None.

Dr. Johnstone expressed appreciation to Mr. Whalen, Dr. Wunder, and the team for their efforts over the last several months. 

None.

RISE 2021-22 Priorities: Data-driven, campus culture, college, and career.

February Data and Demographics Data Update

RISE serves 206 students, 46% of whom are opportunity youth. ADA from 1/24-2/18 was 61.21% at Richstone, 48.93% at APCH, and 66.70% at New Earth. Schoolwide ADA is 57.77%. 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.
 

RISE Recent Enrollment Outreach
Recent enrollment efforts include referral sources, 'Bring A Friend' campaign, updated flyers/brochures, weekly phone calls to no-shows. As a result of these efforts, RISE has 17 new students and six intakes pending. The current enrollment is 206. 

Student Support Services Update
Mr. Whalen highlighted data pertaining to student support services provided from January and February from all three school sites.

Partnership and RISE Updates
New Earth: There have been 11 new students enrolled, and attendance has increased in L6 from 12/27-1/26 by 11.23%.

APCH: The COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinic continues to be onsite and will remain onsite every other Tuesday through March. APCH matched 26 RISE members with donors this December, providing them with gifts and gift cards from their holiday wish lists. NFL LA Rams player Sebastian Joseph Day is giving individual gifts of up to $100 to APCH members. 25 RISE members are participating and will be receiving gifts of their choice, ranging from grocery store gift cards and cooking utensils to video games and clothes.

Richstone: RISE and Richstone held their first collaboration meeting to discuss needs, wants, and programming opportunities. The gardening enrichment has launched and will continue every Wednesday afternoon with volunteer Kris La. Art play, creativity, and connection programming will begin March 16th and will continue every Monday with Rafael McMaster, founder of Indivisible Arts. Additional cooking enrichment opportunities with Barsha restaurant owner, Lenora Marouani, are currently in progress. ADA increased from 54.9% in learning period 6 to 61.5% in learning period 7, with current enrollment at 76. Students are currently engaged in Winter NWEA Testing Administration. The BEAT Lab (Tiny Home 3.0) has been approved and will be stationed in the parking lot to provide space for programming with music-making, DJing, and recording. Hawthorne Cable Television Network visited campus to do a story on RISE, our colocation within Richstone & to promote enrollment.

Site-Based Facilities Brief
New Earth: New Earth is still seeking an appropriate campus to serve more students and meet the requirements for E-designation.
APCH: APCH staff and students are scheduled to return on March 7th, 2022. Vaccination clinics and education are occurring weekly. Discussions regarding the impact of the vaccination policy are taking place with APCH administration.
Richstone: President and CEO of Richstone Family Center, Roger Van Remmen, has agreed to add a portable to increase capacity to serve additional students.

California Community Schools
Current information does not exclude Da Vinci RISE as a non-classroom-based school from becoming a community school. Eligible applicants include school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools. Planning Grants will provide up to $200,000 over two years for LEAs with no community schools to plan the establishment of one or more new community schools. Implementation Grants will provide up to $2.5 million per school site over five years for LEAs proposing to establish new community schools, continue existing community schools, or expand/replicate existing community schools.

CCSPP funding is highly flexible and can be used to fund a wide range of programs and services related to the implementation of the Four Pillars of Community Schools. Current RISE services fit within all 4 of the community school pillars: Integrated student support, expanded and enriched learning time and opportunities, active family and community engagement, and collaborative leadership and practices.

RISE is planning for a visit with Senator Kamlager in March and Supervisor Mitchell in April. On Friday, February 4th, 2022, Assemblymember Isaac Brian and Naomi Riley, Field Representative from Senator Kamlager's Office, visited Da Vinci RISE High School.

A-G Completion Improvement Grant
Mr. Whalen reviewed the purpose of the grant, which provides additional supports to local educational agencies to help increase the number of California high school pupils, particularly unduplicated pupils, who graduate from high school with A-G eligibility. The A-G/College Entrance Requirements are a sequence of high school courses that students must complete (with a grade of C or better) to be minimally eligible for admission to the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU). RISE will be using the A-G Access Grant to support schools with an A-G Completion rate of less than 67%, focusing on supporting at-promise youth (unduplicated pupil) reach A-G completion.

