Vice President Valerie Fields called the meeting to order at 2:21 p.m.

The following Members were present: Ms. Victoria Castro, Ms. Julie Korenstein, Mr. Mike Lansing,
Mr. David Tokofsky, Ms. Caprice Young, and Vice President Valerie Fields. Ms. Genethia Hudley Hayes was absent for the entire meeting.

Superintendent Roy Romer was present.

Mr. Lansing led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Student Members Melvi Avila from Middle College Senior High School, Cynthia Cervantes from Elizabeth Learning Center and Dajuan Jones from Gardena High School were present.

Student Member Melvi Avila reported that Middle College Senior High School, which is located on the campus of Los Angeles Southwest College, has an enrollment of about 350 students. She noted that 17 out of 87 seniors are graduating with both an AA degree from Southwest College and a high school diploma. Last year, students met their Academic Performance Index scores; and the school is part of the nationwide Middle College System.

Student Member Dajuan Jones reported that Gardena High School, with an enrollment of over 3,000 students, is experiencing overcrowded classroom conditions. He noted that during the reconstruction phase at his school, the public address system is not in working order and is creating a communication problem. He commented on concerns on the lack of appropriate teaching of the Advanced Placement classes.

In Attachment A of Section (1), renewal petition for Kenter Canyon Charter School, replacing page 6 with page 6 (revised).

BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT NO. 1
FACILITIES COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 1

Ms. Young seconded the motion, which by general consent was adopted. Ms. Hayes was absent.

Mr. Warren Fletcher

Mr. Howard O. Watts

Mr. Dafer Dakhil

Mr. Rory Berryman, President of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 500

Ms. Leatrice Brown representing CSEA

Mr. Tokofsky moved that the report be adopted. Ms. Korenstein seconded the motion.

Mr. Tokofsky moved to separate Section I (AALA) and Section II (District Represented Employees).
Ms. Korenstein seconded the motion, which on roll call was adopted, 4 ayes, 2 noes, Ms. Castro,
Ms. Young. Ms. Hayes was absent.

Mr. Tokofsky moved to approve Section I, the Memorandum of Understanding between AALA and the District. Ms. Korenstein seconded the motion, which on roll call was adopted, 4 ayes, l no,
Mr. Lansing, 1 abstention, Ms. Castro. Ms. Young and Ms. Hayes were absent.

Mr. Lansing moved to postpone Section II, the 2000-01 Compensation Package and other Recommendations for District Represented Employees. Ms. Korenstein seconded the motion, which on roll call was adopted 4 ayes, with Ms. Castro casting a courtesy aye vote, 1 no, Mr. Tokofsky. Ms. Young and Ms. Hayes were absent.

Board of Education Report No. 2 as amended was adopted.

The following speakers addressed the Board on the motion:

Mr. Miguel Contreras representing the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor

Mr. Mike Cherry representing United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)

Mr. Tokofsky moved:

Whereas, The Los Angeles Unified School District's mission includes school-to-work preparation as a goal of our educational institution;

Whereas, The District through its implementation of Federal Perkin's grants, state curriculum and instructional frameworks and local workforce preparation activities help prepare students for the world of work;

Whereas, Numerous high school and adult school classes specifically assist students with business and work skills;

Whereas, The AFL-CIO Union Industries Show is a three-day convention, scheduled for April 27-30, designed to give real life exposure to work and management responsibilities throughout the world of work; and

Whereas, The cities of New Orleans, Atlantic City, Phoenix, and Milwaukee have successfully participated in the AFL-CIO Union Industries Show by allowing students a special preview of the convention; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles support the 2001 AFL-CIO Union Industries Show in Los Angeles by directing the Superintendent to assign staff to coordinate and assist high schools, adult skills and occupational centers with the mobilization of interested students.

Later in the meeting, Ms. Castro recorded an aye vote on the motion.

Ms. Castro abstained from voting on Agreement Nos. 0100084 and 0100899 in Section (1), and 0101059 in Section (2) of Board of Education Report No. 3 for reasons previously stated in the Minutes of February 20, 1996, and voted aye on the balance of the report.

The report was postponed at the request of staff to the May 8, 2001, Regular Board meeting.

