Da Vinci Schools
Minutes
Da Vinci Schools SPECIAL Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday December 5, 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:
- Teleconferencing will be held at the below address(es). Members of the public attending a meeting conducted via teleconference need not give their name when entering the teleconference location. LOCATION: 10960 Wilshire Blvd., 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
- 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.
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Trustees Present
B. Meath (remote), D. Brann, I. Mora, J. Morgan, K. Brown, K. Latuner
Trustees Absent
R. Bañuelos
Guests Present
A. Wohlwerth, Aileen Harbeck, C. Levenson, J. Hawn, K. Toon, M. Mayotte, M. Rainey, M. Wunder
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
D. Brann called a meeting of the board of trustees of Da Vinci Schools to order on Thursday Dec 5, 2019 at 8:03 AM.
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Approval of Agenda
J. Morgan made a motion to approve.
K. Latuner seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Public Comments
None
II. Information
A.
From the Board
None
B.
From the CEO
None
III. Action Items
A.
Approve the Da Vinci Connect Charter Petition Material Revision
Dr. Wunder spoke briefly on the reasons for revising the Da Vinci Connect charter, expanding it to a K-12 and incorporating Da Vinci Extension in order to streamline data reporting to the State, create college opportunities for students, and sustain Extension.
Dr. Brann asked why this revision should be approved.
Ms. Rainey as a parent and educator, believes that people want more options, more flexibility, autonomy, and this is especially true of high school and college options. She hears from more families that they want different options. She also feels that this revision will best serve these people, and that just getting students into college is not closing the gap - they need to finish. She wants to show students that they can do college work and the earlier in their educations this is done, the greater the students' success.
She went on to say that the timing is important and has a ripple effect in staffing, in student enrollment, and data reporting.
Dr. Hawn also spoke of the timing. If the current pilot students are not approved by mid-January, they have to be reported under another school, and some of those students are from outside school districts. Other school districts are conducting information meetings for the fall, and Da Vinci Connect could be out there participating and attracting more students if the revision is approved.
Dr. Hawn also spoke of the staffing analysis that is now underway for the 2020-21 year.
She added that WASC accreditation has to happen in the first year (2019-20), in order to create UC-approved courses the next year in 2020-21. Asking for a WASC accreditation visit in January is late.
Dr. Brann asked for a memo to be sent to the Boards explaining the staff's position on the urgency of the revision approval.
Mr. Mora asked why the approval must happen now instead of being put off for a year. Dr. Hawn responded that the WASC visit and subsequent UC-approved coursework cannot wait to be scheduled until June. Dr. Wunder believes that there is a moratorium on new or modified charters after June 30, 2020. He will verify this.
Ms. Rainey added that the students and families in the pilot program may run out of patience and look elsewhere, and other families would be reluctant to enroll, if the revision is not approved at this time and there is no concrete program.
Dr. Wunder apologized for not giving the Board clarity around the financial aspect of the charter revision and the organization as a whole. This is a proactive step toward fiscal sustainability. He spoke of the potential philanthropic organizations who are attracted to this model and the over $1MM in funding in the offing. He added that the revision would not affect Wiseburn's facilities if approved now, as there is a potential space nearby that is available at this time.
Discussion around potential students ensued
Mr. Mora detailed the Wiseburn Board's concerns:
Mr. Mora asked if a business plan has been created, and why the staff can't take it to philanthropists.
Dr. Brann responded that Mr. Chet Pipkin is willing to support the program financially.
Dr. Wunder agreed, and mentioned other grant applications in the works.
Mr. Mora agreed that there are other projects in Wiseburn that also need funding.
Mr. Brown expressed his frustration, saying that in his eyes, the Da Vinci Board cannot miss this opportunity. Does Da Vinci think there are enough assets in place to move forward with the charter, and can Wiseburn be convinced of this? He feels perhaps the Joint Board meeting needs to be focused on this issue. Mr. Brown's concerned that Wiseburn's questions will kill the project. He feels that there are two different issues: the approval of the foundation/revision, and how to execute.
Further discussion ensued.
Mr. Mora requested a one-page budget. Dr. Wunder responded that the gap in Year One will be $250K (needed in donations).
Mr. Mora explained that the program is not under scrutiny, but the financials. Dr. Wunder spoke of the pilot being the program's vetting. Mr. Mora responded that the pilot needs to be given time to run.
