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
5:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 24, 2003
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 June 24, 2003, at the Los Angeles City Board of
Education Administrative Offices, Board Room, 333 South Beaudry, Los Angeles, California.
President Caprice Young called the meeting to order at 6:21 p.m.
The following Members were present: Ms. Marlene Canter, Mr. José Huizar, Ms. Genethia Hudley Hayes,
Ms. Julie Korenstein, Mr. Mike Lansing, Mr. David Tokofsky, and President Caprice Young.
Superintendent Roy Romer was present.
BOARD MEMBER MOTION
Ms. Noma Le Moine, Director of the Academic English Mastery Programs and Programs for Standard
English Language Learners; Ms. Jean Brown, Director of the Administrative Academy; Ms. Alnita Dunn,
Special Education Psychological Services Coordinator; Ms. Mary Lewis, Director of Teacher Certification
Unit - District Intern Program; Ms. Ronni Ephraim, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Support
Services; Ms. Peggy Taylor Presley, Coordinator of Teacher Support; Mr. Richard Burrows, Director of
the Arts Education Branch; Mr. Ebrahim Maddahian, Program Evaluation & Research Coordinator;
Dr. Sylvia Rousseau, Local District I Superintendent; and Dr. Laurence Moore and Ms. Ramona Smith,
representing the Specially Funded and Parent/Community Program; made a presentation regarding some of
the training and instruction being used to support the African American Learners Initiative.
- - - -
During the presentation, President Young passed the gavel to Ms. Canter.
- - - -
President Young resumed the Chair after the staff presentation.
- - - -
Mr. Kwaku Duren addressed the Board on Ms. Hayes' motion.
Ms. Hayes moved a waiver of Board Rule 72. Mr. Lansing seconded the motion, which by general consent
was adopted. Mr. Tokofsky was absent.
Ms. Hayes moved:
- Whereas, The Board voted in June 2001 to approve the African American Learners Initiative, a
resolution committed to improving the academic performance of African American students and all
others;
- Whereas, The offices of instruction have devised an action plan based on national scholarship, data and
pedagogy that supports the efficacy of culturally relevant instruction as a strategy for improving the
academic performance of African American students and all others; and
Whereas, The target goals of this action plan include increasing the number of African American
students and other students who achieve at the standard or higher (50th percentile) in reading and
mathematics; improving their access to A-G classes; implementing priority staffing of highly qualified
teachers for local districts with the highest concentration of impoverished students; reducing the
numbers of African American students and other students who are assigned to special education and
increasing the assignment of African American students and other underrepresented students to Gifted
and Talented programs; employing culturally relevant professional development district-wide; and
acknowledging parent and community outreach as a key element in the academic success of African
American students and all others; now, therefore, be it
- Resolved, That The Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles approve the action plan for the
African American Learners Initiative with the full understanding that it is a working document that will
be revisited and reassessed in accordance with the findings of central and local district staff to address
the needs of low achieving students;
- Resolved further, That the Board mandate that each Local District, in accordance with the provisions of
the action plan, be required to continue working with the Office of Instruction to devise systemic
strategies for improving the academic outcomes of African American students and all others; and be it
- Resolved finally, That the plan will be subject to ongoing internal and external monitoring and
evaluation by the district's Program Evaluation and Research Branch and community-based and
academic organizations.
Ms. Young seconded the motion, which by general consent was adopted. Mr. Tokofsky was absent.
Ms. Korenstein moved that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Lansing seconded the motion, which by general
consent was adopted.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
- - - -
At 10:39 p.m, Ms. Young moved to reconvene the meeting to allow Mr. Tokofsky to vote on Ms. Hayes'
motion. Ms. Canter seconded the motion, which by general consent was adopted. Ms. Korenstein and
Mr. Lansing were absent.
- - - -
Mr. Tokofsky recorded an aye vote on the motion. The final vote was unanimous.
Ms. Young moved that the meeting be adjourned. Ms. Canter seconded the motion, which by general
consent was adopted. Ms. Korenstein and Mr. Lansing were absent.
The meeting adjourned at 10:41 p.m.
APPROVED BY BOARD: July 22, 2003
______________________________________ ______________________________________
CAPRICE YOUNG JEFFERSON CRAIN
PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BOARD
st