes are taken by roll call; the agenda is posted, and access is given to the public, members of the public have the right to address the board, and a quorum of the board must participate from within the charter school "jurisdiction."
      • Videoconference participation
        • Allows relaxed videoconferencing requirements for members for personal emergencies and just cause. 
    • General rule- Write and post agenda. 
      • Only during an "emergency" or "dire emergency" to add additional items to a published agenda
      • Regular- 72 hrs
      • Special Meetings 24hrs
      • Emergency Meetings- 1 hour 
    • Closed session- Safe Harbor language 
  • Public rights 
    • Pubic testimony 
    • Taping or broadcasting 
    • SB 1100- Removal of an individual for disrupting the meeting
      • Warning about behavior---- no warning for a true threat of force 
    • Closed sessions 
      • What happens in a closed session stays in a closed session. 
      • Personnel- discipline
      • Real estate negotiations
      • Labor negotiations 
      • Public security exception 
      • Conference with legal counsel 
      • Pupil discipline  
    • Civil remedies, criminal penalties, and potential charter revocation

B.

Mid year Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)

V. Garza made a motion to approve the attached LCAP to be submitted as required by state law.
E. Castillo seconded the motion.
  • Each goal was presented to the board, with a focus on progress in the metrics, successes, and challenges. 
  • Barillas asked if we had more revenue than expected. Dr. Marsh explained the overruns were due to unexpected physical plant circumstances. 
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
V. Garza
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
P. Garza
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye
T. Barillas
Aye

C.

Local Area Option

N. Mondragon made a motion to approve the Local Area option for Veronica Ramos to teach Mathematics.
P. Garza seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Barillas
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
P. Garza
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye
V. Garza
Aye

D.

Annual review and adoption of Comprehensive School Safety plan

N. Mondragon made a motion to adopt the Comprehensive School Safety plan as presented.
E. Castillo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Barillas
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
P. Garza
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye
V. Garza
Aye

E.

Title IX changes

P. Garza made a motion to approve the Title IX Policy as presented.
N. Mondragon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Mondragon
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
V. Garza
Aye
T. Barillas
Aye
P. Garza
Aye

III. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

N. Mondragon made a motion to adjourn at 8:46pm.
T. Barillas seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Barillas
Aye
E. Castillo
Aye
V. Garza
Aye
P. Garza
Aye
N. Mondragon
Aye
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:46 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
G. Lara
Documents used during the meeting
  • LCAP JamesJordan-spring25.pptx