Adam Baskin, parent of two students at Da Vinci Connect TK-8, gave a comment on his family's experience, saying that a student behavior issue in the first grade was not addressed effectively by the inexperienced teacher. This year, those same students would benefit from an experienced teacher and a formal handoff of students to new Core 3 teachers from one school year to the next.

Shirley Seki, Connect TK-8 parent and former teacher, gave a comment that the learning curve for new teachers must be taken into account, given Connect's hybrid model, and that third grade is a pivotal year for students.

Yashika, Connect TK-8 parent, commented that she chose Connect in part due to the two-year teacher model, but that her student has experienced a new teacher every year since Kindergarten. 

Emily Simon, Connect TK-8 parent, gave a comment that for the third time, her rising 3rd grade student's teacher this coming year is one who has no experience other than in Kindergarten, that it takes time for the each teacher to determine students' abilities, and that classroom behavior problems require teachers with different classroom management strategies.

Chantavia Moore, Connect TK-8 parent, commented that their cohort has had five different teachers in five years, and the two-year continuity model that was promised has not been delivered. This incoming year will be the third time the cohort has a teacher whose only prior experience is with Kindergarten. She is appreciative that Connect's incoming Principal has contacted her to set up a meeting. She added that a letter requesting a response by July 10 had been sent to school leadership the previous day.

Ms. Gloria White, Director of Data and Accountability, gave the 2026-27 Local Control and Accountability Plans and Local Indicator overviews.

Connect High School is proud of their staff professional development, reduction in suspension rate (halved from what it was two years ago), ELA and Math achievement testing growth, and high graduation, A-G eligibility, and Dual Enrollment completion rates.

Their areas of focus are increasing their student safety rating, school culture, and increasing ELA and Math scores especially among English Language Learners, and Connect High School will continue to improve CTE completion rates. 

Connect TK-8 has a new leadership team, and will further refine full inclusion, restorative justice, and math instruction. There are several teachers changing grade levels and there are new Core 3 and Core 4 teachers, and a new Special Education teacher.

Connect High School welcomes new English, U.S. and World History teachers from RISE, as well as a new Biology teacher and two new counselors. There is an additional ASU 117 Math class, the first freshman overnighter, and training on new math curriculum to look forward to, as well.

Ms. Heimov inquired about the new Connect teachers; one English position at Connect HS is new, the others are replacing previous teachers. 

Communications has seen increased ADA, 76% of Communications juniors are on track for college readiness. Communications saw a 92.9% A-G eligibility rate and 84.4% CTE pathway completion rate. Preliminary CAASP ELA and Math results saw a 20% increase and 12% increase, respectively.

The team will focus on continuing to build on last year's strong growth in Math and Reading proficiency. English learners will have additional supports, and the team looks forward to a full launch of digital citizenship curriculum in Advisories.

There will be a new Geometry teacher, new Resource teacher, and a new counselor at Communications.

Design was proud of their excellent college and career preparedness results (99% graduation rate, ~93% A-G eligibility, and 80% CTE pathway completion rate. They are also proud of student survey results, showing positive student perceptions of inclusivity and cultural awareness and action. The latter of which showed 82% of students feel the school helps them speak out against racism. Preliminary CAASPP English data show proficiency scores rose 16%.

Design is looking to increase attendance, Math and ELA achievement growth, and will be concentrating on WASC action steps of curriculum articulation, EL support systems, and data-informed instruction in preparation for their three-year WASC visit.. The school will welcome two new teachers in Math and Physics, a new curriculum for structured instructional math support, revisiting MAP growth reports, and refining Habits of Mind with Accountability.

Science is proud of their 100% graduation rate for 2026, 19 Seal of Biliteracy recipients (students who excel in English and Spanish), 45 Golden State Seal Merit diplomas, strong parent engagement, high rate of students taking advantage of teacher office hours, their California Distinguished School award, and ELA and Math SBAC score growth.

Science will focus on continuing data-informed MTSS supports, Math and Reading intervention, continuing to decrease socioeconomically disadvantaged and student of color discrepancies in Math achievement. The school will also focus on school culture, restorative practices, and school safety. they expect a decrease in suspension rates.

Changes in Science include an increase in requests for course options, residency exceptions, and dual enrollment. The Mathematical Problem Solving course will now renamed Financial Algebra, Robotics will now be a Computer Science course, and a PBL refresh will include interdisciplinary projects.

The California Dashboard Local Indicators report. Priority 1 is that Da Vinci has appropriately-assigned teachers, access to curriculum-aligned instructional materials, and safe, clean school facilities.

Priority 2 regards the implementation of State academic standards:  all Da Vinci Schools are rated at full implementation at a level of four or five on a scale of one to five for core content and elective content areas.

