The Board immediately recessed to Closed Session.

Closed Session adjourned at 5:49 PM

Dr. Brann called the Public Session to order at 6:10 p.m. and reported that no action had been taken in Closed Session.

Dr. Brann noted the cooperation between Da Vinci Schools and the Los Angeles Air Force Base, which is an economic powerhouse in the area. Dr. Steve Wallis shared that the initial contact was made through the South Bay Aerospace Alliance, which meets at Da Vinci Schools each month. Colonel Walsh and Chief Morgan have provided invaluable resources for STEM education in the best interests of Da Vinci Students and connections and resources for military-connected students and families. 

Colonel Mia Walsh, Commander of Space Base Delta 3, Los Angeles Air Force Base, gave a bit of her background, sharing that Colonel Ellison Onizuka, the first Japanese American Space Shuttle astronaut, visited her elementary school in Hawaii when she was a child. Like Col. Walsh, Col. Onizuka was from a small town on the Big Island of Hawaii and had a similar family background. He inspired her to work toward her goal of becoming an astronaut and, like him, enter a career in the U.S. Air Force.

Dr. Brann commented that he is proud of the fact that 47% of the students in the Engineering Pathway at Da Vinci Science are girls. He would like to see the number at 50%. Col. Walsh noted how impressed she was with the support the students receive at Da Vinci. The staff believe in the students, the way her family believed in her when she expressed her dream to be an astronaut as a child.

Chief Morgan shared that her 11-year-old son had been a student at nine different schools due to her career assignments, and the for the first time he was able to go to the same school in consecutive years, making Chief Morgan even more aware of the difficulties students of military families face. She appreciates the way that Da Vinci Schools supports military children and help them feel connected.

Ms. Ida Humphrey, the L.A. Air Force Base's School Liaison Program Manager, shared a bit about her work with military-connected families in L.A. and Orange Counties across 83 school districts. She is the advocate for the military-connected students.

Dr. Brann thanked Col. Walsh, Chief Morgan, and Ms. Humphrey for their cooperative work with Da Vinci Schools.

Heather Kim, parent of a Da Vinci Connect High School student, made a comment about her desire to have her daughter's El Camino College English classes approved for dual-enrollment credit. Dr. Brann directed staff to report on the issue to the Board.

Mr. Russell Kehl made a comment about his concerns about the CTE Studio Project, urging the Board not to allow the $1M State funding opportunity to go to waste, but to find a way to work with the Wiseburn Unified School District for the benefit of the students and community. He shared that has also made this plea to the Wiseburn Board.  Dr. Brann thanked Mr. Kehl for his involvement and his comments.

Dr. Webber shared that the Jet Propulsion Lab at NASA is one of her clients, and they sent her a link to their blog post about the FIRST Robotics Competition L.A. Regional held at Da Vinci Schools the previous weekend. Da Vinci Schools' Vitruvian Bots Team 4201 has been invited to the Houston Finals competition. JPL partners with several FRC robotics teams, providing technical expertise through their staff, who volunteer their time.

Mr. Santiago also attended the FRC L.A. Regionals, and commented that it was a very exciting event. Ms. Heimov also attended with her husband and automotive engineer friend, and concurred that it was a high-energy, inspiring event where students designed not just robots, but also their apparel and branding.

Dr. Wunder noted that Mr. Derrick Boston also attended the event.

Mr. Meath appreciated the enthusiastic support of the robotics team.

Dr. Brann commented that he felt the Board should have some rules around meeting attendance. He also noted that supporting documents have been coming to the board late. He would like to see a cutoff date for submissions, and anything after that date will be pushed to the next month's meeting. He would like to see the work spread out to alleviate the workload on staff and the trustees. Last, he would like to receive a Real World Learning update with metrics at the April meeting.

Ms. Levenson gave an enrollment update, saying that Da Vinci has received 1,734 unique applications, an increase of 252 applications compared to last year. At the time of the February 28 priority application deadline, 3,484 applications were received, an increase of 422 compared to last year. She also noted 716 offers have been made to date, including 197 to Wiseburn residents, 59 more compared to this time last year.

82% of Dana 8th grade Wiseburn residents are enrolling at Da Vinci for the 2023-24 school year, which is about the average for the last several years. 29 Wiseburn residents to date are returning to the district (enrolling at Da Vinci Schools after having spent the previous year at a non-Wiseburn school).

Dr. Brann requested a report on the possibility of a second shift high school.

Dr. Hawn commented that the Hiring Fair was held, and one person is being hired and others are being interviewed. The team is also implementing the signing bonus that the Board previously approved.

Dr. Hawn also thanked Dr. Emily Green and Wiseburn's Dr. Nisha Dugal for their collaborative work on COVID-19 pandemic protocols.

Dr. Wunder commented that 13 Certified Nursing Assistant students have taken their State certification exam, and all have passed. He noted that it is an expensive program, and the team is working with El Camino College to seek State funding. The Da Vinci Schools Fund put up about $40K to implement the program. Da Vinci has been invited to apply to Bloomberg Philanthropies for funding, as they are interested in healthcare.