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles amend the existing social promotion policy at the very least to:

2. Retain any eighth grader whose reading score is below 5 or who has been below 10 three
years in a row. š

Mr. Tokofsky's substitute motion on a Historic Preservation Coordinator was assigned to the Facilities Committee for discussion and action postponed to the May 8, 2001, Regular Board meeting.

Whereas, The Los Angeles Unified School District is undertaking a vigorous effort to improve its facilities and meet the needs of students in the 21st century, both through new construction and through significant modernizations and alterations through Proposition BB;

Whereas, The majority of the District's school campuses are now over a half-century old, and special attention is necessary in order to ensure that long-overdue rehabilitation and expansion projects do not adversely affect these schools' most treasured features;

Whereas, A community outcry arose in 1999 at Lincoln High School when much-needed air conditioning units were installed insensitively, marring the school's most historic elements;

Whereas, The District currently lacks any comprehensive inventory of which schools have historic value and lacks design standards to guide modernization work at historic schools;

Whereas, The District, with the assistance of the Los Angeles Conservancy, obtained a $50,000 grant from the Getty Grant Program's "Preserve LA" program to conduct an inventory of the District's most historic schools;

Whereas, District staff lacks any specialized historic preservation expertise necessary in guiding and implementing this grant, and in making daily multimillion dollar decisions on historic schools;

Whereas, District staff can build on the Getty Grant activities by developing its own set of design guidelines for historic schools, saving considerable time and money on each individual project by solving from the outset the District's programmatic and facilities needs at historic campuses;

Whereas, School buildings represent the heart of every community and the public face of education to every neighborhood ­ fixing in the community's mind either positive or negative images of what takes place behind the school walls; and

Whereas, Denver, Colorado's school district has created an award-winning curriculum involving students in linking the rich history of their schools to the history of their city and neighborhoods -- an opportunity currently missed here in Los Angeles; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles approve the hiring of a Historic Preservation Coordinator for the District, an individual or a firm with significant professional experience in historic preservation and architecture; and be it

Resolved further, That the Historic Preservation Coordinator: 1) help complete the District's historic school inventory, initially undertaken by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following the 1994 earthquake and continued by the $50,000 Getty grant; 2) develop comprehensive performance guidelines and criteria to be incorporated into design requirements for any modernization project at each existing school site that is designated by the District (as a result of the completed inventory) as having specific historical or cultural significance, to be approved by the Board and distributed to all local districts; 3) review rehabilitation and modernization projects affecting the District's historic schools; and 4) assist the District's curriculum staff in developing a model program involving District students in understanding local history by learning about the history of their own school; and be it finally

Resolved, That the District approve $20,000 in salary and benefits for this consultant contract. º

Ms. Korenstein moved:

Whereas, The fourth Tuesday of April was declared by the State Legislature as School Bus Driver's Day, and these drivers are deserving of special public recognition and the highest commendations;

Whereas, The safety of our children rests in the hands of trained school bus drivers every school day;

Whereas, Personal time and energy are expended by school bus drivers in their initial training, maintaining a current license, perfecting their driving skills, and accruing added knowledge of school bus laws through continuing education classes;

Whereas, School bus drivers, through behavior modification techniques, are sometimes asked to assist the students in appropriate interactive peer and adult behavior;

Whereas, School bus drivers often face natural and unexpected hazards in the performance of their duties;

Whereas, Many school bus drivers perform their services for thousands and thousands of accident free miles, year after year; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles proclaim, Tuesday, April 24, 2001, as School Bus Driver's Day throughout the District, and recognize all drivers for their continued and excellent service to the staff and students of the District.

Ms. Castro moved a waiver of Board Rule 72 to allow action on the following motion regarding El Día de los Niños (Day of the Children). Ms. Korenstein seconded the motion, which by general consent was adopted. Ms. Hayes and Ms. Young were absent.

