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Mr. Ochoa wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.

Ms. Heimov was excited to see a comment turned into a whole initiative, and the food pantry sponsored by Da Vinci Schools and Nourish L.A. is starting up. She looks forward to supporting it. Mr. Santiago concurred, thanking the team for their work in getting it launched.

Ms. Schaefer thanked the community for their participation in fundraising for the community.

Mr. Santiago shared that the Girls' Volleyball had a great season, winning the Section 6 championships and making it to State.

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Kristian Miller, Student Board Advisor and Coordinator, introduced the update.

The students introduced themselves:  Violet Schell, 8th grader at Connect, Quinn Weatherford, 10th grader at Science, Dara Matias, 11th grader at Connect, Kristian Miller, 11th grader at Communications, and Josiah Moody, 12th grader at Design.

Quinn Weatherford shared the Science update, speaking about the Biomed student field trip to Loma Linda University, Youth & Government's Camp Roberts trip, Hispanic Heritage Community Dialogue (CD), the senior visit to UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton, and the Science Parents' Association coffee. POLs are coming up after Thanksgiving break. First semester ends on December 18.

Kristian Miller gave the Communications update, sharing the National Honor Society's blood drive, Karaoke with DVC DECA (Honors Marketing club) and Leadership, Exhibition night (happening the same night as the Board meeting), the Canned food drive, the fundraiser DECA on Ice at the Toyota Sports Center, Press Submit Day, where seniors turn in college applications, and Junior Parents Night for learning about college and the FAFSA.

Violet Schell shared the Connect TK-8 shoe drive, and high school info session, where students learned about all the Da Vinci high schools. Honor Denis spoke about Exhibition prep for both cohorts, and the Fall Festival postponement to December 3 due to rain. Connect TK-8 also held a Thanksgiving Food Drive.

Josiah Moody shared the Design update, saying that Design students enjoyed Halloween activities and Community Learning Day (CLD), where students who came to campus participated in sports, photography, service learning, and college applications workshops. Students are busy preparing for Exhibition and POLs, including a shoe painting project to reflect Asian American culture.

Dara Matias gave the Connect High School update, sharing Spirit Week themes, 9th grade Fundays for community-building outdoor activities, college visits, College & Career Readiness mock interviews for 12th graders, the all-grade Field Day, Trivia Night, and Advisory Drives, where every grade level collects items for different causes.

Kristian wrapped up the update, and Mr. Santiago thanked the students.

Val Green and Courtney Klein gave a presentation on a potential partnership the team is exploring between Da Vinci Schools, ASU Prep, and The Levitt Lab.

Da Vinci would like to extend opportunities for all Connect students, expand innovation, incubation, and best practices, and would benefit from collaborating with reputable brands like ASU and The Levitt Lab.

Arizona State University (ASU), has a presence in Southern California. ASU Prep is its K-12 division, and is interested in further expanding into California to extend access to quality learning. ASU Prep has recently teamed with the Levitt Lab, which was started by economist and Freakonomics author Dr. Steven Levitt. His goal was to reimagine high school, and so The Levitt Lab has partnered with ASU to build a model that can be replicated by reputable school partners. The pilot is located in Tempe, Arizona.

ASU Prep offers in-person courses, fully virtual coursework through ASU Prep Digital, and a hybrid program powered by The Levitt Lab. The hybrid program is what ASU is looking to bring to Da Vinci Schools.

The ASU Prep/Levitt Lab program is mastery-based, hybrid, and offers Socratic seminars, Wonder Sessions, and In-Depth Explorations (similar to Da Vinci's Exhibitions) for students to explore their passions and move at their own pace. Real-world readiness, fun, and well-being are a focus.

The partnership would be governed by Da Vinci Schools and be a program within Da Vinci Connect High School:  a hybrid four days per week onsite and one day remote. The program would be housed in the new space at Connect High's 550 Continental Blvd. location, which can accommodate up to 100 students. If the program launches next school year, the target would be 50 students. Dr. Wunder added that funders have been identified, and that prospective students would initially be pulled from existing Connect High students.

Mr. Santiago inquired about enrollment and timing. Ms. Green responded that the preliminary staffing model would be a school leader, guides (who function as facilitators and provide stability like teachers), assistant guides, and support staff. The financial model and first year budget are in progress. The academic program is also being worked on, but will be finalized when the school leader is on board.

The team hopes to finalize an MOU and budget in December, hire a school leader and launch student recruitment in January, and fundraise and formalize the academic model throughout. 

Video from Amy McGrath, CEO of ASU Prep and Dr. Steven Levitt, economist, Co-Author of Freakonomics, and Founder of The Levitt Lab.

