None.

Mrs. Montes-Rodriguez commented on the Cold Call Event and expressed that students were prepared and curious. 

Dr. Jennings thanked the Board members for joining the WASC visit and thanked the RISE team for all of their efforts to prepare. 

Dr. Wunder echoed Dr. Jennings' sentiments around the efforts towards a successful WASC visit. He shared his respect and appreciation towards the team for their efforts during this time. 

Mr. Whalen provided an El Camino College Update. Staff are currently waiting for the green light from El Camino College to pass our MOU to their board for approval. Given the commitment to starting at the top of the school year, the delay will likely push the timeline to a Fall 2025-26 opening.

Mr. Whalen reviewed attendance and enrollment updates. Current enrollment is 191. Mr. Whalen thanked Dr. Jennings and Dr. McCullough for their tireless efforts to support our attendance efforts and weekly LACOE reporting. Staff are currently working to align weekly reports to LACOE with Learning Period Attendance Reports. About 26 students have increased onsite attendance to more than 2 days per week. Scott James, Lead Behaviorist, and Wendole Daffney, Safety and Transportation Official, have visited neighboring schools to provide enrollment information and share more about RISE. RISE is slated to present at upcoming HS Nights. RISE @ Richstone alum, Jelina Tahan, is our Attendance and Re-engagement clerk and is currently onboarding. Three MSW Interns have joined the team and will be supporting outreach. Current initiatives include learning log completion and working on offsite days (increased attendance in LP2) will result in sponsorship to the upcoming school dance. 

School Access Coaches are trained, Live Scanned and have completed the volunteer packet Currently in progress are TB Test and Safe Schools Training Modules. A few Coaches have started onsite support. Cecilia Whalen has joined the team at New Earth as a volunteer supporting with re-engagement calls. She will be on site every Monday from 10-2 supporting outreach. Bernard Coleburn will be joining as a personal trainer to connect and motivate youth at New Earth. Mr. Whalen has an upcoming meeting with Courtney Houston to discuss a potential social media influencer workshop. Chaz Ashley met with Kiki Williams (student leader) to share advice and support as she takes on a new leadership role at RISE.

Mr. Whalen shared current fundraising efforts/updates. Learning Innovation Fund ($75k) was submitted this week and focuses on the El Camino Campus Expansion. There is potential for more funding in the second cohort. The Catalyze Challenge (up to $250k), a career exploration grant was submitted on Monday, 9/25. The grant will support engagements to prepare students for internships, Project Leo, and career coursework. Staff are currently awaiting news for The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections Grant Program: The RISE IMPACT Program (Innovative Mentorships for Pupils Affected by Crime and Trauma ($600k over 4 Years) The purpose of the grant is to increase RISE’s ability to implement our multi-tiered approach to chronic absenteeism, increase students access to onsite learning and resources, and increase mentorship, case management and community engagement.

RISE has been selected to be featured in The Giving List - Los Angeles. The Giving List curates and distributes information about mission-aligned non-profits to high-capacity donors in Los Angeles County, successfully connecting nonprofits to donors and generating revenue.

Mr. Whalen noted the current advancement priorities. He attended the Aurora Institute in Palm Springs and presented the Da Vinci RISE model on a panel and workshop: 1. From Poster to Practice: Key Practical Strategies to Activate Your Graduate Portrait from Four Trailblazing Districts and Schools (Matt, Michelle, Steve) 2. Measuring Learning: The Celebration and Areas for Growth Between Competencies and Standards (Getting Smart, XQ). He also attended Learning Exchange: Innovation & Research for Students Experiencing Homelessness - Oakland and presented the co-location toolkit as an exemplary resources for improving education for youth experiencing homelessness in California. Mr. Whalen also presented at two UCLA Youthsource and two Children’s Law Center community meetings to drive enrollment efforts. He was introduced to Mayor Karen Bass by Leslie Heimov at CLC Gala. Upcoming conferences include the CAASFEP Conference in Sacramento where he will be presenting the co-location model.

