Michelle Rainey led the pledge.

Mr. Gary Wayland spoke about the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation, and the Manhattan Beach Athletic Foundation, which directs donations to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District.  The current MBX (Manhattan Beach Extracurricular) Foundation directs donations to the schools, and runs afterschool programs in the Manhattan Beach School District..  The Foundation also supports athletics (fields, the gym, etc.) in Manhattan Beach.  In addition, other organizations use the Foundation as a home for their funds. 

Dr. Wunder read a statement written by Mr. Chet Pipkin, who could not attend the meeting.
Mr. Pipkin's statement expressed his appreciation and admiration for the work being done in the Wiseburn Unified School District.  He wants to positively impact as many students as possible to bring them better and higher quality education.

He wishes to help Wiseburn with the future successful approval of bonds and with the work on the kitchen, sandbox, facilities, and other construction projects.  He is highly confident these objectives can be achieved in a timely fashion.  The quality work at Da Vinci, RISE and Connect is scalable.   He is confident the funding will be found, perhaps via a loan repaid with fees, grants, or Mr. Pipkin may fund part of it.  The Da Vinci brand and the excellent work being done at Da Vinci and Wiseburn have created opportunities to attract other funders. 

Mr. Pipkin believes there is an immediate opportunity in the Connect 9-12 high school expansion and the incorporation of Da Vinci Extension; both Connect and DVX are producing extraordinary results.  The Connect high school model is informed by the models of Da Vinci Communications, Design, Science, and RISE.  In a targeted way, the Connect high school model has been developed over the last 18 months.  The Da Vinci staff have built teams, motivated stakeholders, identified needs, solved problems, engaged funders, and invested countless hours of planning.  Mr. Pipkin is confident that any funding gap will be closed, and believes delayed approval will have many unnecessary and avoidable negative consequences.  Wiseburn is an exceptionally competent district that has always put the best interests of kids first, and Connect high school and RISE are clearly in the best interest of kids and the Wiseburn community.

No Closed Session

Dr. Matt Wunder spoke of the Connect Charter Petition Material Revision, and Da Vinci's desire to be excellent with operations and compliance.  He acknowledged Dr. Silvers' competency in these two areas and wishes to learn more from him.

Dr. Jennifer Hawn and Ms. Michelle Rainey spoke about the timeliness of the Da Vinci Connect charter material revision, saying the beginning of the process occurred in August 2018, at a summit facilitated by a Wiseburn resident and attended by Wiseburn Superintendent Dr. Blake Silvers.  The timing of the process is being impacted by a recently passed law regarding charter schools.

If Connect charter petition revision is not approved in January, it will require approximately 120 hours of extra work for staff, and impact the students in the pilot program by delaying the University of California approval of the A-G coursework those students need to take.
Ms. JoAnne Kaneda, of the Wiseburn Board, spoke of her concerns that the Wiseburn community, which is the Wiseburn Board's first priority, has not been kept informed, and the Board had not approved the pilot program.  Ms. Rainey spoke of the mandate from Wiseburn that DVIA maintained, which was to keep the DVIA program under the radar, and not compete with the Wiseburn elementary and middle schools.  She would like to advertise the Connect program.  

Mr. Mora responded that the mandate was not consciously kept in mind.

Dr. Wunder acknowledged that the administration should have brought the pilot program to the Boards, and that he hadn't thought of the issue of the community involvement.  However, students other than the dozen pilot students are going to be impacted; the 100 or so DVX students, who are predominantly Wiseburn residents, will, as well, and the students' needs are most important.

Ms. Kaneda agreed that the Boards are there to serve the students, but that she is concerned with the need to dovetail communication with the Community and Boards with the need for speed.  Further discussion ensued.  Mr. Meath asked what the Wiseburn Board had done since September to speak of the charter revision to the community.  Mr. Martinez responded that the program had changed since September, and seems to still be under development.  Mr. Mora said that communication has to be improved and Da Vinci must be more forthcoming and communicate with the Wiseburn community. 

