Dr. Melissa Moore, El Segundo Unified School District Superintendent, spoke about a potential partnership between ESUSD and Da Vinci Schools, commenting that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a need for high quality childcare and created a need for distance learning support.  However, ESUSD does not have the space for such programs in a hybrid model with social distancing requirements .  Dr. Moore has proposed a partnership with Da Vinci Schools for a creative solution. She thanked the Board for their time.

Dr. Brann spoke about the July 2, 2020 communication to the Wiseburn Unified School District residents regarding the opportunity to apply for the open Board seats. The positions are open until filled.

Dr. Brann and Dr. Hawn are working on a rubric for processing the applications. He and Ms. Morgan will work with two Wiseburn board members, Mr. Israel Mora and Mr. Roger Bañuelos, and he believes that by mid-August, they will be closer to presenting candidates to the board.

Dr. Brann explained that SB 126 took effect January 1, 2020.  The law prevented a person from serving in two public offices.  He spoke of his own choice to remain on the Da Vinci Schools board, and the vacancies left by Israel Mora, Roger Bañuelos, who are Wiseburn board members, and Ken Brown, who serves on the El Camino College board.  Mr. Derrick Boston filled the seat left by Mr. Brown.  Dr. Brann added that it had been agreed with the Wiseburn board that four of the seven Da Vinci seats will be filled by Wiseburn residents by the end of 2023.

Dr. Wunder spoke about the childcare and distance learning center partnership proposal from Dr. Moore and El Segundo Unified School District.  There remains much to be worked out, and the proposed program would target 4th through 8th grade students, and be held on the 201 N. Douglas Street campus.  Dr. Moore and ESUSD would provide all staffing, tenting to expand the use of outdoor spaces, and cleaning and disinfecting supplies. The Da Vinci operations team is studying potential locations, and Mr. Michael Amato, Director of Finance, is meeting with the ESUSD business office. 

Dr. Wunder has been communicating with Dr. Blake Silvers regarding partnering with Wiseburn for K-3rd grade childcare.  He spoke of survey results that 27 Da Vinci employees need K-3rd grade childcare and 10 need 4-8th grade childcare. 

He also commented on the proposed distance learning center to provide support for 4th through 8th graders that the team is exploring. He promised to get feedback from all Da Vincians.

Dr. Brann asked why the focus was on grades 4 through 8.  Dr. Moore explained that ESUSD has space for grades K through 3, but not 4th through 8th grade.

Dr. Brann asked why the employees cannot go back to the childcare arrangements they previously had before the pandemic.
Dr. Wunder offered to bring back the answer as the team explores the partnership.  He commented on the desire to provide staff with high quality, lower cost childcare.

Dr. Brann expressed his interest in supporting Da Vinci staff with childcare.

Ms. Morgan asked if this program was meant to be offered to Da Vinci and Wiseburn families in the community.
Ms. Latuner commented on Dr. Wunder's reference to 37 Da Vinci staff members needing childcare and inquired about the program's maximum capacity.  Dr. Wunder said that indoor and outdoor spaces were still being studied, as well as the COVID-19 physical distancing requirements.

Dr. Brann asked about the cost of the program for employees. Dr. Wunder spoke of the high cost of childcare and the desire for childcare close to work, but added that the financial aspect of the program were still being worked on.

A brief discussion of existing unused infrastructure in other locations ensued.

Dr. Wunder confirmed that the end of August is the target start date.
Mr. Meath commented that Wiseburn's needs should be taken into account before any decisions are made.
 

Dr. Wunder spoke about the stakeholder meetings and town hall meeting that had been held to gather information and feedback in order to facilitate planning.  He spoke about wrestling with the requirements of Senate Bill 98, and balancing state requirements with the COVID-19 case surge and the primary need to keep staff safe. 

Staff has consulted the Da Vinci community and legal counsel in an attempt to create a plan to deliver quality education within SB 98's legal requirements.  The phased-in model would address two things:  

Dr. Wunder spoke of the phased-in high-quality hybrid program that staff are planning with the input of families if schools are allowed to open up this first semester.  Much work has occurred thus far but will be put on pause so staff can have their time off.

Ms. Morgan asked for a Town Hall update.  Dr. Hawn commented that the meeting recording is posted on the Da Vinci website. The Town Hall meeting began with the overview that had also been provided at each categorized stakeholder meeting. Guiding principles for planning, including the most recent health and safety information and the conflict with SB 98 which requires a hybrid model.  The phased-in plan was presented, and families' input was collected. Da Vinci staff and teachers have not had a summer break, but have been working on planning. 95% of families at the meeting supported the plan.

Dr. Brann spoke of his concern that incoming Da Vinci families receive support.  He also appreciated the surveys that Ms. Carla Levenson conducted during the last term of the 2019-20 school year which showed that the Da Vinci families overwhelmingly approved of the Da Vinci remote learning program.  

He also spoke of the surveys asking families about their desire to return to in-person classes moving from 16% to over 40% reluctance to do so.