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Mr. Santiago wished everyone a happy holiday.

Kristian Miller, Student Board Coordinator, introduced the report. 

Amiralee Chea gave the update for Connect High School, sharing that all grade levels participated in a fun Field Day just after the November Board meeting, Black Student Union held their first meetings, and both cohorts held Exhibition on December 9 and 11. The Winter Bake Sale benefitted a local animal shelter, and students and families supported Da Vinci's Food Pantry, Nourish L.A..

The Design update was presented by Christopher Lopez, who noted the helpful FAFSA workshop put on by Da Vinci counselors, and that students enjoyed Spirit Week on their return from the Thanksgiving break as well as monthly Open Mic events at lunchtime. Additionally, students successfully navigated POL week and Wiseburn Da Vinci Track and Field tryouts.

Honor Denis shared the first half of the Connect TK-8 update, noting that the fun Fall Festival was held after being postponed, and that students in both cohorts staged successful Exhibition nights. Violet Schell shared that students were proud to participate in the Holiday Bazaar selling handmade items, and that families supported the Nourish L.A. Food Pantry.

Da Vinci Science update was presented by Penny Yang, who shared Youth & Government's Bill Hearing Night, Staff Appreciation Week, POL Week, CEA West Basin Municipal Water Tour, and HOSA Fundraiser.

Valerie Ortiz gave the Communications update, sharing POLS, Community Dialogue, Prospective Family Tour, Holiday Bazaar, and Global Glimpse, a nonprofit program that enables students to visit other countries during the summer.

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Ms. Rainey thanked the data team for their assistance, and introduced Da Vinci Design Principal Ms. Samantha Navarro and Assistant Principal Ms. Korina Pailin, who presented the Design update.

Ms. Navarro noted the culture of care and concern at Design, a place where student well-being, emotional safety, academic care and support, restorative practices are at the core, and student voice is honored.

Incoming 9th graders experience summer Wolfpack Days facilitated by Design faculty and student leaders, where they take part in culture building activities and MAP diagnostic testing for English and Math. The Freshman Overnighter, Design Expectations Assembly, and analysis of appropriate Multi-Tier Student Supports (MTSS) further support new students.

Total enrollment at Design is 540, and students come from 20 different school districts. Attendance is analyzed on an ongoing basis. Current ADA is 94.33%, the goal is 95%, and various Multi-Tier Student Supports (MTSS) are in place to increase ADA.

Restorative justice practices reflect the belief that people are happier when those in positions of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them. Staff worked with students to successfully increase engagement by using phone "hotels" or central storage in each classroom. Staff communicated with families to make them aware of the expectations. 

Math MAP growth and achievement from Fall 2024-25 to Fall 2025-26 across grade levels were notable. Brief discussion ensued on the data. PSAT Math, Reading & Writing were slowly improving. 

CAASPP 3-year trends inform the types of supports are put into place, and show that Math performance needs to improve. Staff are using the data to inform how the tests are presented and how students are prepared to take the tests seriously. 

The California State Dashboard shows 91% of Design students are A-G eligible, in contrast with the California average of 46%. Career Technical Education completion is 82% at Design, versus the State average of 23%.

Goals for the rest of the year include increasing attendance and engagement, math instruction and use of Focused Interim Block Assessments (FIAB) to get students ready for testing. MTSS supports and interventions are constantly being refined. Also in place are tutoring and seminars focused on math success.

Areas of focus include using NWEA, CAASPP, PSAT test results together to support growth, Math (best practices), critical conversations and job-alikes in PD. The goal is vertical alignment and consistency.

Ms. Heimov inquired if there is a theory as to why there is a decline in test scores as students get older. Ms. Navarro noted that the team is looking to communicate the importance of testing, increasing student buy-in, giving them example questions and increasing supports to those students who need it.

Ms. Heimov then asked if all the school sites were quarantining phones in classrooms. Ms. Pailin responded that the APs agreed over the summer to use the same language, the same handbook pages across all sites.

Brief discussion ensued about the decline in students math scores as they get older and the fact that the school is small enough to look at individual students and how to support them as they need.

Mr. Boston inquired what the admin team's thoughts were about those students who may be getting A's and B's in class but do not do well in the tests. Ms. Navarro responded that she has thought about this and considered multiple aspects like grading, comparing grades to test scores, grading rubrics and supports provided. 

Mr. Boston inquired if we are sending off A-G students to college who may not have that proficiency based on test scores. Ms. Rainey noted that schools strive to provide students with supports to maintain a balance between grades and test scores.

Ms. Pailin shared that some students who didn't take the tests seriously and were put into the support periods rather than their requested seminars and were then motivated to work harder, retake the tests, and request to be put back into seminars. It illustrates why explaining to the students how important the diagnostic tests are, and that it's to their benefit to take them seriously.

Mr. Boston would like to see what the test scores have been for each of the cohorts over their years at Da Vinci.

Pulled for a subsequent meeting.

Ms. Levenson, Executive Director of External Relations, presented the DV + WUSD Partnership Update.

She shared that over 300 Da Vinci high school students volunteered at Wiseburn this semester, at events like three Wiseburn Math Nights, Wiseburn Middle School Spooktacular, and Hollyglen Bear Bazaar. The enrollment team will also attend three Wiseburn PTA meetings in the spring.

She then shared that Dr. Wunder has brought together Da Vinci's grant funders with Wiseburn and Wiseburn Education Foundation (WEF), noting the Wiseburn Innovative Staffing initiative in collaboration with ASU, and the Pipkin Family Foundation, John and Cynthia Lee Smet Foundation, and Continental Development Corporation contributions.