Priority 3, Parental Involvement and Family Engagement, show full implementation in all categories.

Priority 6 School Climate, is 75% positive for all areas, safety ratings are 88-93% across sites, and teacher encouragement saw 80% positive ratings at all sites. Lower rated areas at 69% and 72% were Learning Strategies and Classroom Experience.

Mr. Boston asked if there are any Da Vinci outliers across the criteria. Ms. White responded that all Da Vinci Schools' results are similar.

Priority 7 is Access to a Broad Course of Study. A-G graduation requirements, dual enrollment, and CTE pathways guarantee a broad course of study at Da Vinci's high schools. A-G rates and CTE completion rates are high at Da Vinci's 201 schools, and Connect High school's A-G rate of 71% is still well above the 46% State rate, and their 88% dual enrollment rate is well above the State's 23%.

Ms. White will send the Board further detailed results.

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Dr. Webber thanked the Connect parents for their time and comments.

Ms. Schaefer also gave her thanks to the Connect parents who spoke, saying she appreciates their comments and the realities of the challenges. She noted that her own student, through sheer happenstance, had three mid-year teacher transitions three years in a row. 

Ms. Heimov agreed with Dr. Webber and Ms. Schaefer, and additionally commented that June is Pride Month, and commended Da Vinci for always being a welcoming space for all students' intersectionality and identities that they bring to school every day.

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Mr. Amato asked if any Board members had questions regarding the liability insurance provider. Hearing none, he went on to give the update on the 2026-27 budget.

Total enrollment is projected to be 2,620, due to growth in The Levitt Lab, LifeLaunch, and Connect High School. He conservatively projected revenue, factoring in the Governor's May Revision and super COLA. Federal revenue (Title I, Title II, Title IV and National School Lunch Program) is unchanged, and makes up 2.5% of total annual revenue. Slightly more funding in State discretionary block grants are being used in 2026-27 than in 2025-26 (~$100K).

There are three different State grants that support CTE at Da Vinci, the Golden State Pathways grant (GSPP), the Career Technical Education Incentive grant (CTEIG), and the Strong Workforce Partnership Grant (SWP); Da Vinci is using more of those grants in 2026-27 to cover more personnel, materials and supplies, student experience, etc. expenses for those pathways.  

Ms. Schaefer commented that she appreciates Mr. Amato's conservative approach with using timebound money. She inquired about the amount of State funding per school. Mr. Amato responded that there is a base LCFF funding rate which is the same for each high school student (less for TK-8 students), and each high school also gets a concentration amount above that, based on number of unduplicated students (free and reduced lunch, special needs, etc.) at their school.

Mr. Amato went on to speak about State Special Education funding, which was increased in the Governor's May Revise.

Expenses include personnel, salaries and benefits. New positions at The Levitt Lab and LifeLaunch are factored in. Mr. Amato budgets for the full load of personnel, although there are changes in staffing through the year which will result in a decrease in expenses for personnel. Benefits expenses include STRS (19.1% of certificated salaries), taxes, and health benefits. Health benefits are based on a calendar year, so the first July through December expense is known. 

Non-personnel expenses include increases in Math curriculum and support ($230K), Services & Operations (including Special Education). This year, Da Vinci is taking over the FUTURES program ($100K increase in expenses). 

Building maintenance expenses continue to grow as the building gets older. 2% of LCFF is required to be budgeted by the agreement with Wiseburn. Deferred maintenance expenses (building systems items) fluctuate more than routine maintenance expenses, and have increased in recent years. Mr. Amato projects out those expenses as well. Da Vinci is required to reserve 1% of revenue for deferred maintenance. Depreciation expenses are expected to grow as Da Vinci has invested in capital projects and capital assets over the past two years.

Designated deferred maintenance costs are expected to be high; Mr. Amato anticipates examining an increased contribution to to deferred maintenance in 2027-28's budget. The agreement with Wiseburn regarding deferred maintenance covers the 201 N. Douglas Street building only.

Mr. Amato shared that he re-allocates FUTURES expenses so that Communications, Design, and Science equitably share the financial burden.

ERC funds are still being held until after the IRS audit period has passed. The true undesignated amount not including ERC, etc. funds is small. Reserves are healthy, and projected to remain so. 

Mr. Bravo shared the Cafe construction is complete, and equipment is being tested by Chartwells. FUTURES students will be working there as will Design's Entrepreneurship pathway students. Mr. Bravo anticipates a soft opening this summer. 

Netting installation has been completed and adjustments made at the baseball field. 

Da Vinci is working with neighboring business to increase parking. The team is working on a new system to monitor the parking lots.

The Air Force Base personnel and families will be holding a Recreational Field Day on Da Vinci's campus, as they have for the past couple of years. The Board is invited to attend.

Meeting adjourned at 8:58 a.m.