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Da Vinci Schools

Da Vinci Schools Regular Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday June 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM PDT

Location

201 N. Douglas Street, El Segundo, CA 90245

Da Vinci Schools ("DV") welcomes your participation at its Board meetings. The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Trustees ("Board") is to conduct the affairs of DV in public. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our schools. To assist you in speaking/participating in our meetings, the following guidelines are provided:
 

  1. The meeting is accessible online at https://davincischools-org.zoom.us/j/94570898083 or dial (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 945 7089 8083.
  2. Agendas are available to all audience members on the Da Vinci Schools website www.davincischools.org.
  3. Meeting held at 201 N. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245 and 118 Prospect Quay, Point Pleasant London SW181PR.
  4. Audience members who wish may speak on any agenda items or under the general category of "Public Comments," which is time set aside for members of the audience to raise issues 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 each and total time allotted to non-agenda items will not exceed twenty (20) minutes. Non-English speakers who use a translator shall have six (6) minutes in which to address the Board.
  5. 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.
  6. The chair will recognize such individuals who wish to speak on a specific agenda item at the appropriate time. When addressing the Board, speakers are requested to adhere to the time limits set forth, and to not repeat remarks made by those who preceded them.
  7. 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 201 N. Douglas Street, El Segundo, CA 90245, during Business Office operating hours. Please contact the CEO's office at 310-725-5800.

The agenda and documents in the agenda packet will be made available, if requested, in appropriate alternative formats to any person with a disability as required by the ADA, 42 USC section 12132, and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. To request a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, you must contact the CEO's office at 310-725-5800 at least 48 hours before a regular meeting, and at least 12 hours before a special meeting. (Government Code § 54954.2(a)(1).)

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 6:00 PM
  A. Call the Meeting to Order   Jo Webber 1 m
  B. Record Attendance   Alison Wohlwerth
  C. Approve the Agenda Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Call for any changes to the agenda before a motion to approve the agenda is made and seconded.

  
  D. Public Comments   Jo Webber 5 m
   

Please see Notice above. The duration of individual comments and the total comment time may be adjusted at the discretion of the board chairperson. Comments will be given on a first-come, first-served basis; however, the board chairperson may direct staff to create an orderly process in the event a large number of audience members wish to speak.

  
II. Public Hearing: 2025-26 LCAP and LCFF Budget Overview for Parents 6:07 PM
  A. Local Control and Accountability Plan and LCFF Budget Overview for Da Vinci Communications, Design, Science, and Connect FYI Michelle Rainey 15 m
III. Information 6:22 PM
  A. From the Board FYI Jo Webber 10 m
  B. From the Superintendent FYI Matthew Wunder 5 m
  C. Presentation: Alder Residency Program FYI Veronica Rodriguez 10 m
   

Presentation by Laura Hayes, Director of the Alder WIDE SoCal Teacher Residency Program

  
  D. Presentation: Student Services FYI Erin Whalen 15 m
  E. Financial Update FYI Michael Amato 30 m
   
  • April Financials
  • 2025-26 Annual Budget
  • CharterSafe Insurance Renewal
  • Fiscal Policy Update
  
  F. Operations Update FYI Vicente Bravo 10 m
   
  • Cafe and Kitchen Update
  • Connect TK-8 Summer Construction project update
  • Facilities Use Fee Update
  
IV. Special Board Action 7:42 PM
  A. Approve Extension of Board Term Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Extension of Trustee Leslie Heimov's term ending June 30, 2025. New term from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028.

  
  B. Election of Board Officers Vote Jo Webber 5 m
V. Approval of Minutes 7:48 PM
  A. Approval of Minutes of the May 28, 2025 Regular Da Vinci Schools Board Meeting Approve Minutes Jo Webber 1 m
     
VI. Consent Agenda 7:49 PM
  A. Accept the Da Vinci Schools Transaction Register - April, 2025 Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Check and ACH transactions over $10K, presented by management to the Board for approval, as previously agreed.

  
  B. Approve 2025-26 Annual Budget Vote Jo Webber 1 m
  C. Approve Prop 28 Performing Arts Funding Annual Report for Da Vinci Communications, Design, Science, and Connect Vote Jo Webber 1 m
  D. Ratify CharterSafe Proposal for 2025-26 School Year Insurance Coverage Vote Jo Webber 1 m
  E. Approve Renewal of Agreement with PowerSchool for Student Information System Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

PowerSchool software is used for attendance tracking and student data. This is a five-year agreement (in order to keep cost increases to a minimum, as one-year renewal terms contain cost increases between 8 and 10%.). A five-year term is a non-risk factor as this is long term core software for running the schools.

  
  F. Approve Pay Scale Increase for School Grounds Supervision Position Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Due to the increase in minimum wage, the School Grounds Supervision position must be increased from $17.62 to $17.81.