In the Fall of the 2020-21 school year, approximately 66% of students that attended Da Vinci RISE High Schools had some level of A-G credit deficiencies. The grant funds will be used to allow pupils who receive a grade of "D," "F," or "Fail" in an A-G approved course in the Spring semester of 2020 or 2020-21 school year to retake those A-G courses. The funds will be used towards HopSkipDrive. HopSkipDrive is a student transportation service that many of our special education, foster, homeless, and probation youth use. Consistent access to a safe and conducive learning environment increases our students' likelihood of accomplishing their A-G requirements.

Connection to LCAP
All LCAP goals are strengthened by RISE students' ability to access in-person services and supports. Goal 2 - 65% of students will maintain a 94.3% attendance rate or will have improved their attendance rate from their previous years. Goal 3-4 - Tutoring, 1:1 support, and small group instruction to strengthen RISE students' ability to accomplish their numeracy and literacy goals. Goal 5 - Emphasis on the cohort dropout rate. Access to a safe and well-resourced campus is one of the best ways to ensure our students graduate with us and increase their ability to do so once passing A-G-approved courses.

Mid-Year LCAP Significant Updates
Goal 1: Access to the academic materials, instruction, interventions, and facilities
100% of staff have completed their mid-year self-evals, evaluation meetings being scheduled for the next two weeks. Staff has maintained a 92-95% satisfactory rate (agree/strongly agree) with weekly PD structures and sessions. Students are still earning course credits for the 21-22 school year; however, as of Quarter 2, 200 students earned 1,906 credits. Da Vinci RISE Hawthorne moved into a newer, more modern campus in 2020-21. As of January 2022, our overall facilities rate has moved to 'Exemplary'.

Goal 2: Students and families will benefit from a student-centered, inclusive, and caring school. Spring 2021 CORE parent surveys show that 100% of families believe RISE is 'Good,' 'Very Good,' or 'Excellent' at involving parents in decision-making processes. The pandemic has drastically impacted RISE ADA. The current average ADA is 57.92%, with a goal of 65%, and maintaining 94.3% or higher. RISE is now a non-suspension school and leverages restorative justice in place of suspension. We have zero suspensions this year to date.

Goal 3: Da Vinci RISE will promote the achievement of all students in English Language Art.
Goal 4: Da Vinci RISE will promote the achievement of all students in Mathematics
Goal 5: 21st-century skills and habits of heart and mind are necessary to be prepared for career and college opportunities. RISE is focusing on graduation and dropout rates.

Mrs. Morgan inquired about the process and progress of the 'Bring A Friend' campaign. Mr. Whalen shared that the program just started and more information will be provided at the next meeting.

Dr. McCullough shared her appreciation to the team for their efforts and thanked Mr. Whalen for the updates. 

Dr. Wunder shared his appreciation to Mr. Whalen and the team for securing two pledges of $1.5 million , sharing that many donors have been impressed with the work RISE is doing for students and the community. 

Mrs. Montes-Rodriguez echoed the statements of Dr. McCullough and Dr. Wunder, thanking RISE staff for their efforts. She inquired about returning students and families regarding the COVID mandate at APCH. She asked for more information regarding restorative justice practices to support staying at zero percent of suspensions. Mr. Whalen shared that staff APCH staff are reaching out to students and staff encouraging them back to campus. Updates will be provided at the upcoming meeting. Regarding suspensions, staff participates in non-violent crisis intervention training. In intensive situations, students are moved to a different site.

Mr. Amato reviewed the January balance sheet detailing assets and liabilities. Cash through the end of January is $544,000, and accounts receivable is $225,000, including the standard LCFF payment. Liabilities include the standard due to Da Vinci of $237,585 to be paid in March. The current loss year-to-date is $435,084, which will be discussed in the year-end projections with the second interim.

Mr. Amato reviewed the January P&L results, noting the variances in actual and budgeted from July through January. A temporary over-budget variance of $74,332 in other state revenue is the Educator Effectiveness Grant money which will be used next year and moved into deferred revenue. Bottom line variance shows a positive of $52,604, but after the $74,332 is removed, a negative balance remains, which will be addressed in the year-end projections.