Dr. Wunder said that in his mind, communication to Wiseburn has improved, saying that he had recently addressed the Wiseburn Education Foundation.  The dual board members are a communications link.  Dr. Wunder, while hesitant to speak for Mr. Pipkin, feels that he has expressed willingness to help fund a communications specialist to work with Wiseburn, if this was Wiseburn's wish.

Mr. Bañuelos commented that in his view, adding a high school to Connect is logical, and the opportunity for those students to earn a B.A. is important.  He feels that a plan for Special Education should be delineated in the charter revision.  He had specific questions:  how does the 60/40 split work; is every student in the B.A. program; and is the SNHU program is completely online?  Mr. Mora asked if there is a total online program.  Ms. Rainey responded that there is no 100% online program.  Every program is led by staff in face-to-face interaction, and supplemented by online work.  Students have flexible schedules in attending class in-person several days a week.  The families must understand the requirements for weekly, multi-day, in-person attendance and online, at home work.  The Wiseburn board asked how the at-home work is monitored.  Ms. Rainey explained the system that has been in place at Connect for the past nine years:  an online program called Headrush is used for daily documentation where students and parents submit work samples which the teachers approve, evaluate, and then award attendance.  Ms. Kaneda asked how the school administers a program where there is truth in the performance of the students. Dr. Hawn described the competency scaffolding process before the work is submitted.  There is so much interaction between student and teacher, and the assessments are so specific, that it would be difficult for the students to farm out the work, because of the uniqueness of the work and the integration when students are attending school in-person.  Ms. Kaneda asked how the risk is mitigated.  

Mr. Nelson Martinez commented that the Connect program has evolved and should be shared with the community.  He agreed that the 9-12 component is a logical addition.  He agreed with Mr. Meath that it should be joint work.  If unilateral decisions are made by Da Vinci Schools, the Wiseburn Board receives the community backlash.  

Mr. Meath asked what the community's concerns would be.  Mr. Bañuelos responded that the concerns would be 1) there are already three high schools, 2) Mr. Mora mentioned the tax implications for the community.  Dr. Goldman expressed his disappointment that the conversation is adversarial, and his opinion that in the future, buy in would be more easily obtained if everyone was kept informed from the very beginning.
Mr. Martinez added that the community feels that there are too many unfinished projects.
Further discussion on financial risk assessment ensued.  The three-year projections are very conservatively pegged on 150 students.  Ms. Kaneda does not want to count on the philanthropy of others to launch and run the program.  

Conversation ensued regarding the timing on the submission of the charter revision to the boards.  Dr. Goldman spoke of the Wiseburn Board's view that the program in the charter revision changed after the first draft was submitted.  Dr. Wunder responded that the October 16 submission was meant to allow for conversations between the boards on the revision.  

Dr. Wunder asked the Wiseburn Board to define the timing for the public hearing, and public conversation.  Mr. Mora would like Da Vinci to go out to community meetings to market the program and the facilities issues, prior to the public hearings to approve the revision.  
Dr. Goldman commented that the Wiseburn board appreciates the Connect program.  Ms. Kaneda spoke of the need to serve the changing Wiseburn community.  
Mr. Meath asked the Wiseburn board what they are hearing from the public.  Ms. Kaneda responded that she has heard concern from the community about the assessments and metrics, and that those concerns will be their greatest priority, before any revision of the Connect model.  Dr. Wunder commented that the Da Vinci team is moving quickly to address those concerns.  

Mr. Meath asked if a commitment can be made to address the community.  Ms. Kaneda felt a Town Hall meeting should be called.  Mr. Bañuelos clarified that after a Town Hall meeting, Wiseburn can work with their legal team and both boards can work toward approval.

Dr. Wunder presented capital project priorities.
Del Aire campus (move-in early Jan) = $950K (part of RISE's portion paid for by Weingart grant)
Kitchen ($1MM)
Coffee Bar, etc. ($200K)
Student restrooms necessitated by the Kitchen ($200K)
Soccer Field ($1.1MM)
Sandbox ($2.4MM)
Black Box Theater ($450K) - completely funded
Total cost without RISE = $6.7MM
Total cost with RISE = $7.4 - 8.7MM

Funded thus far = $1.9MM
Funding Gap without RISE = $4.8MM
Funding gap with RISE = $5.4 - $6.7MM

Most charitable giving is restricted.  Mr. Pipkin's priority is to create more seats/opportunities for students.  Ms. Kaneda asked for clarity and commitment on funding.  Mr. Mora would like to see the "How" - how do the capital projects get funded?

