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Dr. Johnstone shared his appreciation for the meeting and its participants.

Dr. Jennings shared that she appreciated seeing Dr. McCullough and Ms. Funes.  She also shared that the Teach for America Los Angeles 30th Anniversary event happened virtually, and also the exciting news that RISE High was selected to participate in the Youth Rising Conference with host Tan France.

Dr. Wunder shared that there is a legislative fix for non-classroom based school funding potentially being considered, which would be wonderful for RISE High.

Dr. Ring shared that a Student Board Member proposal was presented by Da Vinci Science student Carisma de Anda to the Da Vinci Schools Board.  Ms. Morgan and Dr. Ring felt that the DVLAC Board should also be given the opportunity to have student board members.  Ms. Naomi Lara, RISE High teacher, will work with Carisma.  After the RISE High team speaks with Carisma, Dr. Ring would like to bring the proposal to the board.

Ms. Morgan added that the presentation was very well received, although it has not been voted on by the Da Vinci Schools Board yet.  It is a wonderful opportunity for students to give input. A specific DVLAC student board member proposal will be presented in November.

Dr. Ring also commented on the updated reopening plan, saying that the plans have been changing with changes in public health guidelines. She shared that some students need one-on-one assistance such that a RISE "cohort" of students may end up being one or two students and a teacher, as long as that falls within the Department of Public Health guidelines.  Dr. Ring noted that staff is prepared, and recommends the October 26, 2020 start date for special education and English Language Learner assessments.

Mr. Whalen introduced new Assistant Principal Ms. Edith Funes and English Language Coordinator Noemi Villasenor.

Data & Demographics update: 
Mr. Whalen shared that RISE High enrollment grew slightly in September.  49% of all RISE students are current and former foster, probation, or homeless students.  Brief discussion on RISE High's focus on serving students in those categories and the overlap of students in various categories. 
23% IEPs, 13% EL.  RISE is being strategic with delivering services.  

The Board requested a more granular breakdown of the data in the following month's update.

Dr. Wunder pointed out the fact that in part, the student demographics are delineated in order to fulfill charter requirements for authorizer LACOE.

Mr. Whalen pointed out that mentorship, reaching out to students, ADA is at 47.48%.  Faculty and staff are working hard to serve students.  Hawthorne site was approved for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

Ms. Edith Funes, new RISE High Assistant Principal at A Place Called Home.  She has been a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal and principal in Inglewood, Watts, and South Central L.A.  She appreciates the opportunity to work with RISE students and looks forward to expanding equity and access to learning, project-based learning experiences and strengthening the partnership with APCH.  Dr. Jennings and Dr. McCullough expressed their appreciation for Ms. Funes.

Mr. Whalen spoke of quarterly NWEA Map testing for RISE students.  The team is digging into the assessment data.  Students largely took the tests in their home environments, which is challenging when compared to an in-class setting.

68 students enrolled in the week-long Fall Intersession, earning a total of 65 credits in math, science, English, and World of Work courses.  10 RISE credits equal one course. This was the first online intersession, so numbers of participants was encouraging.

Ms. Noemi Villaseñor, the EL Coordinator, presented the work being done with English Language Learners. The goal is strong literacy skills, with performance indicators of teacher, students, and stakeholder input.  The ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessment), was cancelled due to the pandemic, so instead, a summative online assessment was used.  13 students have taken this summative assessment online.  The goal is to have students reclassified as proficient (at levels 3 and 4).  Proficiency levels are: Emerging (beginner/lower intermediate), Expanding (intermediate/upper intermediate, and Bridging (advanced/native speaker). Weekly, monthly, and quarterly support and direct instruction are offered in accordance with the levels.

Mr. Whalen spoke of tracking English Language Development progress, looking at previous ELPAC scores, GPA, ELD focus standards, student profile goals, etc.

Ms. Villaseñor shared the ELD Focus Area Calendar, which is revised based on data results, not the calendar year.  EL Support can also be provided in one-hour weekly workshops by teachers who speak the student's native language to help students become more active, confident, bilingual speakers.

Mr. Taylor shared that Ms. Villaseñor's teaching strategies are the same as best practices used in industry, and commended Ms. Villaseñor for her work.

Mr. Amato shared the DVLAC September balance sheet, saying RISE High's cash position remains healthy.  Ms. Ayala commented that 60 days' cash on hand is ideal for non-profit organizations, with a 30 day minimum.

Mr. Amato shared the Profit & Loss sheet, saying that updated projections for the year will be shared soon, as the deadline to send the First Interim report to LACOE is December 9, 2020.

In September 2018, RISE High became an independent non-profit organization known as Da Vinci Schools: L.A. County.  The Federal tax form 990, and the State form are required annually for such organizations. The 2019 non-profit tax return was prepared pro bono by Wayland & Vukadinovich, saving about $800.  Mr. Amato recently discovered that the first tax return (for the year ending June 30, 2019) was not filed on time.  The 2019-20 year's tax return will be audited in November, and will be filed on time in December.

Wayland & Vukadinovich will be preparing the return every year in the future, and Mr. Amato is aware and keeping track. There is a high probability that any late penalty to be forgiven; the board will be kept informed.

Mr. Bravo spoke of the Department of Public Health visits that will occur at each of the RISE High sites in the next two weeks.  The Da Vinci visit was held earlier in the day, and went very well, which bodes well for the RISE High visits.  School Nurse Dr. Emily Green and Mr. Glenn Noya, Lead Security Officer, helped to answer the DPH team's questions.

A Da Vinci Schools Indoor Air Quality Initiative has been created as an extension of the COVID protocols to improve air quality long term across all sites.  Compliance items due to LACOE are being executed for the New Earth site.

The search for a new athletic director is underway; Da Vinci RISE High students, like all Da Vinci students, are eligible to try out for sports, although currently conditioning and possibly try outs will be held remotely.

Item tabled due to lack of enough members who were present at the September 3, 2020 meeting to approve the minutes.

Entered at 7:42 p.m.

The Board reconvened at 7:59 p.m.
Dr. Jennings shared that the board was approving the September 17, 2020 Final Settlement Agreement and Release between Parent and Da Vinci Schools: L.A. County in Student v. Da Vinci Schools: L.A. County, Special Education Due Process, OAH Case No. 2020080117, pursuant to which Da Vinci Schools: L.A. County agrees to fund and provide educational services to the student and the student’s parent agrees to release claims against Da Vinci Schools: L.A. County, in exchange for educational services as specified in the Agreement.