Board of Trustees

The BUGS Board of Trustees is a committed and experienced group of educators, professionals, community members and parents who bring a range of skills and knowledge necessary to meet the diverse needs of an established, mission-driven charter school.  Members of the group have experience in education, school operations, social work, start-ups, finance, law, human resources, marketing and project management.

If you would like to contact the BUGS Board of Trustees, please email board@BUGSbrooklyn.org.

 

Meet the BUGS Board of Trustees:

Featured
Felice Ekelman

Co-Chair

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Jamal Deek

Treasurer

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Regina Fechter

Secretary

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Linda Timko Liang

Board Member

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Adam Drucker

Board Member

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Don Mabrey Jr.

Board Member

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Erin Walker

Board Member

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PTA Co-Presidents

Ex-Officio Members

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Board Meetings & Public Participation

The Public is Welcome To Join Us at all Meetings At:

500 19th Street, Brooklyn NY 11215

 

We happily invite members of the community to speak and share their thoughts, ideas and concerns with us during the Public Comment portion of our meeting. During this time, each community member will have three minutes to speak. There will be a sign-up sheet available 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Meetings have in person or remote options.  Speakers can sign up to speak at the in-person sign-in sheet, or virtually  in the Google Meet chat. Once the Public Participation portion of our agenda begins, we will remove the sign-up sheet and invite speakers to share their thoughts in the order indicated on the sign-up sheet.  Please scroll down to see our Policy on Procedure for Public Comments.

Board meeting materials are furnished upon request, please email board@BUGSbrooklyn.org.

Meetings are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:00pm on the fourth Wednesday of every month unless otherwise noted with an *. 

2026-27

  • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce Street, New York, NY 10038

  • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

  • Felice Ekelman, 8 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003

  • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road, Clifton, NJ 07012

  • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • Eric Rench, 274 E. 2n Street, Brooklyn, NY 11218

  • August 26

  • September 23

  • October* DATE TBD,  BOARD RETREAT In Person Public Meeting.  

  • November 18*

  • December 16*

  • January 27

  • February 24

  • March  24 

  • April 21*

  • May 26

  • June 23 

  • The Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School desires to provide the general public with an opportunity at each Board of Trustees meeting to address the Board regarding issues that they may wish to bring to the Board’s attention. In order to facilitate a reasonable, orderly procedure for holding a public comment period, the Board sets forth the following policy to be observed at each Board meeting:

    • An individual wishing to address the Board must print his or her name on the sign-in sheet available at the entrance to the room where the Board meeting is being held. (Individuals are invited to use the chat function to sign up to address the Board at the start of the virtual meeting.)

    • Any individual wishing to address the Board must sign up to do so prior to the call to order of the Board meeting. No requests to speak will be accepted after the meeting has begun.

    • There will be a limit of ten (10) members of the public permitted to speak at any one Board meeting.

  • The board of trustees provides competent stewardship and oversight of the school while maintaining policies, establishing performance goals, and implementing systems to ensure academic success, organizational viability, board effectiveness and faithfulness to the terms of its charter. The school's Charter renewal is based on evidence that the following indicators are generally present: 

    1. The board utilizes an annual written performance based evaluation process for evaluating school leadership, itself, and providers. 

    2. The board recruits and selects board members with a diverse set of skills and expertise that meet the needs of the school and represent the community in which the school serves. 

    3. The board demonstrates active oversight of the charter school’s management, comprehensive service provider(s), if applicable, fiscal operations, and progress toward meeting academic and other school goals through written evaluation processes. 

    4. The board engages in strategic and continuous improvement planning by setting priorities and goals that are aligned with the school’s mission and charter. 

    5. The board regularly updates school policies when needed and receives NYSED approval prior to applicable policy implementation. 

    6. The board engages in ongoing professional development. 

    7. The board demonstrates full awareness of its governance role, its legal obligations to the school and stakeholders, and requirements of the school’s charter. 

    8. The board is familiar with NYSED Charter School Performance Framework standards and has a plan to ensure that the school meets these standards.

AGENDAS AND MINUTES FROM PAST MEETINGS:

2024-25

2025-26

  • July 30*, 2024 - Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Avenue, Leonia, NJ 07605

  • Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Avenue, Leonia, NJ 07605

  • September 30* - Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Avenue, Leonia, NJ 07605

  • October 22 - Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by google meet link https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • November 19*- Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • December 17* - Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Location:

    8 East 12 Street NY NY 10003

  • January 28, 2025 - Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Attend in person or by google meet link https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • February 25, 2025: Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

  • Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Attend in person or by google meet link https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by google meet link https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • Agenda and Minutes

    Attend in person or by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

2023-24

  • July 25, 2023 - Agenda and Minutes

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Louis Green: 63 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 1123

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • August 29, 2023 - Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Louis Green: 63 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 1123

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • October 24, 2023 - Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • September 26, 2023 - Agenda and Minutes

    Additional Public Locations:

  • November 28, 2023 - Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • December 19, 2023 (6-8pm) - Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • January 23, 2024 - Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jamal Deek, 113 Water Oak, Lake Jackson, TX 77566

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

  • February 27, 2024 - Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    • Additional Public Locations:

      • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

      • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

      • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

      • Felice Ekelman, 666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

      • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

      • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

      • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

      • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

      • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • March 26, 2024 - Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    • Additional Public Locations:

      • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

      • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

      • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

      • Felice Ekelman, 666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

      • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

      • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

      • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

      • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

      • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • April 30*, 2024 (virtual only) - Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Ana Bast, 9 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn NY 11215

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Regina Lee Fechter: 234 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

    • Erin Walker: 328 East 26th Street Brooklyn, NY 11226

  • May 28, 2024 - Agenda and Minutes

  • June 25, 2024 - Agenda and Minutes

    Join by Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/iww-pkee-pye

    Additional Public Locations:

    • Jamal Deek, 8 Spruce St, Apt 16V, New York, NY 10038

    • Adam Drucker, 18 Peacedale Circle, Needham Ma, 02492

    • Felice Ekelman, 666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

    • Christine Kang, 316 Moore Ave, Leonia NJ 07605

    • Don Mabrey, 100 Hepburn Road Clifton, NJ 07012

    • Jackie Piccolo: 220 Lighthouse Terrace Edgewater, NJ 07020

 

Building Health & SaFETY

BUGS School Drinking Water Lead Testing Results

In compliance with NYS regulations (5 ppb action level), BUGS completed routine drinking water testing for all potable outlets. All outlets met safety standards.

Water Testing Results (March 2026)

New York State requires public and charter schools to perform lead testing on drinking water outlets every three years, or whenever new fixtures are installed.

Questions for BUGS Operations: For questions regarding our facilities, water testing protocols, or building safety plans, please contact Joshua Altamirano at Joshua.Altamirano@bugsbrooklyn.org.

State Guidance: To learn more about state requirements for school drinking water, visit the NYS Department of Health Lead in School Drinking Water Program.

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