 

  
  G. Approve Independent Contractor Agreement with Fulcrum Education Partners Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Fulcrum Education Partners provides organizational development and independent studies auditing services related to Da Vinci Schools.

 

  
  H. Approve Independent Contractor Agreement with VFG Consulting Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

VFG Consulting provides support for development, innovation initiatives, and project management services related to Da Vinci Schools.

 

  
  I. Approve Independent Contractor Agreement with Two Trees Insights, Inc. Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Contractor provides strategic and operational support to Da Vinci Schools to ensure continuity during leadership transitions, guide the integration of AI tools, and support the systemization of key school practices. 

  
  J. Approve Independent Contractor Agreement with Sarah Lalau Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Contractor provides development of streamlined, sustainable systems for athletics and facilities operations across Da Vinci Schools. 

 

  
  K. Approve Updated Fiscal Policies and Procedures Manual Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Updates:

  • Page 15, Gratuity. Changed the allowance to tip up to 20% from 18%.
  • Page 15, Meals, #3.  Updated PD Day Meal Allowance to $21 per employee from $19.
  • Page 15, Meals, #3.  Updated Full Day Travel Meals to $62 and Partial Day Travel Meals to $39 per employee from $59/$37
  • Page 22, Contracts, #1.  Updated Bid Limit dollar amount threshold per CDE 2025-26 updated policy
  
  L. Approve 2024-25 Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) and 2024-25 LCFF Budget Overview for Parents, and the Annual Update for 2024-25 for Da Vinci Communications, Design, Science, and Connect Vote Jo Webber 1 m
  M. Approve the 2024-25 California Dashboard Local Indicators for Da Vinci Communications, Design, Science, and Connect Vote Jo Webber 1 m
  N. Approve and Adopt the Use of Amira, a State-Approved Dyslexia Screening Tool Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

California Education Code §53008 requires charter schools serving Kindergarten, grade one or grade two adopt a State-approved dyslexia screening instrument. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, schools must start assessing students in grades K-2 annually using this instrument. The initial cost is funded by a one-time State grant; Da Vinci Schools anticipates an ongoing annual cost of ~$3,000.

  
  O. Approve Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding with South Bay Work Investment Board (SBWIB) Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

The renewal term of the MOU is now three years instead of one, from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028.

  
  P. Approve Agreement between Da Vinci Schools and Alliant University to Provide Field Placement and Practicum Opportunities for School Psychologists Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Agreement term is August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2028. No cost to Da Vinci Schools.

 

 

  
  Q. Approve Agreement between Da Vinci Schools and Emerson College to Provide Field Work Placements for Speech Language Pathologists Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Agreement term is July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. No cost to Da Vinci Schools.

  
  R. Approve 2025-26 School Year Overnight Field Trips for Youth & Government Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Trips for the 2025-26 school year include:

  • Youth & Government Officer Retreat, late August, San Diego, CA
  • Youth & Government Conference, early November, San Miguel, CA
  • Mock Legislature & Court Program, mid February, Sacramento, CA
  
  S. Approve Addition of the Instructional Continuity Plan, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Procedures, and Opioid Overdose Procedures to the Comprehensive School Safety Plans for Da Vinci Communications, Design, Science, and Connect Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   
  • California Education Code now requires each charter school to adopt an Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP) by July 1, 2025, as part of its Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP). The ICP must outline how the school will ensure continuity of instruction during emergencies that result in school closures or disruptions.
  • California Education Code, as amended by multiple 2024 legislative bills, now requires that the plan include procedures for responding to incidents of sudden cardiac arrest.
  • California Education Code allows for the provision of emergency opioid antagonists by school nurses and trained personnel to individuals on campus suffering or reasonably believed to be suffering from an opioid overdose.
  
  T. Approve Updated Student Use of Technology Policy, Code of Conduct, and Acceptable Technology Use Agreement Vote Jo Webber 1 m
   

Addition of information regarding Artificial Intelligence.

  
VII. Closed Session 8:09 PM
  A. Conference with Legal Counsel Discuss Jo Webber 90 m
   
  • Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code §54956.9(b) - 2 matters
  • Anticipated Litigation (Gov. Code §54956.9(d)(2)) - 1 matter
  • Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release (Gov. Code §54957(b) - 1 matter
  • Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Gov. Code §54957 (b)) – CEO/Superintendent
  
  B. Reconvene for Public Session & Closed Session Reporting FYI Jo Webber 1 m
VIII. Action Items 9:40 PM
  A. Approve Employment Contract for Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer Vote Jo Webber 1 m
IX. Closing Items 9:41 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting FYI Jo Webber

Next Regular Da Vinci Schools Board meeting:  Wednesday, July 23, 2025.