Da Vinci Schools
Minutes
Wiseburn + Da Vinci Joint Board Meeting
Date and Time
Saturday September 14, 2019 at 8:00 AM
Location
Board Room, 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 Directors ("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:
- Agendas are available to all audience members at the door to the meeting.
- "Request to Speak" forms are available to all audience members who wish to 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 and total time allotted to non-agenda items will not exceed fifteen (15) minutes. Non-English speakers who use a translator shall have six (6) minutes in which to address the Board.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Trustees Present
B. Meath, D. Brann, I. Mora (remote), J. Morgan, K. Brown, R. Bañuelos
Trustees Absent
None
Trustees who left before the meeting adjourned
J. Morgan
Guests Present
A. Wohlwerth, J. Hawn, Joanne Kaneda, M. Ring, M. Wunder, Neil Goldman, Nelson Martinez, V. Bravo
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
A. Wohlwerth called a meeting of the board of trustees of Da Vinci Schools to order on Saturday Sep 14, 2019 at 8:04 AM.
Joanne Kaneda called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m.
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Adoption of Agenda
Mr. Nelson Martinez made a motion to adopt the agenda as submitted.
Dr. Neil Goldman seconded the motion.
The agenda was adopted via a unanimous vote, 8-0.
Dr. Neil Goldman seconded the motion.
The agenda was adopted via a unanimous vote, 8-0.
II. Closed Session
A.
Adjourn to Closed Session
None
B.
Reconvene to Regular Session
III. Pledge of Allegiance
A.
Pledge of Allegiance
B.
Public Comments
Comment from Renee Hubler regarding Pool use: a) seminar students' time in the pool is unfairly limited; b) there are no lockers for the students' use; and c) the swimming seminar should be open to more than her estimate of 40 students.
Comment from Helen Martinez regarding the athletic program: a) lack of consistency among coaches/ some having favorites; b) coaches give team tryout results publicly in front of all applicants, rather than in a confidential manner; c) athletics protocols; d) buses not being scheduled/arriving in a timely manner.
Comment from Harley Hoff regarding athletics and her student's classes: a) disappointment that the softball coach is not returning, and wants recognition for his efforts; b) the athletic director; c) no water polo; d) the status of the softball field; e) the size of her son's classes at Communications.
Comment from Helen Martinez regarding the athletic program: a) lack of consistency among coaches/ some having favorites; b) coaches give team tryout results publicly in front of all applicants, rather than in a confidential manner; c) athletics protocols; d) buses not being scheduled/arriving in a timely manner.
Comment from Harley Hoff regarding athletics and her student's classes: a) disappointment that the softball coach is not returning, and wants recognition for his efforts; b) the athletic director; c) no water polo; d) the status of the softball field; e) the size of her son's classes at Communications.
IV. Discussion
A.
Da Vinci Connect - Pilot Program/9-12 Program
Michelle Rainey, Jennifer Hawn, Matt Wunder presented on the Da Vinci Connect Pilot/9-12 Program.
The Connect pilot program aims to blend high school and college, in order to allow more students to access and complete college, avoiding college loan debt.
The Connect pilot program aims to blend high school and college, in order to allow more students to access and complete college, avoiding college loan debt.
B.
Security
Mr. Vicente Bravo presented a security update.
Security is necessary to support site administrators with disciplinary incidents, etc.
Supervision is provided by all staff: teachers, administrators, grounds supervisors, coaches, cafeteria workers, etc.
Recommendation:
Contract with outside agency for about 2 months while an internal personnel program is set up and installed.
Further brief clarifying questions and discussion ensued.
Security is necessary to support site administrators with disciplinary incidents, etc.
Supervision is provided by all staff: teachers, administrators, grounds supervisors, coaches, cafeteria workers, etc.
Recommendation:
Contract with outside agency for about 2 months while an internal personnel program is set up and installed.
Further brief clarifying questions and discussion ensued.
C.
Athletics Update
Rogelio Diaz presented an athletics update.
Mr. Diaz thanked the audience members for their feedback.
Mulholland League membership may be limited due to Da Vinci's growth.
A new digital Coaches' Handbook has been created.
Discussion on pool joint use agreement, communication ensued..
Mr. Diaz thanked the audience members for their feedback.
Mulholland League membership may be limited due to Da Vinci's growth.
A new digital Coaches' Handbook has been created.
Discussion on pool joint use agreement, communication ensued..
D.