Ms. Schaefer inquired about what the program would look like to the community. Dr. Wunder responded that it would be program within Da Vinci Connect. The program is grounded in good school design from ASU and The Levitt Lab. The program's working name is ASU Prep at Da Vinci Schools. Dr. Wunder went on to say that we believe it will offer more for all: more resources like time, capacity, clarity of the master schedule. Year One will be a walled garden, a school within a school, and the team will look at moving students in and out and sharing teaching staff if that makes sense. It's a work in progress.

Ms. Schaefer inquired about leadership - would the program fall under the Connect administrative team? Dr. Wunder went on to say that there are current Connect students who want more days on campus, and we have a wait list which could provide more students for the program.

Further discussion ensued. Ms. Rainey added that Da Vinci's experience with hybrid programs reveals a wide range of desire for on-campus time. Some students want more, but too much more. Ms. McGrath agreed that ASU Prep's experience is similar. 

Ms. Erin D'Souza, Executive Director of LifeLaunch, shared that LifeLaunch is a program within Da Vinci Connect High School for students past their typical 12th grade year where they can get tuition-free college and career programming. 

The LifeLaunch College program is a multi-year program offered through SNHU facilitated by The Rivet School. Students can work toward Associates and Bachelors degrees in business, healthcare administration, communications, and healthcare management. 1:1 career support for the LifeLaunch College program is provided by Braven and Grow with Google.

LifeLaunch Career, which just started up in August 2025, offers a one-year healthcare (medical assistant, EMT, or pharmacy technician) or aviation (drone certification), program. Each student is dually enrolled at El Camino College. In-house teacher Jessi Snyder is an adjunct professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Industry partners for LifeLaunch Career include UCLA Health, Propel America, Stepful, Embry-Riddle, and soon Sling Pilot Academy.

Some students have expressed interest in completing both programs. This is possible because the Career program, being one year, may be split over different years, with one semester in, say, the first year, and the second semester in the third year. Once a student turns 22 years of age, they are no longer eligible. K-12 funding is used, and students are continuously enrolled in Connect High School. Lobbyist Capitol Advisors visited the program and saw little risk with the current funding and program model.

Dr. Wunder added that the program is housed at the Belkin campus, and Da Vinci is grateful for Belkin's support.

Further discussion ensued regarding the time to complete a bachelors degree. The competency-based program allows for flexibility. It is possible to earn an associates degree in as little as a year, and a bachelors degree in two or three years. It is an accelerated program. If a student does not complete their bachelors degree at LifeLaunch College, they may transition to SNHU's core program, which takes students of all ages. Ms. Rainey added that the program is not chained to a rigid college term structure, so students can move faster or take more time if they need to.

Mr. Ochoa inquired about the cost to students. Ms. D'Souza responded that there is no cost to students. They are part of independent study at Connect High School, and fill out learning logs.

Mr. Santiago requested quarterly updates about the LifeLaunch program.

Dr. Wunder shared that the Schwab Foundation offered $1M to Da Vinci over two years, but they want to focus on LifeLaunch and career education as a whole. The Foundation is willing to be a long-term partner, as long as Da Vinci delivers on its programs. This is a very complex, personalized working of many partners. These older students are showing up and engaged, getting an education that they wouldn't get anywhere else.

Ms. Schaefer inquired about where the students came from. They come from four Da Vinci high schools (RISE, Design, Communications, and Connect) though most are from Connect this year, due to recruitment getting a late start. Dr. Wunder noted that ESUSD and CVUHSD have been offered participation in the program, using grant funding, and Da Vinci would be the program provider. 

Carla Levenson gave the Da Vinci + WUSD Partnership update. 

Past activities included support for the 2024 and 2025 Spooktacular events, Summer in Wiseburn, and three Wiseburn Elementary Math Nights, etc. Da Vinci provided hundreds of student volunteers and DVSF provided funding. For the first time, the enrollment team attended both Wiseburn Middle School's 6th grade Orientation and School Year's Eve (what Wiseburn calls their Back to School Night) in an effort to reach younger families.

Upcoming events include enrollment team participation at the Wiseburn Middle PTSA Coffee, volunteer support for the Hollyglen Elementary Bear Bazaar, Wiseburn Roundtable for younger families, WMS Movie Night and Tour of 201, Performing Arts collaboration, Rock Around the Block, Hackathon, etc.

The monthly Life@Da Vinci newsletter tries to feature stories showing the matriculation of students from Wiseburn through Da Vinci. New this year, Da Vinci's social media community engagement features cross-collaboration and cross-posting with Wiseburn.