The team is also working on developing deeper roots in Wiseburn, targeting young Wiseburn families to give them information about Da Vinci in a Panel Discussion planned for February 2, 2026.

Ms. Levenson worked with Ms. Erica Corder, who heads external relations at Wiseburn Unified, to collaborate on shared communications, family engagement, and aligned messaging.

Ms. Heimov requested a social media-ready post that she could share to extend Ms. Levenson's reach. Dr. Wunder shared that the work Ms. Levenson and her team is doing is very important, much needed, and serves all students regardless of the zip code in which they live.

Mr. Amato gave an update on the Coffee Bar budget and the First Interim reports.

He went over the coffee bar budget, detailing expenses, contingency costs, and future costs. The net cost for Da Vinci is $346,027, which will be taken from Undesignated Reserves.

Brief discussion ensued on capital assets. NAZ, project inspector, lab of record costs are soft costs. Mr. Amato explained that much of the cost creep comes from the delay of the health department and DSA going back and forth. The project was started in January, 2024, so it's taken two years to get to the final construction phase. Discussion on the substantial cost of project management ensued. Mr. Meath commented on the $79K cost for .2 FTD is $300/hour for project management. Mr. Amato clarified that their cost is about the average for this type of work, which is $225/hour. Mr. Amato and the team are discussing it with the project management firm.

Discussion on the grant funding misunderstanding ensued. Mr. Amato explained that in the previous school year, Da Vinci received a grant to be applied toward the cafe and the kitchen projects. It also included a portion for future costs of the projects. Mr. Amato sent an email with details to the Wiseburn team and a $406K check to be used in part for the cafe and kitchen projects with a certain portion to be held for future costs. The District mistakenly applied the payment to 100% of the kitchen project, with a small amount leftover to the cafe. Dr. Wunder, Mr. Amato, and Dr. Silvers have spoken and straightened out the issue.

Mr. Amato noted that $225/hour is a reasonable rate in the industry; it is a question of the total number of hours NAZ has accumulated and their projected remaining time to completion.

Mr. Amato then turned to the FY 2025-26 revised first interim budget, sharing that the 201 school enrollment is tracking as predicted. The enrollment challenge is at Connect. (TK-8 and HS). Overall, enrollment at both sites was lower as of the end of November. 30 additional enrollments picked up in second semester will be helpful. Mr. Amato noted that large 8th grade and 12th grades classes graduated in June 2025, and not replaced at those levels in Fall 2025. He will budget with that in mind next year.

Dr. Wunder shared that multiple actions are in the works. Efforts are being made to create signature programs and practices in support of school culture at Connect High to appeal to more students. Additionally, a program with ASU Levitt Lab could draw in additional Connect High students with its offerings and 4-day model (Connect is currently two days).

Ms. Heimov noted the news report that L.A. County has seen a decrease of 16% in births in the past five years. The team should keep in mind that in ten years, there will be 20,000 fewer 8th graders in L.A. County. Dr. Wunder said that Da Vinci enjoys huge waitlists and if the school teams continue to do the great work they're doing, Da Vinci should still be in a good position.

Ms. Levenson added that the 9th and 10th grade classes at Connect High are smaller than she would have liked. All of the people on the waitlists have received offers to Da Vinci Connect High, and everyone who was interested was enrolled. A four day option would probably appeal to many on the waitlist. 

Mr. Amato went on to note that the special education expenses is reflected in the budget. About five IEP students enrolled via the lottery this year, at an average expense of $50-$60K per student. Along with the $550K funding issue, $300K Special Education issue, it totaled about $800K. A one-time grant will balance out the budget, and the team is looking at expense reductions and additional fundraising to support the year. The hope is to not use the entire one-time State grant in this year's budget.

Mr. Amato noted the cost savings from the access control system upgrade, for which he had budgeted $300K, but which came in at $135K.

Mr. Bravo shared the cafe update. If the agenda items are approved by the board the team will meet with the inspector of record and contractor as soon as possible. He noted that a delay in approval of the contractor bid will mean the process must be started over again.

The Connect TK-8 playground and lunch area and baseball field project is looking really good after work done as a result of the heavy rains, and the baseball team will have a chance to start using the field after the winter break.

The Wiseburn Athletic Complex project was impacted by the recent rains, but artificial turf will be laid soon, which will protect the area from future rain. The Wiseburn Da Vinci softball team is looking forward to using the field there.

Mr. Bravo participated at the Facilitron University conference panel on Da Vinci's use of the Facilitron for facilities reservations and rentals, and subsequently will be presenting at the CAASH conference about the same topic. Mr. Bravo will bring to the Board an updated facilities policy which will align with the Civic Center policy and work in conjunction with current Da Vinci facilities usage.

Mr. Bravo introduced Mr. Jessi Cantellan, the newest member of the IT team. He began with Da Vinci as an academic coach.

Mr. Santiago inquired about the new space at Connect High. According to Mr. Bravo, the work is completed. Mr. John Fernandez toured the site and offered suggestions to improve usage and quality of use. Dr. Wunder noted Continental Development Corporation's contributions of furniture.

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Mr. Meath pulled this item from the approval agenda for further work. The Da Vinci team will present it for approval in a future meeting.

Entered at 8:09 pm.

Closed session convened at 8:36 p.m.

Mr. Santiago stated that no action was taken in Closed session.