Deferred Maintenance
Dr. Matt Wunder gave a presentation on Deferred Maintenance.
Da Vinci Schools will pay 1% into an account reserved for big ticket expenses, with a $2MM cap.
Costs have escalated, there are more projects to complete, and Da Vinci Schools has already invested several hundreds of thousands of dollars in unplanned facility expenses. Da Vinci would like relief from maintenance payments, and Dr. Wunder wants to work with Dr. Silvers and both Boards to determine what is fair and reasonable.
Ms. Kaneda asked for a proposal to be brought to the Wiseburn Board.
Da Vinci Schools will pay 1% into an account reserved for big ticket expenses, with a $2MM cap.
Costs have escalated, there are more projects to complete, and Da Vinci Schools has already invested several hundreds of thousands of dollars in unplanned facility expenses. Da Vinci would like relief from maintenance payments, and Dr. Wunder wants to work with Dr. Silvers and both Boards to determine what is fair and reasonable.
Ms. Kaneda asked for a proposal to be brought to the Wiseburn Board.
E.
Facilities Master Plan
Dr. Blake Silvers gave a presentation on the Facilities Master Plan for Wiseburn Unified School District.
Two types of goals:
Type 1 = modernization, maintenance, safety
Type 2 = visionary, future-ready schools for future-ready students, using facilities in new ways
A Long Range Facilities Master Plan Committee (LRFMPC) including various district and community stakeholders will meet through the 2019-20 school year to create final recommendations.
Two types of goals:
Type 1 = modernization, maintenance, safety
Type 2 = visionary, future-ready schools for future-ready students, using facilities in new ways
A Long Range Facilities Master Plan Committee (LRFMPC) including various district and community stakeholders will meet through the 2019-20 school year to create final recommendations.
F.
Authorizer Responsibilities/General Oversight
Dr. Blake Silvers gave a presentation on Authorizer Responsibilities and Oversight.
G.
Naming Rights
Dr. Donald Brann spoke about wanting to be on the same page with Wiseburn with regard to naming rights.
Naming is a topic of great interest to the schools, the District, and the community.
Naming is a topic of great interest to the schools, the District, and the community.
H.
Wiseburn Unified School District History Project
Dr. Donald Brann spoke of the Wiseburn history written by Dr. Jack Good(e), which covered the period from 1896 to 1960.
Dr. Brann contacted a writer to complete the history of Wiseburn from 1960 to 2020, and he now would like to assess the Wiseburn Board's interest in the project.
Mr. Bañuelos requested a formal proposal for the project, including a scope of work.
Dr. Brann asked for a "not to exceed" amount.
Dr. Brann contacted a writer to complete the history of Wiseburn from 1960 to 2020, and he now would like to assess the Wiseburn Board's interest in the project.
Mr. Bañuelos requested a formal proposal for the project, including a scope of work.
Dr. Brann asked for a "not to exceed" amount.
J. Morgan left.
Dr.Neil Goldman wants to see a mapping of K-8 and 9-12 grade levels, and an alignment of strategy.
Mr. Bañuelos would like to bring current items on the agenda to future joint meetings, to bring closure to various topics.
Mr. Brown found the joint meeting very informational, and would like to ensure the boards have an understanding of each other's visions. He thanked staff for the preparation of the meetings.
Dr. Brann echoed Mr. Bañuelos' comments, and gave his appreciation for the meeting.
Ms. Kaneda appreciated the face-to-face interaction afforded by the joint meeting, and the community members who attended to bring up topics. She looks forward to the follow-through on various topics at the respective Board meetings.
Mr. Bañuelos would like to bring current items on the agenda to future joint meetings, to bring closure to various topics.
Mr. Brown found the joint meeting very informational, and would like to ensure the boards have an understanding of each other's visions. He thanked staff for the preparation of the meetings.
Dr. Brann echoed Mr. Bañuelos' comments, and gave his appreciation for the meeting.
Ms. Kaneda appreciated the face-to-face interaction afforded by the joint meeting, and the community members who attended to bring up topics. She looks forward to the follow-through on various topics at the respective Board meetings.
V. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Mr. Roger Bañuelos made a motion to adjourn.
Mr. Nelson Martinez seconded the motion.
Adjournment was approved via a unanimous vote, 8-0.
Mr. Nelson Martinez seconded the motion.
Adjournment was approved via a unanimous vote, 8-0.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 10:25 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
A. Wohlwerth