Dr. Brann would like a report on how long it takes the CNA students to get jobs.

Daniela Torres introduced the student board member update. She first commented that the second annual CARnival event will be coming up on March 25.

Ms. Violet Pena-Gomez gave the Science update, noting Women's History Month, the Vitruvian Bots' awards, which included the Innovation Award, giving the team the opportunity to go to Houston for the FRC Finals. Student-led Conferences were held, and Exhibition Night and Biomedical Grand Rounds are coming up. Grade level projects and Seniors' Fulcrum Day were also mentioned.

Mr. Alvin Liu gave the Communications update, noting the DECA opportunity to compete at the DECA Career Development Conference in Florida. Student-led Conferences and Exhibition are other happenings at Communications.

Ms. Leilani Pineda from Design shared Diversity Council Community Dialogue highlights and the debut performance of the cross-site choir. Student Board Member Amelia Griffin won 4th place at he Archery Meet. 12th grade Entrepreneurship Pitch Panels featured plant-based food products. Grade level projects for Exhibition include cultural food trucks, coffee cup designs for the coffee bar, studies of refugee camps, the Cold War, and graphic design.

Ms. Milissa Sutton gave the Da Vinci Connect High School update, sharing Student-led Conference week happenings, Black Student Union Potluck, the Community Service Fundraiser that raised funds to plant trees, and Women's History Month.

Mr. Quinn Schell gave the update for Connect TK-8. He shared that SLC's had been held, and the upcoming Parent Educator Conference will help parents in their work educating their students. The STEAM Carnival is also coming up, and the E-Sports Group meeting, which Mr. Schell helped to organize, is also coming up.

Dr. Brann thanked the Student Board Members.

Mr. Amato went over the February Balance Sheet, noting the Board's previous request to see the prior year's Accounts Receivable figures at the same time as the current year's.

Mr. Amato also shared the Year to Date Actuals to Budget, commenting that variances are due to ILPT timing, first payment of ERC funds, small variances in interest income, and higher than anticipated expenses for Youth & Government.

Fiscal Year 2022-23 year-end projections (Second Interims) were covered. Mr. Amato noted that the State has recertified LCFF, EPA, and ILPT funds due to Da Vinci, and more money will be coming than was anticipated. In addition, the State's final funding calculations over the past three years will use higher attendance percentages, resulting in more funds to make Da Vinci's classroom-based sites "whole." The funds are for general use, without restrictions.

Mr. Amato also noted that ERC funds are now included in the projections, and every three or four months, Da Vinci will get more ERC funds approved.

Expense changes are due to personnel/benefits timing, decreased utility bills (thanks to Mr. Bravo and Mr. Fernandez), contracting additional professional consultants, increased travel, timing of depreciation expenses, increased legal expenses, etc.

Mr. Meath thanked Mr. Amato for his work in obtaining the ERC funds. Dr. Wunder recognized Mr. Meath's work in identifying the ERC funding opportunity.

The main changes in reserve funds that have occurred are the soccer field funds, ERC funds are now part of reserves, completion of construction on 550 Continental, increased economic uncertainty reserves, etc. Just over $10M unrestricted cash reserves. 

Mr. Amato also gave the future projections for FY 23-24 and FY 24-25, and spoke of the recommendation to move part of cash reserves to money market funds to increase interest yield.

Last, Mr. Amato noted the copier lease item up for approval. Consolidating the leases will alleviate the need to renew each machine's lease individually. One bank will buy out all of the leases, and allow Da Vinci to obtain new machines that will be on the same lease. Mr. Amato and Mr. Jesse Corral negotiated this deal over several months.

Mr. Bravo shared that the 550 Continental campus construction is complete, and the certificate of occupancy has been received. The team will be meeting with electronics vendors for more versatile outdoor LED screens for the soccer field, in lieu of regular scoreboards.

The café is on the cusp of a soft opening. The soft opening is still scheduled for the end of March/beginning of April. 

The CTE Studio RQFP will be re-issued because Da Vinci received fewer bids than anticipated. This will push the construction start to August if all goes as expected. The August construction start would allow for completion in time for the next robotics tournament.

The three-day Broadway Gymnastics competition went well and the organizers would like to return next year. The FIRST Robotics Competition L.A. Regionals were a huge success, and the second annual CARnival is coming up.

Dr. Brann thanked Mr. Bravo, saying that all the events are really using the facilities to the fullest. Mr. Bravo acknowledged Millenium Space Systems for their loan of parking spaces, and the work of Mr. Fernandez, Mr. Noya, and Mr. Corral and their teams.

Mr. Meath inquired about the pool heater operability. Mr. Bravo noted that his information from the City of El Segundo and Wiseburn Unified indicated that the pool is fully operational, however Dr. Brann noted the original heaters are not the proper size and would likely continue to cause problems for the District.

Not needed.

Not needed.

Dr. Brann adjourned the meeting at 8:21 p.m.