Ms. Morgan reminded the Board that the program is a third of what is actually being done by the material revision - the other benefits of the charter, such as data reporting and it's subsequent resolution of staffing issues, and DVX financial sustainability are as important.
Dr. Brann asked why this revision should be approved.
Ms. Rainey as a parent and educator, believes that people want more options, more flexibility, autonomy, and this is especially true of high school and college options. She hears from more families that they want different options. She also feels that this revision will best serve these people, and that just getting students into college is not closing the gap - they need to finish. She wants to show students that they can do college work and the earlier in their educations this is done, the greater the students' success.
She went on to say that the timing is important and has a ripple effect in staffing, in student enrollment, and data reporting.
Dr. Hawn also spoke of the timing. If the current pilot students are not approved by mid-January, they have to be reported under another school, and some of those students are from outside school districts. Other school districts are conducting information meetings for the fall, and Da Vinci Connect could be out there participating and attracting more students if the revision is approved.
Dr. Hawn also spoke of the staffing analysis that is now underway for the 2020-21 year.
She added that WASC accreditation has to happen in the first year (2019-20), in order to create UC-approved courses the next year in 2020-21. Asking for a WASC accreditation visit in January is late.
Dr. Brann asked for a memo to be sent to the Boards explaining the staff's position on the urgency of the revision approval.
Mr. Mora asked why the approval must happen now instead of being put off for a year. Dr. Hawn responded that the WASC visit and subsequent UC-approved coursework cannot wait to be scheduled until June. Dr. Wunder believes that there is a moratorium on new or modified charters after June 30, 2020. He will verify this.
Ms. Rainey added that the students and families in the pilot program may run out of patience and look elsewhere, and other families would be reluctant to enroll, if the revision is not approved at this time and there is no concrete program.
Dr. Wunder apologized for not giving the Board clarity around the financial aspect of the charter revision and the organization as a whole. This is a proactive step toward fiscal sustainability. He spoke of the potential philanthropic organizations who are attracted to this model and the over $1MM in funding in the offing. He added that the revision would not affect Wiseburn's facilities if approved now, as there is a potential space nearby that is available at this time.
Discussion around potential students ensued
Mr. Mora detailed the Wiseburn Board's concerns:
- The program is not fully vetted - they would like to see the results of the pilot program.
- A more accurate financial picture is needed - is the Board prepared to pay the difference, because in Mr. Mora's experience, the first year will turn out at a deficit.
- Wiseburn is in favor of the model - that's not an issue.
- Timing is the issue - what is the downside to approving in May or June for the 2020-21 year?
- Keeping in mind the bond that is coming up, Wiseburn does not want to complicate that process.
- Costs of the ADA for the Special Education age 18-22 program? The concern is who will pay for those students. Once DV has a high school student, DV is responsible for their education until age 22 - will this increase the number of Special Education students in the program?
Mr. Mora asked if a business plan has been created, and why the staff can't take it to philanthropists.
Dr. Brann responded that Mr. Chet Pipkin is willing to support the program financially.
Dr. Wunder agreed, and mentioned other grant applications in the works.
Mr. Mora agreed that there are other projects in Wiseburn that also need funding.
Mr. Brown expressed his frustration, saying that in his eyes, the Da Vinci Board cannot miss this opportunity. Does Da Vinci think there are enough assets in place to move forward with the charter, and can Wiseburn be convinced of this? He feels perhaps the Joint Board meeting needs to be focused on this issue. Mr. Brown's concerned that Wiseburn's questions will kill the project. He feels that there are two different issues: the approval of the foundation/revision, and how to execute.
Further discussion ensued.
Mr. Mora requested a one-page budget. Dr. Wunder responded that the gap in Year One will be $250K (needed in donations).
Mr. Mora explained that the program is not under scrutiny, but the financials. Dr. Wunder spoke of the pilot being the program's vetting. Mr. Mora responded that the pilot needs to be given time to run.
Ms. Morgan reminded the Board that the program is a third of what is actually being done by the material revision - the other benefits of the charter, such as data reporting and it's subsequent resolution of staffing issues, and DVX financial sustainability are as important.
K. Brown made a motion to approve the charter revision.
K. Latuner seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| K. Brown |
Aye
|
| J. Morgan |
Aye
|
| I. Mora |
No
|
| R. Bañuelos |
Absent
|
| K. Latuner |
Aye
|
| D. Brann |
Aye
|
| B. Meath |
Aye
|
IV. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
J. Morgan made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
I. Mora seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:49 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
A. Wohlwerth