The DaVinci Academy Board of Directors consists of parents, teachers and a community representative. All members are elected to the board, unless an opening occurs mid-term, in which case the board has authority to fill that position.
Our school charter provides the board with the following major duties and responsibilities:
- Providing overall direction for the development and growth of the school
- Selecting and evaluating the school’s key administrative staff
- Establishing and approving all major educational and operational policies
- Approving the school’s annual budget and overseeing all fiscal affairs
- As needed, acting as a resource for school staff
- Approving the school’s personnel policies and monitoring compliance
- Approving all major contracts
The board has established various committees, which focus on key components of school operations. As circumstances warrant, committees are abolished or added to address specific needs or challenges. Parent, teacher and community member participation on any of the committees is welcomed by the board.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Policy Committee Meeting
Board Meeting
Finance Committee Meeting
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Board Members
Melanie Persellin, President, Parent Board Member
mpersellin@davincicharterschool.org
Term expires: 2020
Ms. Persellin has served on the Board since December of 2015, and was elected as Board Secretary on February 22, 2016. Ms. Persellin is currently employed as a partner at the law firm of Jensen, Sondrall, Persellin and Woods, P.A., in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Ms. Persellin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota, and a JD from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago. Ms. Persellin has two children who currently attend the Charter School.
Andy Wallschlaeger, Vice President, Parent Board Member
awallschlaeger@davincicharterschool.org
Term expires: 2020
Mr. Wallschlaeger has served on the Board since February 2014 and was a member of the Policy, Human Resources and Facilities Committees. Mr. Wallschlaeger is currently employed as a board certified Pathologist Assistant and Teaching Specialist at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Mr. Wallschlaeger received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota, and holds Fellowship status with the American Association of Pathologist Assistants (AAPA). Mr. Wallschlaeger has two children who currently attend the Charter School.
Joe Thomas, Treasurer, Parent Representative
jthomas@davincicharterschool.org
Term expires: 2022
Mr. Thomas has served on the Board since February 2018, and serves as treasurer and chair of the finance committee. Mr. Thomas is currently employed as a Senior Financial Analyst with Land O’Lakes. Mr. Thomas received a Bachelor of Science degree from Metropolitan State University, and is actively pursuing his Masters through Bethel University. Mr. Thomas has three children who currently attend the Charter School and he is an active basketball coach for a couple of the schools basketball teams.
Michelle Maciej, Teacher Board Member
Mmaciej@davincicharterschool.org
Term expires: 2021
Mrs. Maciej has served on the Board since August of 2016. Mrs. Maciej joined the DaVinci Academy Community in 2015, she loves the close community feeling from the families and staff that create an environment for success. Mrs. Maciej earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Minnesota in 2013. She has been teaching since 2009 in 4th and 5th grades. She loves working and learning through technology and is always reading a good book!
Rohan Grama (Venkatesh), Community Member Representative
rvenkatesh@davincicharterschool.org
Term expires: 2022
Mr. Grama has served on the Board since April 2019, and serves as chair of the HR committee. Mr. Grama is currently employed as a Senior Purchasing Manager with Cummins Inc. Mr. Grama received Master of Business Administration from St Thomas University and Master of Science from Western Michigan University. Mr. Grama lives in Blaine, MN with his wife and two daughters and in his free time loves to experiment his newfound cooking skills.
Todd Paulsen, At-Large Board Member
tpaulsen@davincicharterschool.org
Term expires: 2022
Lenny Ulloa Silva, Teacher Board Member
lulloasilva@davincicharterschool.org
Term expires: 2022
Profe Lenny has served on the Board since May of 2019. Profe Lenny graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 2016 with a degree in Spanish and Secondary Education. He is from Valparaíso, Chile, where he completed most of his high school. Then he went to United World College of the Adriatic, an IB school, in Duino, Italy for 2 years before he moved to the United States in 2012. He student taught at the United World College USA in Montezuma, New Mexico and Willow Creek Middle School in Rochester, Minnesota. For the past two summers he has been at Concordia Language Villages working as a counselor and as a credit teacher. He loves tea and in his free time he likes to cook and hike. He taught at school in Forest Lake and now he is really excited to start another adventure at DaVinci Academy.
Agenda & Meeting Minutes
Meeting Minutes 2018-19:
Board Committees
Chair: Joe Thomas
Vice Chair(s):
Manages the finances of DaVinci Academy with the highest integrity and ensures professional accounting practices are followed.
Meeting Minutes:
Chair: Rohan Venkatesh
Vice Chair: Lenny Ulloa Silva
Reviews and recommends appropriate and supportable compensation and bonus programs for teachers and staff that are in DaVinci Academy’s best interests and aligned with its business mission and strategy to reward and retain quality employees.
