BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
Governing Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
333 South Beaudry, Board Room
11:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 20, 2004

The Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles, acting as the Governing Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District, met in special session on January 20, 2004, at the Los Angeles City Board of Education Administrative Offices, Board Room, 333 South Beaudry, Los Angeles, California.

President José Huizar called the meeting to order at 11:47 a.m.

The following Members were present: Ms. Marlene Canter, Ms. Julie Korenstein, Mr. Mike Lansing,
Mr. Jon Lauritzen, Mr. David Tokofsky, and President José Huizar. Ms. Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte arrived at 11:52 p.m.

Superintendent Roy Romer was present.

Ms. Canter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

WEIGHTED STUDENT FORMULA

Superintendent Romer began the presentation with a brief statement regarding improving the District's instructional program in order to close the achievement gap between categories of students. He noted that the District has been very successful at the elementary level due to six things: focused curriculum, accelerated teacher training, teacher coaching, periodic diagnostic assessment, appropriate intervention, and management of data and process. The same, he noted, could not be said for the secondary schools; primarily because of the change of teachers for each period; students get lost due to the number large number assigned to each teacher.

The Superintendent stated that the District has to make the instructional program more personal and will have to deal with funding smaller learning communities. The District currently utilizes norming, a variation of a weighted student formula, whereby allocation of funds is based on characteristics and needs of students. A weighted student formula would enable budgeting for smaller size schools and would allow the individual schools to utilize funds in areas of need.

The Superintendent called on Rowena Lagrosa who described how a group of Local District personnel, students, and stakeholders are exploring the use of smaller learning communities to close the achievement gap and lessen the need for counseling at the secondary level.

The Superintendent introduced Mr. Joseph Olchefske, former Superintendent of the Seattle Public Schools who presented pros and cons of the use of the weighted student formula. He stated that he would be focusing on the vision policy of what the District could be and the concrete technical reality. He responded to questions from Board Members regarding the vision and the implication of committing to the formula. He shared experiences from the Seattle School District. He went on to explain the formula and the needs of individual students when implementing small learning communities, as well as the effects on charter schools. He noted that there is no one formula; but that flexibility is essential.

Mr. Olchefske and the Superintendent responded to questions from the Board and stated that there must be a core set of restrictions in the use of funds and that special education should not be considered a part of the formula in utilizing funds.

Mr. Steven Frank, Consultant, and Mr. Lorenzo Tyner, Budget Director, responded to questions from Board Members regarding staffing.

Superintendent Romer noted that operation of small school communities do cost more, and that the District will have to pursue methods to bring the cost down.

Mr. Olchefske indicated that there is no implementation date for the policy, but staff is following a "phased" approach.

The Superintendent introduced Mr. Steve Frank, whose expertise is in the field of public accountability, to present his views on the use of time and scheduling. Mr. Frank indicated that it was not so much how much money was allotted per student, but how the funds are used which was proven to improve student achievement.

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The Board recessed at 1:37 p.m., and reconvened at 2:08 p.m. The following Members were present:
Ms. Marlene Canter, Ms. Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, Mr. Mike Lansing, Mr. Jon Lauritzen,
Mr. David Tokofsky, and President José Huizar. Ms. Julie Korenstein arrived at 2:21 p.m.
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Ms. Ruth Sarnoff addressed the Board.

The Superintendent had been asked to give details of how a hypothetical weighted student formula could be implemented at a set of sample schools. Mr. Lorenzo Tyner, Budget Director, identified Glenwood Elementary School, Nightingale Middle School, and Gardena High School as schools selected, based on average attendance, to be used as a sample on how the weighted student formula may affect the schools' funding and staffing.

Mr. Merle Price, Deputy Superintendent, Superintendent Romer, and Mr. Frank responded to questions from Board Members.

Dr. Roger Rasmussen highlighted the amount of resources each of the three schools would receive based on a model they had formulated, which would allow the same number of teachers they now have plus funds per pupil to allow the schools to hire more teachers.

The Superintendent indicated that this is an ongoing process and more dialogue will be necessary.

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Ms. Canter moved that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Lauritzen seconded the motion, which by general consent was adopted. Ms. LaMotte was absent.

The meeting adjourned at 3:09 p.m.

APPROVED BY BOARD: March 23, 2004

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JOSE HUIZAR JEFFERSON CRAIN
PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BOARD