Ms. Castro moved:

Whereas, Children are the nucleus of the family unit;

Whereas, Families should have an established day to value their children and celebrate their childhood;

Whereas, Families, communities and the generations that follow are committed to providing a positive family, social and educational environment for children;

Whereas, El Día de los Niños (The Day of the Children) will serve to bring attention to issues related to children including poverty, abuse, illiteracy and safety;

Whereas, This day will bring communities nationwide to celebrate and uplift all children and ensure they are first in our lives and have a future in this new millennium;

Whereas, El Día de los Niños (The Day of the Children) will provide an opportunity to children to reflect on their future, to articulate their dreams and aspirations, and find comfort and security in the support of their family members and communities; and

Whereas, The Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles supported a similar resolution in 1999; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles declare April 30 of every year as El Día de los Niños (The Day of the Children) throughout the District; and be it

Resolved further, That the Superintendent be directed to urge schools to participate in activities to promote El Día de los Niños (The Day of the Children), and that any materials regarding this activity be made available in the major languages used in the schools.

Accounting and Disbursements No. 1 - Report of Warrants Issued, and Request to Reimburse Revolving Cash Fund and to Reissue Stale Dated Warrants: Assigned to Consent Calendar

Business Services Division No. 1 - Ratification of Amendments and Agreements, Ratification of Agreement for Professional Services Aggregating Over $250,000, Agreements for Professional Services Aggregating Over $250,000, Amendments to Agreements for Professional Services, Amendment to Agreement for Professional Services Aggregating Over $250,000, and Donations: Assigned to Regular Calendar

Educational Services Division No. 1 - Updating District Independent Study Policy: Assigned to Regular Calendar

Educational Services Division No. 2 - Reading Excellence Act Local Reading Improvement Grant: Assigned to Regular Calendar

Facilities Services Division No. 1 - Award of Advertised, Unadvertised and Informal Contracts: Assigned to Consent Calendar

Human Resources No. 1 - Special Education Teacher Credential Waiver Authorizations: Assigned to Consent Calendar

School Management Services No. 1 - Establishment of a New Primary Center‹Belmont/Hollywood Primary Center #2: Assigned to Consent Calendar

Student Health and Human Services No. 1 - Entering into Contract with Los Angeles County Office of Education to Reimburse Administrative Costs Related to California Medi-Cal Assistance Program: Assigned to Regular Calendar

Facilities Services Division No. 2 - Authorization to Enter into an Agreement for the Exchange of Real Estate with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles: Assigned to Regular Calendar

2:00 p.m., Regular Meeting, March 13, 2001
9:30 a.m., Closed Session, March 27, 2001
4:00 p.m., Regular Meeting, March 27, 2001

Mr. Lansing seconded the motion, which by general consent was adopted. Ms. Hayes and Ms. Young were absent.

Whereas, A recent study by the United States Department of Agriculture has shown that junk food that students consume at school is contributing to obesity and other health problems;

Whereas, Studies have shown that consumption of a well balanced meal contributes to higher student achievement;

Whereas, The Los Angeles Unified School District has an obligation to instruct its students about the value of healthy eating;

Whereas, Many of the foods served in District schools are high in fat, salt and sugar content; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles direct the Superintendent to assign appropriate staff to undertake an analysis of foods served in our schools, with respect to their fat, salt and sugar content; and be it further

Resolved, that staff recommend a policy that will lead to better health through nutrition for District students.

There will be a special Business, Finance, Audit and Technology Committee meeting on April 28, 2001, at 9 a.m., in Room H-160 (Board Room) for a Preliminary Budget workshop.

Mr. Richard Selby Psychological Services

Mr. George Buzzetti Accountability

Ms. Petra Jones Physical Education Field at Gage Middle School

Ms. Jessica Acuna Physical Education Field at Gage Middle School

Mr. Brandon Anderson in place of Physical Education Field at Gage Middle School
Mary Yarborough

Mr. Mike Goldbush in place of Physical Education Field at Gage Middle School
Connie Sanchez

Mr. Michael Saulenas Toxins

Ms. Susan Rocha Special Education Issues

Ms. Margaret Villegas representing Transportation Issues
Teamsters

Mr. Jeff Carr Proposed South Gate High School Sites

Ms. Geri Kenyon School Violence

In Section 1, withdrawing Case No. 292-00/01, and adopting the report as amended.

Mr. Lansing seconded the motion, which by general consent was adopted. Ms. Hayes and Ms. Young were absent.

APPROVED BY BOARD: May 8, 2001

____________________________________ ______________________________________
GENETHIA HUDLEY HAYES JEFFERSON CRAIN
PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BOARD

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