Mr. Whalen provided an update on the Da Vinci RISE Cold Call Event Cold Call Event. He thanked Board members for their participation and support. Students will be making 3 calls to professionals each day. Purpose: to help our students build their phone etiquette skills and ask questions about your industry.

Mr. Whalen is hosting a Leadership Retreat for the leadership community to build relationship, capacity and dream- and plan- forward in efforts to maximize our impact and collective mission and vision. Dr. Jerrel Hill will be joining and facilitating Intercultural Development
Inventory.  

Upcoming workgroup meeting dates are November 15th, March 20th, and May 15th. In preparation, Mr. Whalen asked Board members to review the workgroup guide to get caught up on potential strategies and needs. DVLAC Revenue Workgroup will focus on fundraising, revenue generating opportunities and fiscal practices (ADA, Expense Assessment). DVLAC Policy Workgroup will focus on high leverage political advocacy to drive sustainability and overall success.

Principal Lara reviewed the 2023-24 RISE priorities which are instruction, DV signature practices and restorative practices. She then reviewed professional development updates. RISE Teachers Leaving to Learn. Teachers toured  High Tech High San Marcos campuses with staff from DV Connect High & K-8. RISE has launched a staff wellness PD series. Dr. Laura McMullin commented that the exprience was wonderful and commented RISE educators for being warm and receptive. Staff were present and engaged in the work. 

Mrs. Lara provided instructional program updates. Many students have chosen their PBL driving questions in anticipation of completing a project for the Exhibition this spring. Questions include:  How can I/we use music on a daily basis, like medicine, to help people care for and regulate their mental health? How can I partner with local pet rescue organizations to get pets adopted in my/our neighborhood? How can I/we bring unspoken news, like poverty, drug usage, and police brutality, to the public's attention using popular social media platforms like TikTok. How can I use my writing and art skills to publish a comic strip? and How can I show people how to use their backyard to grow fruits or vegetables so that we can be connected as a community.

Mrs. Lara discussed the WASC Self Study. The Visiting Committee for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges completed their visit on Wednesday October 25th, and their report is available for review. The committee shared their appreciation for the impact of the work of RISE in our communities and affirmed many of our identified areas of strength

and growth. Their lens centered on the question “if not RISE, then who?”. Principal, Naomi Lara, and Assistant Principal, Larry Simonsen, met with Elizabeth Oberreiter at WASC to ask clarifying questions about the visiting comittee's work, observations, and evaluations due to some of the more critical feedback RISE received, and were assured that our understanding of the action plan submission was accurate. The RISE LCAP, which serves as RISE's Single Plan for Student Achievement must be updated for the next 3-year cycle and submitted to WASC by December 6th.

Mrs. Lara provided attendance and enrollment updates for the Learning Periods 1 through 3. 
Learning Period 1: August 14th - September 8th. Enrollment: 166 and ADA: 45.65%

Learning Period 2: September 11th - October 6th. Enrollment: 179 and ADA: 49.01%

Learning Period 3: October 9th - November 3rd. Current Enrollment: 191 and ADA: TBD

Mrs. Lara shared staff hiring updates. Nicole Morris, Case Manager Counselor, joins the 

Richstone team. Raul Macias is serving as the long term English sub at the Richstone and New Earth Site. RISE at Richstone alum, Jelina Tahan, joins the team as the Attendance and Re-engagement clerk serving all RISE sites.

Mrs. Lara shared photographs and highlights from the following Real World Learning events: Cotton On Retail Academy at APCH, the RISEing to New Heights at Flight Path Museum field trip, and Cold Call Event Day 1. 

None.

Mr. Bravo provided a van update sharing that all is going well, and that Safety and Transportation Officer, Wendole Dafney, is loving his new role. He offered Da Vinci School's two additional vans for future events and home visits as needed. All air cleaning units are cleaned and ready for each site. Mr. Bravo is working with partner network providers to get the access and connection needed to set up vape detectors at school sites.