Da Vinci Schools
Minutes
Da Vinci Schools: L.A. County Board Meeting (RISE High)
Date and Time
Wednesday October 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Location
Mona Lisa, 201 N Douglas St, 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:
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- Agendas are available to all audience members on the Da Vinci Schools website www.davincischools.org.
- 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.
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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).)
Trustees Present
C. Brown, C. McCullough, S. Nellman, T. Johnstone
Trustees Absent
L. Jennings
Guests Present
E. Whalen, J. Crouch, M. Amato (remote), M. Rainey, M. Wunder, N. Lara, V. Bravo
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Approve the Agenda
D.
Public Comments
II. Information
A.
From the Board
There was nothing to report from the board.
B.
From the CEO/Superintendent
There was nothing to report from the CEO/Superintendent.
C.
From the Assistant Superintendents
Assistant Superintendent Erin Whalen informed the board that there will be and upcoming student services meeting on substance use resources that will be shared across the school sites and to create better opportunities for cross collaboration. The student services department continues to move forward with the implementation of CareSolice. Over the course of this next month, the dean of RISE will be participating in the first of many Assistant Principal/Dean meetings to share resources and collaborate across the Da Vinci school sites.
Assistant Superintendent Michelle Rainey informed the board that Da Vinci has hired a former Da Vinci math teacher to support math coaching across all of the Da Vinci schools sites while also addressing the unique needs of each school site, especially RISE. Within curriculum and instruction, there has been a focus on bridging the gap into competency-based instruction and learning while conducting intersectional work across all of Da Vinci as we move toward commonality. Additionally, the focus is that within Da Vinci RISE that the school is more data driven while also not being solely focused on being testing driven. RISE is part of a team across all sites on College and Career Readiness that will share best practices and resources as school sites implement state ethnic studies requirements as well as financial literacy.
D.
From the Executive Director of Special Education
There was nothing to report from the Special Education Department.
E.
Facilities Update
Assistant Superintendent Vicente Bravo informed the board that Da Vinci recently purchased a new van that can reserved for use at RISE as well as the other school sites. Vicente also informed the board that Da Vinci RISE recently participated in a LACOE facilities visit.
F.
RISE High Update
Principal Naomi Lara informed the board that the current enrollment stands at 155 students, with a goal of reaching 185 and maintaining an even split across both sites. The team continues to meet regularly with the Director of Special Education due to a growing population of SPED students. There remains a high number of English Learners (ELs), particularly at the APCH site, and a deeper dive into the Lexia program is planned next week to further support these students.
The school has recently enrolled new pregnant and parenting students and achieved the highest ADA in the past eight years, increasing from 74.1% in Month 1 to 76.08% in Month 2. An enrollment update from the External Relations Director included ideas such as a friendly student competition for enrolling friends and “Friends and Family Day” events proposed by Board members to encourage organic enrollment. The team is also working with a Digital Media partner to develop new media tools to boost outreach, and a Marketing Class competition was suggested to have students design promotional materials.
Transportation supports remain in place, with students having access to TAP cards and strategic HopSkip carpooling options. The team is mindful of recruitment compliance and avoiding any gifts associated with enrollment. Currently, each site continues to gain 1–2 new students weekly.
Additional updates included progress on NWEA testing, which has increased since last month, and the integration of IXL personalized learning plans based on NWEA scores. The school also shared developments in its partnership with the CPPS Partnership for Teaching and Learning.
G.
Financial Update
Michael presented revised budget projections based on lower than expected enrollment and attendance. The board discussed strategies to boost attendance rates, which have a significant impact on RISE's funding. They also explored using additional funding sources like grants and ERC funds to help offset the enrollment-related budget deficit.
There were no public comments.