President José Huizar called the meeting to order at 11:23 a.m.

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

Superintendent Romer was present

Ms. Canter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Ms. Canter moved the following motion regarding Mandating a 180 Day Single Track Calendar for all
Elementary, Middle and Senior High Schools:

Whereas, The Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles has set a priority for all schools to return to a "traditional" or single-track 180 day calendar;

Whereas, It is the intent of the Los Angeles Unified School District to build enough new schools and expand existing school facilities to accommodate new student growth and ensure that every school can return to a single-track calendar.

Whereas, A single-track calendar provides students and teachers with an optimum educational environment;

Whereas, There is a cost savings to operating a single-track school as compared to a multi-track school;

Whereas, As a first step to achieving a single-track calendar, the Board instructed the Superintendent of Schools and his staff to assign all elementary schools scheduled to be placed on a year-round calendar to a four-track calendar where and when possible in the 2002-03 school year; and

Whereas, In the interest of maintaining a stable school environment, School Management Services is responsible for reviewing potential calendar changes with school communities to determine if current enrollment and five year projected enrollment can be sustained under the proposed calendar; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles instruct the Superintendent of Schools and his staff to assign all elementary, middle, and high schools, when possible and reasonable, to be placed on a single-track calendar beginning with the 2004-05 school year and thereafter; and

Resolved further, That current three-track elementary schools which would be converting to a single track school within two years, would have the option to convert to a four-track calendar for one year; and

Resolved further, That schools with 600 students or less, defined by School Management Services as "small schools" may be exempted by the Superintendent from having to transition to a four-track calendar from a three-track calendar and be assigned to a single-track calendar, when possible and reasonable; and be it finally

Resolved further, That current three-track elementary schools with 600 students or less would have the option to convert to a four-track calendar.

Mr. Tokofsky moved the following amendment:

Resolved further, That current three-track elementary schools with 600 students or less would have the option to convert to a four-track calendar; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Superintendent and his designees present by September 1, 2004, a report to the Board or its Facilities Committee on how and when all schools will change from the Concept 6 calendar.

Superintendent Romer, Mr. Larry Carletta, Administrative Coordinator of School Management Services, and Ms. Rowena Lagrosa, Local District H Superintendent, responded to questions from Board Members.

By general consent, the motion as amended was adopted.

Connie Moreno representing the California School Employees Association (CSEA)

Zella Knight

Maya Osborne and Eliza Thompson

Mike O'Sullivan

Dan Isaacs representing the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA)

Ruth Sarnoff

Meena Montemayor representing Early Behavior Intervention Counselors (EBIC)

Elizabeth Munoz representing Pupil Services and Attendance (PSA) Counselors

Cheri Thomas representing the Early Behavior Intervention Program

Michael Caldwell representing the District Advisory Council

Superintendent Romer presented facts to respond to questions from the Board regarding his proposed budget cuts. He noted that the Second Period Interim Report will need to be submitted to the County and that additional $61 million budget will be necessary in addition to the 20 percent reduction to District offices being considered at this meeting. He described the operation and functions of the Local District Offices. Local District J Superintendent Dale Vigil, Local District I Superintendent Sylvia Rousseau, Local District B Superintendent Sue Shannon, and Local District G Superintendent Sharon Robinson made a presentation to the Board regarding issues the Local Districts address at the local community level and responded to questions from Board Members. Mr. Lorenzo Tyner, Budget Director, Mr. Roger Rasmussen, Acting Deputy Budget Director, and Superintendent Romer responded to budget questions from Board Members.

Ms. Korenstein moved the Superintendent's proposed list of budget actions and reductions with the following amendments:

1. Adopt the proposed list of budget actions and reductions, as outlined in Attachment A 2004-05

Budget Balancing Proposals March 3, 2004 (The Scorecard), with the exception of the proposed cuts to Health and Human Services ($1.8 million).

a.Identify $32.8 million (General Fund) in additional reductions to the Central and Local District offices including additional cuts to areas such as travel, conferences, and professional services contracts paid out of the General Fund and bring these back to the Board of Education for approval.

b.To the extent this $32.8 million in additional reductions require March 15, 2004 "Reduction in Force" notices, the Superintendent is instructed to notify the Board of Education so that it may schedule a special meeting for consideration of these reductions.

c.Identify an additional $28.5 million (General Fund) in Districtwide efficiencies, and additional revenues and bring these back to the Board of Education for approval.

d.Identify school safety as a priority and provide the Board of Education with a plan to expend an additional $3.5 million for the Fiscal Year 2004-05 as a first step towards expanding school police coverage at middle schools and high schools in the District.

3.Instruct the Superintendent to provide an action plan to the Board of Education within 45 days with a list of recommendations that address structural reforms, highlighting issues such as:

a.Estimated versus actual Average Daily Attendance compared to actual enrollment with recommendations to improve the District's attendance record.

b.Average certificated administrator's salary and health benefits costs and average teacher salary and health benefits costs for the past five years with recommendations on how to better align revenues with expenditures.

c. Other pertinent trends that impact the District's structural deficit.