Dr. Wunder responded that Mr. Pipkin will work with Mr. Gary Wayland to make deposits to the Da Vinci Schools Fund.  Mr. Pipkin would like to motivate other organizations to give.  An agreement between the Fund and Mr. Pipkin would be created that would allow other organizations to support Da Vinci.
Mr. Mora felt the high school campus must be finished for future bond efforts to succeed.
Ms. Kaneda wanted to know the District's fiduciary responsibilities should Da Vinci Schools and Da Vinci Schools Fund be unable to make the commitment to fund the capital projects.
Mr. Meath clarified that there is a commitment for DVS Fund to fund the capital projects.  
Mr. Mora commented that the concern is that the facilities projects not harm any other programs.
Mr. Bañuelos added that if there are no concrete funds in the bank, the projects will not be started.
Mr. Martinez commented that the unfinished soccer field makes the community think the high school is not finished.  The field should be the priority.  
Dr. Goldman thanked Mr. Pipkin and the Boards for their work.
Mr. Martinez asked for clarification on timing of the charter petition approval.  The Town Hall meeting can also be the public hearing, and would need a 10-day notice to the public.  
Dr. Wunder asked the WUSD board for clarity - how will we know there is support?  Mr. Mora responded that the Connect parents need to attend the town hall meeting and publicly support the revision.  A letter should be sent to the Del Aire community from both Da Vinci and District about "we're your new neighbors," etc. 

Discussion on the Magna Carta being sufficient to support the revised charter.  Drs. Wunder and Silvers agree that the Magna Carta and Facilities Use Agreement need to be updated.  Legal opinions need to be obtained.  Further discussion resulted in a request that the Superintendent determine whether or not anything in the Magna Carta prohibits the charter revision.  Dr. Silvers responded that in his opinion, there is nothing in the Magna Carta that prevents the charter petition revision.

The WUSD board would like to see the revision on the February agenda for approval.

Discussion on Del Aire campus and relocating RISE High.  Da Vinci doesn't yet know where the RISE High Hawthorne site will be located in the summer of 2020. Mr. Bañuelos added that the dual immersion program will also need space, and that RISE was originally not supposed to be located in Wiseburn.  Once LACOE became the authorizer, RISE began taking up space in the district. 

Da Vinci has almost finished refurbishing the spaces at the Del Are campus it thought RISE would be occupying; if it is now to be moved into portables at the back of the campus, the District would reimburse Da Vinci Schools.

Mr. Martinez commented that making a left turn into the 201 campus after hours is dangerous, due to the backup of cars going southbound on N. Douglas St.  There have been several accidents.

Mr. Bravo responded that Da Vinci is in discussions with the City of El Segundo and El Segundo PD to address this.  Mr. Mora asked if an official request for a new traffic study had been made, saying that Da Vinci and Wiseburn should make an official request, and that if it has to be paid for, it would be worth the expense.

Dr. Silvers has given a formal facilities license agreement to Da Vinci, to cover 2.5 years.

Dr. Silvers will have a timeline for public hearing/Town Hall meeting prepared by Friday, 12/20/19.  
A joint letter to community regarding the Del Aire site will be prepared.

Mr. Mora moved this section before the Facilities use discussion.

The history of the partnership is important.  Ms. Kaneda would like to start the Town Hall meeting with that history.  Mr. Bañuelos feels it is important to recognize the contributors & community.

Mr. Mora spoke about the start of the Da Vinci program and Wiseburn's support of Da Vinci Schools:  spending over $100K to overhaul the Aviation site, passing a high school bond for the first time ever, unifying the district in 2014, approving the Da Vinci Communications charter, etc.

This item was tabled.