Mr. Amato then presented the second interim report due to LACOE, including the January financial results and current year-end projections. LACOE has requested future year projections for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. The 2021-22 current year ADA projection is 120 with an enrollment average of 200 and an average percentage of 60%. RISE is currently at an enrollment of 206 with a 58% average ADA. Enrollment projected for the 22-23 SY is 240, with an ADA average of 76%. The projected enrollment for the 23-24 SY is 310, with an ADA average of 79%. These percentages are more aligned with pre-pandemic levels. With the APCH vaccine requirement lift allowing students to return to in-person learning, we will see a spike in attendance. As previously mentioned, many efforts are underway to help grow ADA percentage which impacts LCFF revenue. Future projections include all three sites: APCH, New Earth, and Richstone.

Mr. Amato presented key year-to-year changes in other federal and state revenue, including various federal one-time grants, such as ESSER funding and the Educator Effectiveness Block grant. Projections include only current commitments, so there is a significant decrease in federal revenue for the FY23-24 school year as none have been awarded yet. Mr. Amato also reviewed state revenue, including the Expanded Learning Opportunity grant, A-G Grant, and California Community School funding. The SPED revenue increases over the years due to enrollment growth, and the foundation grants and donations we now have committed to us are accounted for across all three years from the $1.5 million pledges received.

Mr. Amato reviewed personnel expenses, including certificated and classified salaries and benefits based on a full staffing model. Salaries include step and COLA increases. He reviewed books and supplies highlighting non-capitalized student equipment. Chromebooks were purchased this year, attributing to the high expense in the 21-22 SY. RISE is still awaiting the status of the ECF grant, which will possibly offset the expense. Mr. Amato then reviewed the operating expense section detailing professional consulting services and other operating expenses, educational and fundraising expenses, and transportation services. He discussed opportunities for reducing costs over time. Lastly, Mr. Amato reviewed total expenses, net income, and unrestricted funds, which show stabilization for the next three years.

Dr. Jennings asked if the fundraising expense for the current year is Ms. Kari Croft's contracted fee. Mr. Amato confirmed that it is.

Mrs. Morgan asked if the reduction in rental rates to our partners is for the upcoming year. Mr. Amato shared that the amount paid this year is reduced from the prior year. Partner fees reflected in the second interim and multi-year projections reflect more reductions. Mrs. Morgan inquired if there are commitments of the reductions, and Mr. Amato clarified that nothing has been signed as of today but verbal discussions are active and these are amounts the partners feels comfortable planning for accordingly.

Mr. Amato shared that the tax return for year-end June 30, 2021, is complete, and staff is on-time in filing. He communicated appreciation for Gary Wayland for producing the tax return pro bono.

Mr. Bravo shared that RISE is currently seeking future locations with a Certificate of Occupancy with E-designation such as schools or educational centers. Due to the decline in enrollment in districts around the county, there is a possibility of school site closures which could be future RISE locations. Mr. Bravo and the team will reach out to LACOE for insight and local school districts to inquire about available facilities due to declining enrollment.

Mr. Bravo shared current discussions with Richstone regarding an addition to the current site that will serve as a second full-size classroom. Staff is currently researching options with two companies DV has worked with, with great potential of financial savings. With respect to the Richstone center, the addition will fit their current building aesthetic. 

Mr. Bravo provided information regarding the LA Department of Public Health update on COVID-related masking and non-masking at schools. Per LADPH, masking is no longer required as of March 12 at school sites. More information will be presented at the next meeting. Sanitizing, cleaning, and disinfection protocols are still in place and will continue. 
 

Mrs. Morgan inquired if the Board is involved in the decision regarding masking. Dr. Wunder shared that Da Vinci intends to follow LADPH guidelines and will provide an update as still continue to work through the process. Mr. Bravo stated that Da Vinci will continue to do what is best for students' health and safety while maintaining the consistent progression of aligning with governing mandates and requirements set by LACDPH and recommendations by LACOE.

Closed session was entered at 7:08pm.

Closed session was reconvened at 7:57pm. Dr. Jennings noted that no action was taken.