Ms. Canter seconded the motion.

Ms. Canter moved the following amendment:

2e.Provide a proposed process and timeline for Board action on the $32.8 million in the additional reductions to the Central Office and Local Districts as well as the $28.5 million in Districtwide efficiencies and additional revenues for Fiscal Year 2004-05, and submit this plan to the Board of Education by March 31, 2004 April 9, 2004.

Ms. Korenstein accepted the motion as a friendly amendment.

Ms. LaMotte moved to amend the motion by adding the following:

4.Upon submission of the additional reductions to the Central Office and Local Districts as well as efficiencies and additional revenues, Board Members will have an opportunity to request additional information and, if necessary, reject, modify, and/or ratify the reductions.

The motion was accepted as a friendly amendment by the Ms. Korenstein and Ms. Canter.

Superintendent Romer, Mr. Tyner, and Mr. Richard Knott, Controller, responded to questions from Board Members.

Mr. Tokofsky moved to postpone action on the following items totalling $75 million:

1B - Retrieve Cash Reserves and Unspent Certificated of Participation Resources

Office of the Inspector General

Legislative and Governmental Affairs

Instructional Support Services - Elementary and Secondary

Human Resources

Office of the General Counsel

Student Health and Human Services

Facilities Services Division

Business Services - Procurement and Transportation

Beyond the Bell

Specially Funded and Parent/Community Program

Early Childhood Education Division

Environmental Health and Safety

Planning, Assessment and Research

Information Technology Division

Mr. Knott, Superintendent Romer, and Mr. Richard Sheehan, Special Counsel to the Board, responded to questions from Board Members.

On roll call, the motion failed, 5 noes, 1 abstention, Ms. LaMotte, 1 aye, Mr. Tokofsky.

On roll call, the budget as amended was adopted unanimously, 7 ayes, with the exception of the following items on which Mr. Tokofsky voted no:

1B - Retrieve Cash Reserves and Unspent Certificated of Participation Resources

Office of the Inspector General

Legislative and Governmental Affairs

Instructional Support Services - Central, Elementary, and Secondary

Human Resources

Office of the General Counsel

Student Health and Human Services

Facilities Services Division

Business Services - Procurement and Transportation

Beyond the Bell

Specially Funded and Parent/Community Program

Early Childhood Education Division

Environmental Health and Safety

Planning, Assessment and Research

Information Technology Division

Budget Balancing Proposals March 3, 2004 (The Scorecard), with the exception of the proposed cuts to Health and Human Services ($1.8 million).

a.Identify $32.8 million (General Fund) in additional reductions to the Central and Local District offices including additional cuts to areas such as travel, conferences, and professional services contracts paid out of the General Fund and bring these back to the Board of Education for approval.

b.To the extent this $32.8 million in additional reductions require March 15, 2004 "Reduction in Force" notices, the Superintendent is instructed to notify the Board of Education so that it may schedule a special meeting for consideration of these reductions.

c.Identify an additional $28.5 million (General Fund) in Districtwide efficiencies, and additional revenues and bring these back to the Board of Education for approval.

d.Identify school safety as a priority and provide the Board of Education with a plan to expend an additional $3.5 million for the Fiscal Year 2004-05 as a first step towards expanding school police coverage at middle schools and high schools in the District.

3.Instruct the Superintendent to provide an action plan to the Board of Education within 45 days with a list of recommendations that address structural reforms, highlighting issues such as:

a.Estimated versus actual Average Daily Attendance compared to actual enrollment with recommendations to improve the District's attendance record.

b.Average certificated administrator's salary and health benefits costs and average teacher salary and health benefits costs for the past five years with recommendations on how to better align revenues with expenditures.

c. Other pertinent trends that impact the District's structural deficit.

e.Provide a proposed process and timeline for Board action on the $32.8 million in the additional reductions to the Central Office and Local Districts as well as the $28.5 million in Districtwide efficiencies and additional revenues for Fiscal Year 2004-05, and submit this plan to the Board of Education by April 9, 2004.

4.Upon submission of the additional reductions to the Central Office and Local Districts as well as efficiencies and additional revenues, Board Members will have an opportunity to request additional information and, if necessary, reject, modify, and/or ratify the reductions.

Proposal: It is proposed that Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District adopt a positive certification.

Background: Second paragraph, second sentence: Board action on the Superintendent's proposals did occur in time to be included in the Second Interim report.

Deleting third sentence.

Recommendation: Second bullet: Certify, based upon the Second Period Interim Financial Report, that the District is able to meet its financial obligations for the current and subsequent two fiscal years. This is a Positive Certification.

Mr. Knott, Mr. Tyner, and Mr. Sheehan responded to questions from Board Members.

By general consent, the report as amended was adopted.

The meeting adjourned at 3:29 p.m.

APPROVED BY BOARD: May 11, 2004

______________________________________ ______________________________________
JOSE HUIZAR JEFFERSON CRAIN
PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BOARD

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