Agenda:
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Meeting Minutes:
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Chair: Andy Wallschlaeger
Vice Chair: Todd Paulsen
Documents and tracks current policies and practices, reviews and recommends changes to existing policies and practices, and drafts and recommends new policies and practices, as needed.
Agenda:
Meeting Minutes:
Chair: Michelle Maciej
Vice Chair: Melanie Persellin
Coordinates all fundraising and grant application activities conducted at the school to ensure those opportunities are maximized.
Meeting Minutes:
Communication Committee
Facilitates quality communications within DaVinci Academy and from the school to stakeholders and the general public.
Facilities Committee
Chair:
Vice Chair: Andy Wallschlaeger
Reviews, prioritizes, and recommends budgetary and other actions to the administration and the DaVinci Academy School Board in order to maintain and enhance the school’s buildings and grounds. This includes, but is not limited to, the recommendation of additions and upgrades to facilities, development of budgets necessary for short- and long-term facility maintenance, and review and selection of facility maintenance-related bids and contracts, and prioritization and recommendation of large equipment purchases.
This is an Ad-Hoc group committee specifically working on the school expansion. They are not currently seeking additional members.
High School Ad Hoc
Chair: Holly Fischer
Takes a leading role in assisting the administration and the DaVinci Academy School Board in developing a plan to expand the school to include grades nine through twelve. This will initially include assistance in hiring a high school coordinator to oversee the project and in creating a vision for the future high school program.
This committee was disbanded when it completed its task.
School Director Search Committee
Chair: Doug Hiatt
Coordinates all activities associated with identifying, interviewing and recruiting potential candidates to fill the school’s open School Director position.
This committee was disbanded when it completed its task.
Technology Committee
Chair: Mike Hebert
Curriculum/Technology Committee
Chair: Michelle Ingram
Board Positions Open
The DaVinci Academy Board of Directors annual election process has begun. The terms of three board positions are expiring this coming February:
- Parent seat (currently held by Mark Guy)
- Community seat (currently held by Valerie Slaymaker)
- At-Large seat (currently held by Ross Meisner)
We now invite nominations of individuals to fill these positions. The parent seat must be filled by a parent / guardian of a currently enrolled student. The community seat must be filled by someone not otherwise affiliated with the school. And the at-large seat can be filled by a parent/guardian, a teacher, or a community member.
All of these positions carry three year terms, commencing in February 2019. The board asks that you seriously consider getting involved and participate in this rewarding opportunity. Nominate yourself, or nominate someone who you feel has the competence and vision to provide skilled governance for our school. Nominations deadline has been extended until January 7, 2019.
Please download the nomination form here. A description of the nomination and election process is below, along with a description of current board needs. Our goal is to ensure that individual members of the board bring the necessary skills and commitment to continue our efforts to fulfill the mission, vision, and goals of our school.
CURRENT BOARD STRUCTURE
In accordance with DaVinci Academy’s bylaws, our board of directors shall consist of at least five but no more than nine members, and will be comprised of at least two Minnesota-licensed teachers employed at the school, at least three parent/legal guardians of children enrolled at the school, and at least two community members who are neither employed at the school nor have children enrolled at the school. The remaining two at-large members can be from any one of the three categories.
Each board member brings skills that they contribute towards governing DaVinci Academy. As a result, our board membership includes a wide variety of professional backgrounds and competencies. Details on each of our current board members are available on our school’s website, www.
CURRENT BOARD NEEDS
Serving on the Board of Directors is an important role, one with high accountability to our family stakeholders, Friends of Education (our Authorizer), and the Minnesota Department of Education. The time commitment varies and can be large, yet rewarding. Such commitment is critical to the success of our school and the education of our children. One of the board’s primary strategic objectives right now is the expansion of our program in our new building to serve many more students. In the coming years a plan for a high school will also be explored.
BOARD DIRECTOR SELECTION PROCESS
The election process will follow this sequence:
- All nominees will receive an information packet containing detailed descriptions of the requirements of board service. It will also contain a Candidate Questionnaire for each nominee to complete. Nominees must submit this completed questionnaire in order to become an official candidate for election.
- With the information from each candidate, the board will compile a Voting Guide that lists the candidates, their qualifications, and their views on school governance. All stakeholders will receive the Voting Guide on January 18, 2019.
- You will be invited to a Candidate Forum that will take place at the school during the school board meeting on Monday, January 28, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.. This forum will provide an opportunity to meet and question all of the candidates who are running for election. All candidates are expected to take part in the forum.
- Voting will begin on Monday, February 11, 2019 and end at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25, 2019.
- Election results will be announced at the school’s Annual Meeting, which will take place at the school on Monday, February 25, 2019, at 6:00 p.m.
This election is critical to the continued success of our school. We are asking you, as members of the DaVinci Academy community with a strong vested interest in our school, to nominate potential board members (including yourself) using this “Call for Nominations” form.
Thank you for your consideration,
Matt Manning
President, DaVinci Academy Board of Directors
