None

Ms. Heimov wished everyone happy holidays and hoped for peace and joy around the world on this seventh night of Hanukkah.

Mr. Ochoa wished everyone a happy holiday. Noting his son is very happy in his first year at Da Vinci Science, he thanked the staff.

Mr. Santiago noted that his daughter is winding down her DV experience and awaiting responses from colleges. He is very appreciative of the schools. He commented that he recently toured the schools with the Google K12 Sales Manager, and although he has high expectations, he is continually amazed by the students' achievements. He thanked the staff for their work.

Dr. Webber shared that she attended the theatre arts performance the previous week, and that it was a wonderful experience. She noted that although the program is new, and there was only limited rehearsal time, it was an amazing performance. She thanked Ms. Levenson, Dr. Wunder, Mr. Bravo, and staff.

Dr. Wunder shared that the well-attended (estimated 1,800 people) Winter Concert was held the previous night in the Gym. Not only did the students put on a fantastic performance, but the staff accomplished a heroic feat of logistics, rearranging the venue from the El Segundo Performing Arts Center, which didn't have enough seats, to the Wiseburn Da Vinci Gym in a week's time.

He went on to discuss school safety, saying that in these troubling times, students sometimes make big mistakes, and no school is immune to that. Da Vinci is very well staffed in school safety. Dr. Wunder thanked El Segundo Police Chief Bermudez personally earlier in the day, and noted that the police department knows what is going on on Da Vinci campuses and are very responsive. Da Vinci regularly runs safety drills for students and staff, and small schools enable staff to know students well. Da Vinci has safe schools and he believes families and students can feel safe here.

Ms. Carla Levenson and Ms. Christina Joubert gave a community update, sharing Da Vinci students volunteered in December, and Da Vinci provided the Churro cart and photo booth at Aviation Elementary's Family Craft Night, and Hollyglen Elementary's Bear Bazaar, where Da Vinci donated gift certificates and materials and supplies. Support totaled $3,443 and many volunteer hours. 

Wiseburn families love meeting and speaking with Da Vinci students at these events, and the Da Vinci students also enjoy engaging with the Wiseburn community.

A monthly newsletter called "Life @ DV" launched in November, featuring eight articles about student volunteers, college & career readiness, Exhibition nights, and enrollment among others. Ms. Levenson encouraged the Board members to give feedback and contribute to the newsletter.

Ms. Joubert spoke about the performing arts events in December which featured two performances, two locations, 550 performers, and over 2,150 attendees in one week. The team is partnering with Wiseburn and WEF to expand performing arts at the high schools and build articulation from TK to 12th grades. Summer programming is being explored at this point.

Dr. Wunder also commented that Da Vinci alumni profiles will be shared in the future.

Dr. Webber thanked Ms. Levenson and Ms. Joubert for their work in pulling together the community.

Ms. Vanessa Pineda from Christy White, Da Vinci's auditor, gave a presentation on the 2022-2023 annual audit report. There are four auditor opinions in the report:  Financial Statements, Governmental Auditing Standards, Federal Single Audit, and K-12 State Compliance.

All areas received an unmodified opinion with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies, which is the best opinion possible, resulting in a clean audit report. Ms. Pineda thanked Mr. Amato and his team for providing all the documents in a timely manner. Mr. Amato thanked the school site staff and partner CSMC for their assistance in getting the information in under deadline. The board thanked the auditor.

Mr. Amato shared the First Interim Report, which is a revised budget from the original budget, using October through November financials. He noted the revised budget surplus, which is lower than anticipated. Enrollment is close to the original budget, but Da Vinci Connect had a little slower enrollment start at the beginning of the year than expected but has since caught up and will enroll even more students in the second semester. ADA doesn't negatively impact revenue because of Mr. Amato's conservative estimates of the dollars per ADA the State pays Da Vinci Schools. ADA revenue is up by $115K.

Federal funding (Title I, II, and IV, ESSER) is on track for budget.

State funding (lottery, block grants, one-time grants) LCFF revenue is higher than anticipated (1.2%). A lot of one-time State grants are being used this year, as they are winding down. Some of the one-time funding will be used next school year. The Learning Recovery Block grant amount the State gave a year ago is not being reduced as much as feared, so Da Vinci has more revenue there than Mr. Amato conservatively projected. Those funds will be used next year. Prop 28 arts funding covers employees and non-personnel-related expenses for the performing arts program. Rental and interest income is also higher than projected.

Special Education expenses are higher than budgeted, outpacing the increase in special education revenue. This also contributes to the decreased surplus.

CTEIG funding is a State grant that is restricted for specific programs. Mr. Amato has just learned that all four Da Vinci schools grant applications have been fully funded (about $1.2M total), which will be used next school year.

Capital projects such as the Sandbox, the security camera system upgrade, and IT servers have used up some reserves. Out-of-pocket expenses for the CTE Studio are $3.3M. 

Mr. Amato spoke of Da Vinci's two-year projections and the effect of the State budget's projected shortfall. He believes the State will used its large rainy day fund. He expects the originally projected 4% COLA will be cut. Da Vinci is also facing reduced future grant funding pools. He believes that the Da Vinci Schools will see breakeven finances for all except Connect, which should have a surplus.

Dr. Wunder shared the Mr. Bravo was absent due to a family matter before sharing information about the CTE Studio. He noted that the original $2.4M total budget has nearly quadrupled for the three-phase plan, and the State's calculation for grant funding is based on classrooms in Phase Two. Da Vinci is locked into the three-phase plan. There is a $7.5-10M decision facing the Board. Solid numbers will arrive in January.

Dr. Wunder went on to say that Chartwells has been an amazing partner, and he believes that a cooking kitchen at the 201 N. Douglas Street campus is in the best interests of the students, Da Vinci, and Wiseburn. Ms. Levenson was instrumental in obtaining $596K funding. However, the money will be forfeited if not used by June 2024. Dr. Wunder's team is inquiring with the State on a possible extension. Mr. Amato clarified that $425K of the funding must be used to complete the kitchen by June 2024, but that the team is hopeful it will get permission to start the project and use $425K by June, but knowing that the project will not be completed by then. It will require an additional $1.9M to complete the project.

Brief financial discussion ensued.

Milissa Sutton, student board coordinator, introduced the presentation. After technical difficulties, the student update was moved further down the agenda, after the financial update.

Cecily Barnes gave the Connect K8 update, noting Exhibition, the due date for the second Learning Log, the K-12 Theater and Choir performances, and the date of Winter Break.

William Bleier gave the Connect High School update, sharing Exhibition Nights for the various grade levels, the 11th grade Graphic Design photography field trip, the S.A.G.E. Club's sock drive and Neurodiversity Club's canned food drive.

Okiki Ogunnaike gave the update for Communications, sharing the Winter Theater Showcase, POL prep, Community Dialogue, and Formal Clothing Drive for POLs.

Devin Ponciano gave the Science update, sharing the Winter Theater Showcase and Winter Music Concert. Seniors will not have POLs but will face Finals Week. The Improv Showcase, and Christmas Toy Drive, Youth & Government Club, and CEA Pathway activities filled the month.

Kimora Evans shared that10th and 12th grade Exhibition showcased the mural project fundraiser and boat races. POLs, Diversity Council Community Dialogue, blood drive, and the Diversity Mural/Hart House partnership engaged students in December.

Dr. Webber thanked the students, commenting that the schools month is packed with activities.  Ms. Heimov and Mr. Meath agreed.

Closed Session entered at 7:04 p.m.

Public session reconvened at 8:43 p.m.

Dr. Webber reported that no action had been taken in closed session.