Wiseburn has long wanted an articulated pathway in Athletics and Performing Arts for students matriculating from Wiseburn schools to Da Vinci. Da Vinci's investment in the partnership includes ~$1.4M in the combined athletics and performing arts programs in 2025-26. About 40% of Da Vinci's student population participates in sports and/or arts. Brief discussion ensued on the specifics. Dr. Wunder commented that Da Vinci has far exceed both the District's and the communities expectations.

Ms. Levenson went on to discuss fundraising efforts. Wiseburn is eligible to apply or partner with Da Vinci on applications for the K-12 Strong Workforce Program (K12 SWP) grants. Wiseburn is eligible to receive up to three K12 SWP awards of $1M each for up to $3M annually. It does require a 2-1 match. 

Wiseburn is also eligible for the CTE Incentive Grant (CTEIG) and Career Technical Education Facilities Program (CTEFP). There are strategic ways to creatively partner with Da Vinci (career exposure, curriculum collaboration, teacher PD, shared industry advisory boards, etc.). Da Vinci has taken in $4.3M from K12 SWP grants over three years. Da Vinci continues to be ready to support Wiseburn if they so desire.

There is a grant opportunity for DV+WUSD+WEF for $100K+ to advance opportunities for partnership across all three organizations. Dr. Wunder added that the team is waiting for Wiseburn to identify what it is that they want to invest in, and to provide a one-page summary to share with other family foundations.

Mr. Santiago inquired if there is a timeframe for Wiseburn to deliver the one-pager. Ms. Levenson responded that the team is expecting to submit it right after Thanksgiving.

Mr. Amato shared the September balance sheet and profit and loss statements. Da Vinci's cash position is healthy, and other positions (accounts receivable, deferred revenue, net assets, etc.) are normal for this time of year. The P&L shows a few variances that are offset by other funding received.  The team is working on first interims, which will reflect results through October and therefore give a deeper dive into spending. The revised budget will be presented in December.

The Fed met and gave another rate cut, and Mr. Amato spoke with the bank, which agreed not to drop Da Vinci's interest rate.

Mr. Amato spoke about the IT Capital Project (the access control system replacement). $300K was budgeted at the beginning of the year. Mr. Jesse Corral Executive Director of IT, has gotten quotes from multiple vendors, and the total will be about half what was budgeted. The final contract will be presented for approval in December.

The coffee bar/cafe project is entering the final phase. Three of the key next steps approvals were slated for the November board meeting, but will instead be presented in December. The items came in at expected costs, but there are a few other vendors the team is waiting to hear from. The team didn't want the Board to approve items piecemeal without being given the overall budget picture.

Regarding 2026 healthcare costs, Ms. Veronica Rodriguez and her team worked with Blue Cross and Kaiser to maintain the coverage available to employees. Some plans were consolidated. Employees will realize a net zero increase or a decrease to their monthly costs while keeping the same coverage.

Ms. Heimov inquired if the staff will be informed of how incredible it is that their rates will go down, and how incredible it is that Ms. Rodriguez and her team took the time to do the work to get these rates. Mr. Amato explained that terminating ties with CharterLife, fortunate timing, and a number of other factors got to this result.

Brief discussion ensued on how to offset an increase next year. Mr. Amato budgeted for the healthcare cost increase, but with the new rates, Da Vinci is saving ~$73K. 

Ms. Schaefer inquired about Wiseburn's rates. Ms. Rodriguez responded that she would reach out to the District and get back to the Board.

Mr. Santiago inquired about the State budget shortfall. Mr. Amato responded that the Legislative Office had just released their latest update. There is no alarming news, with caveats, but there is the pending unknown upheaval in the healthcare markets around the Federal government's reduction or abolishment of healthcare subsidies.

Mr. Bravo shared the the baseball field and Connect TK8 playground area are almost complete. The rain offered the chance to see areas that needed regrading. Both areas should be ready for use within a month. Ms. Levenson and Mr. Bravo are working on a possible community event to celebrate the openings.

Mr. Bravo shared that the French Olympic team will be using the Aquatic Center, the Crossfit room, and the Skybox, and the USA swim team is also interested in using the areas, so that is still under discussion.

Other potential facilities rentals are in the works.

Item pulled by staff for presentation at a later meeting.

Item pulled by staff for presentation at a later meeting.

Item pulled by staff for presentation at a later meeting.

Item pulled by staff for presentation at a later meeting.

Entered at 7:52 p.m.

Public session reconvened at 9:00 p.m.

Mr. Santiago reported that no action had been taken in Closed session.