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Dr. Jennings wished everyone a restful holiday.

Ms. Montes-Rodriguez asked for an update on how the RISE team is doing considering the COVID-19 surge in L.A. County, and thanked the RISE team for the work they're doing.

Dr. Wunder thanked Dr. Ring, Mr. Whalen, Dr. Robertson, and Ms. Nwaomah for their leadership and exceptional work in challenging times.  

Dr. Wunder also acknowledged Mr. Amato's work, saying that he has been doing the work of a Chief Financial Officer for months.  Dr. Wunder also thanked Ms. Sabrina Ayala for recruiting Mr. Amato and getting him up to speed in the position.  

Dr. Ring spoke of the amazing RISE staff and working with the students who are facing more challenges in the pandemic.

She shared that 16 special education and/or English Language Learner students across the RISE sites have been served with one-on-one assessments.  The team will continue to review the needs of their student population, and perhaps in January (if allowed under LADPH guidelines) will bring back to the Board a recommendation around serving small cohorts.

Dr. Ring also shared an update for staffing at RISE.  The RISE administration is seeking a combination Administrative Assistant/Board Coordinator.  The cost of the position has been included in the budget for the next quarter.  In addition, a job description for a Coordinator of Special Education/School Psychologist position is in development and recruiting will begin in 2021 in hopes of filling the position with a June start date.  The position will be included in the projected budget for 2021-21.  The consultant who had been the part-time Special Education Coordinator has left to head Wiseburn's Special Education program.  A presentation on the RISE High Special Education department will be given to the Board in January.

Mr. Whalen shared that there are a total of 227 students across RISE sites. 
Mr. Whalen shared a breakdown of the number of foster youth, probationary youth, housing unstable (which changes weekly), and parenting youth across the RISE sites.

Mr. Taylor asked for clarification on the definition of "housing unstable." Mr. Whalen responded that students who are moving from relative to relative (couch hopping), or living under a single roof with multiple families, often during their transition out of foster care, are considered "housing unstable."

Mr. Whalen commented that RISE High's New Earth and APCH partners have begun talking to each other to share resources, which benefits the Hawthorne site as well.

Attendance in October is 49.71%.
76 Free and Reduced Lunch applications have been submitted between APCH and New Earth campuses. 
Attendance and Student Engagement strategies have been launched. APCH Assistant Principal Ms. Funes and Attendance & Enrollment Coordinator Mr. Navarro have worked together to create solutions.  If student attendance increases 1% in the first week, the students will be rewarded with an online game with staff.  The staff have been using multiple communication tools to inform the families and students about the importance of logging in.

Mr. Whalen shared the RISE High School Committees, which are staff teams for Senior Support, Attendance & Engagement, Professional Development, Staff Culture & Support, and Student Culture & Support. 

There are several students projected to graduate in December:  two at APCH, four at Hawthorne, and one at New Earth.

The first School Site Council meeting was held on November 13, including co-location partners, students, parents/stakeholders, and staff/faculty.

New Earth update:
100% of students receive case management services.  All students are provided with New Earth programming, and work world.  20 RISE student families receive groceries at New Earth's weekly market.  Students have also signed up for New Earth's new mentor program.

APCH update:
APCH's Education Services program supports RISE students needing a flexible schedule.
There is a LIFE Mentoring Program to support students.
34 students are receiving support through APCH programs and services.
Family Resource Depot is supporting 19 students with weekly food delivery, and more than 10 students will be participating in the Family to Family program receiving gifts during the winter holidays.

Onsite Assessment update:
18 students have been served in onsite assessments.  Safety protocols have been deployed in collaboration with co-location partners. Department of Public Health has visited the sites.  Mr. Whalen thanked Dr. Ring, Dr. Emily Green, and Mr. Bravo for their work on safety protocols and assessments.

Student-led Conferences will be held February 1 through 8, 2021.  The students present their learning:  their strengths, their challenges, how they are a tactful collaborator and effective communicator, and showing evidence of their learning and growth.  Dr. Robertson added that students are already preparing for the SLCs by working on their Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) with their advisors.

The RISE teachers and New Earth and APCH partners are collaborating to align standards, competencies and performance tasks with RISE High's credit maps in order to allow partner programming to give students credits, which is especially important for seniors.

A Q3 interdisciplinary project-based learning project is being developed on the topic of misinformation, bias, and social media responsibility.

Two RISE English language learners are set for reclassification.
The first English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) is being created.  Three parents have volunteered thus far.  The addition of more Spanish-speaking staff has benefited English language learners.

Mr. Amato gave the financial update, covering the adopted versus revised budgets.

Due to the State's hold harmless rule, RISE High will realize less state LCFF revenue than anticipated on the adopted budget.  LCFF revenue will be $1.5MM
Just over $3MM will be taken from the XQ grant funds to help make up the variance, leaving just over $4.2MM remaining in the grant.

Expenses are higher than the original projected budget, due to staff compensation increases and additional staff positions. Additional technology purchases are covered by Federal funds.  Adjustments have also been made due to current, additional knowledge. LCFF revenue decreases are offset by a reduced CMO fee.

Mr. Amato shared that the goal is to put 3% into reserves. If a $140K surplus can be achieved, just under $760K will end up in reserves. Coupled with the XQ funding, just under $5MM will be available for the future. The Weingart funds are not included in this, as they are meant to be used for expanding or improving RISE High facilities, not general operations. 

The revised budget will be submitted to LACOE on December 9, 2020.  Dr. Ring shared that a $20K grant may come through in the New Year.  Dr. Ring will have an update at the next meeting.

Dr. Wunder commented on state revenues being up significantly over projections.  Ms. Ayala spoke of state revenue being driven by property tax revenue and capital gains.  The stock market overall is ending higher than projected.  The COVID-19 case surge will have an impact; it is just not certain what the impact will be.  School finance teams follow California's revenue in an attempt to predict the amount of revenue public schools will receive.
 

Mr. Bravo shared that on-site special education assessments have been going well.  Stricter DPH guidelines will be sent out if COVID cases surge.

Headsets for students have all arrived and are being distributed.
Athletics are all virtual/online with conditioning by coaches.  CIF communications indicate no green light for in-person sports at this time.

Item tabled due to lack of a quorum of those in attendance at the September 3, 2020 meeting.

Item tabled due to lack of a quorum of those in attendance at the October 21, 2020 meeting.

Item tabled due to lack of a quorum of those in attendance at the November 4, 2020 meeting.