Da Vinci Schools

Minutes

Da Vinci Schools Regular Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday September 25, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Da Vinci Schools ("DV") welcomes your participation at its Board meetings. The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Trustees ("Board") is to conduct the affairs of DV in public. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our schools. To assist you in speaking/participating in our meetings, the following guidelines are provided:
 

  1. The meeting is accessible online at https://davincischools-org.zoom.us/j/95037553172 or dial (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 950 3755 3172.
  2. Agendas are available to all audience members on the Da Vinci Schools website www.davincischools.org.
  3. Meeting held at 201 N. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245 or 118 Prospect Quay, 98 Point Pleasant London SW18 1PR.
  4. Audience members who wish may speak on any agenda items or under the general category of "Public Comments," which is time set aside for members of the audience to raise issues not specifically on the agenda. However, due to public meeting laws, the Board can only listen to your issue, not respond or take action. These presentations are limited to three (3) minutes each and total time allotted to non-agenda items will not exceed twenty (20) minutes. Non-English speakers who use a translator shall have six (6) minutes in which to address the Board.
  5. The Board may give direction to staff to respond to your concern or you may be offered the option of returning with a citizen-requested item.
  6. The chair will recognize such individuals who wish to speak on a specific agenda item at the appropriate time. When addressing the Board, speakers are requested to adhere to the time limits set forth, and to not repeat remarks made by those who preceded them.
  7. Any public records relating to an agenda item for an open session of the Board which are distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the Board members shall be available for public inspection at 201 N. Douglas Street, El Segundo, CA 90245, during Business Office operating hours. Please contact the CEO's office at 310-725-5800.

The agenda and documents in the agenda packet will be made available, if requested, in appropriate alternative formats to any person with a disability as required by the ADA, 42 USC section 12132, and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. To request a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, you must contact the CEO's office at 310-725-5800 at least 48 hours before a regular meeting, and at least 12 hours before a special meeting. (Government Code ยง 54954.2(a)(1).)

Trustees Present

B. Meath, D. Boston (remote), J. Webber (remote), L. Heimov, R. Ochoa, R. Santiago

Trustees Absent

None

Trustees who arrived after the meeting opened

D. Boston

Guests Present

A. Wohlwerth, B. Silvers, E. D'Souza (remote), E. Whalen (remote), M. Rainey, M. Wunder, R. Stoll, S. Wai (remote), S. Wallis (remote), V. Bravo, V. Rodriguez

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

J. Webber called a meeting of the board of trustees of Da Vinci Schools to order on Wednesday Sep 25, 2024 at 6:01 PM.

B.

Record Attendance

C.

Approve the Agenda

B. Meath made a motion to approve the agenda.
R. Santiago seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Webber
Aye
L. Heimov
Aye
B. Meath
Aye
D. Boston
Absent
R. Santiago
Aye
R. Ochoa
Aye

D.

Public Comments

None

II. Information

A.

From the Board

Ms. Heimov shared that Monday, September 30, is Orange Shirt Day, a day of support and remembrance for Indigenous people who were taken from their families as children and put into residential schools in the US and Canada, where they were forced to assimilate into white Christian culture.

 

Mr. Santiago commented that the soccer field looks beautiful, and progress is being made on the second set of bleachers.

B.

From the CEO/Superintendent

Dr. Wunder thanked Wiseburn Superintendent Dr. Silvers for his leadership and support with the charter petition submissions for Communications, Design, Connect, and Science in September. There will be a public hearing in October, and they will be up for Wiseburn approval in November.

 

Dr. Wunder is also encouraged and excited by the ways Da Vinci and Wiseburn are working together and partnering for a K-12 continuum, noting that school site visits in El Cajon are being organized in support of the Portrait of a Learner work. This work will span the next two or three years.

D. Boston arrived at 6:17 PM.

C.

From the Chief People Officer

Ms. Rodriguez briefly spoke about the Teacher Retention rate, saying that a report will be sent to the board. Da Vinci Schools' certificated staff retention rate of 92.6% is the highest it's been in the last five years, since 2019.

D.

Operations Update

Mr. Bravo shared that the soccer field is progressing, with an anticipated completion date in October. A ribbon cutting ceremony is being planned in November or early December. The school sites' access plan (including Connect and RISE) is in progress. An alumni game opening event is being planned.

 

The Kitchen and Cafe projects are progressing. The Health Department required structural changes, and the budget for the Cafe modifications was approved. 

 

Campus drills (fire, earthquake, critical incident) have begun at all school sites. Da Vinci is fortunate to have El Segundo Police, Hawthorne Police, and the L.A. Sheriff's Department present at the campuses within their respective jurisdictions, along with Fire when available, to observe, assist, and, provide feedback on the drills.

 

Dr. Webber inquired if the Board could get a tour of the field at 5:30 on October 10, prior to the board meeting.

III. Approval of Minutes

A.

Approval of Minutes of the August 28, 2024 Regular Da Vinci Schools Board Meeting

L. Heimov made a motion to approve the minutes from Da Vinci Schools Regular Board Meeting on 08-28-24.
R. Santiago seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Meath
Aye
D. Boston
Abstain
R. Ochoa
Aye
J. Webber
Aye
R. Santiago
Aye
L. Heimov
Aye

B.

Approval of Minutes of the September 9, 2024 Special Da Vinci Schools Board Meeting

L. Heimov made a motion to approve the minutes from Da Vinci Schools Special Board Meeting on 09-09-24.
R. Santiago seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
L. Heimov
Aye
D. Boston
Abstain
R. Santiago
Aye
B. Meath
Abstain
J. Webber
Aye
R. Ochoa
Aye

IV. Consent Agenda

A.

Accept the Da Vinci Schools Transaction Register - August, 2024

R. Santiago made a motion to accept the Da Vinci Schools Transaction Register for August, 2024.
L. Heimov seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Meath
Aye
R. Ochoa
Aye
D. Boston
Abstain
J. Webber
Aye
R. Santiago
Aye
L. Heimov
Aye

B.

Approve Master Contract with Beacon Day School for Non-Public School (NPS) Services

R. Santiago made a motion to approve the Master Contract with Beacon Day School for Non-Public School (NPS) Services.
L. Heimov seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Meath
Aye
R. Santiago
Aye
J. Webber
Aye
R. Ochoa
Aye
D. Boston
Abstain
L. Heimov
Aye

V. Closed Session

A.

Conference with Legal Counsel

None needed

VI. Closing Items

A.

Reconvene for Public Session & Closed Session Reporting

B.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:27 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
A. Wohlwerth