President Caprice Young called the meeting to order at 2:27 a.m.

The following Board Members were present: Ms. Marlene Canter, Ms. Genethia Hudley Hayes, Mr. José Huizar, Ms. Julie Korenstein, Mr. Mike Lansing, Mr. David Tokofsky, and President Caprice Young.

President Young announced this was the first meeting held in the Board Room at the new District headquarters and invited Mr. James McConnell, Chief Facilities Executive, to update the public on the move to 333 South Beaudry. Mr. McConnell stated that approximately 1,300 of District employees are now housed in the new facilities with the next move-in phase to occur in the spring of 2003. This new headquarters will allow the District to free up two new school sites, one for Central Los Angeles High School No. 9, which will deliver 1,584 new high school seats, and Central Los Angeles High School No. 10, which will deliver an additional 1,713 high school or middle school seats.

The Board has received the District's initial proposal to 2002-03 Initial Negotiating Proposal for Unit A - School Police, Unit B - Instructional Aides, Unit C- Operations Support Services, Unit F - Teachers Aides, Unit G - Playground Aides, Unit D - Office Technical & Business Services, Unit E - Skilled Crafts, and Unit S - Classified Supervisors.

There will be an opportunity to address the Board on the initial proposals at the Regular Board meetings of September 10 and September 24, 2002. Those persons who wish to address the Board on the proposals should call Area Code (213) 241-7002 prior to 10 a.m. the days of the meetings.

Mr. Sam Kressner, Chair of the District-wide Health and Welfare Benefits Committee responded to questions by Board Members.

By general consent, the report was adopted.

Dr. Roger Rasmussen, Director of the Independent Analysis Unit, provided an independent review of the 2002-03 Final Budget. He stated that based on his analysis the District could afford to increase its ongoing General Fund Regular Program expenditures by approximately $53 million, without exceeding its ongoing income. He further stated that his assessment of the budget would be improved after having additional discussion with District staff in the areas where there are some differences.

Dr. Rasmussen responded to questions by Board Members regarding Worker's Compensation.

Mr. Tokofsky moved the report be adopted with the amendment requested by the Superintendent to use $106 million of the ending balance as follows:

To Balance the Provisional Budget and Cover Cuts
that Cannot Be Implemented $14.7 Ongoing
Assistant Principal, Elementary Instruction
Specialist Restoration of l/2 Cohort $4.8 Ongoing
Fund Programs in State Audit Schools $11.0 One-Time
Employee Health and Welfare $56 Ongoing
Worker's Compensation - Unfunded Liability $20 One-Time

Total $106

Undesignated Funds $ 26

Mr. Lansing seconded the motion.

The following speakers addressed the Board on the report:

Mr. Gene Krischer, Friends of the Children

Mr. George Buzzetti

Ms. Lorena Jaramillo

Mr. Howard Watts

Staff responded to questions by Board Members regarding the 10 State Audit Schools and the Assistant Principal Elementary Instructional Specialist position.

After discussion, and as suggested by the Superintendent, the "Background" Section of the report (Page 2) was amended by adding a fifth goal:

The Superintendent's 2002-03 Final Budget provides funding to meet the District
four five overriding goals for the new fiscal year, which are defined as the following:

1. To close the achievement gap between all students.

1 2. Improved student reading and writing skills for all grade levels.

2 3. Improved student skills and understanding in mathematics for all grade levels.

3 4. Focused professional development as the key to improved classroom practices.

4 5. Adequate classroom space.

This amendment was accepted as a friendly amendment by the maker and seconder of the motion.

Later in the meeting, Mr. Huizar moved to amend the report as follows:

1. Appropriate $350,000 from the General Fund to the Ethics Office, for fiscal year
2002-03 and thereafter for the purpose of implementing the lobbyist registration
system and the expansion of the conflict of interest reporting (as outlined in the
Ethics Officer informative provided at the Business, Finance, Audit and Technology Committee on August 15, 2002). A portion of these funds to be used to implement the Ethics "Helpline."

2. This appropriation shall be effective immediately.

3.The Ethics Officer be instructed to provide quarterly reports to the Board of Education, beginning with a report in December 2002, on the impacts of this appropriation.

Ms. Canter seconded the motion.

Mr. Tokofsky moved to postpone action on the Mr. Huizar's motion to the Regular Board meeting of September 24, 2002, with the budget and authority as indicated by the Superintendent.

Mr. Lansing seconded the motion, which on roll call failed 4 noes, 3 ayes, Ms. Korenstein,
Mr. Lansing, Mr. Tokofsky.

On roll call, the motion was adopted 5 ayes, 2 noes Ms. Korenstein, Mr. Lansing.

Mr. Huizar moved the following amendment:

That the Superintendent be instructed to appropriate funds as necessary and present to the Board of Education budgets for fiscal year 2003-04 and fiscal year 2004-05 with the following Board policies:

2.Instruct the Superintendent to report back to the Board within 90 days with an analysis of impacts of such policies on: A) a phased-in approach that would implement the reversal of class size such as:

High Schools - Beginning with fiscal year 2003-04 or 2004-5, all high schools (grades 9-12) shall return to the norm levels prior to the class size increase that was approved by the Board of Education during the First Interim Budget of fiscal year 2002-03.

Middle Schools and Grade 4 through 6 - Beginning with fiscal year 2003-04 or 2004-05 (the beginning of the fiscal year July 1, 2004), all middle schools (grades 6-8), and grades 4 and 5, shall return to the norm levels prior to the class size increase that was approved by the Board during the First Interim Budget of fiscal year 2002-03.

The report shall contain, based on the phased-in approach above, such things as: B) The operational impacts on year-round schools, and traditional schools; and C) issues of busing and facilities/housing needs.

Ms. Hayes seconded the motion.

After discussion, the maker of the motion, with the consent of the seconder, withdrew the amendment, with the understanding that it would be introduced at the Regular Board Meeting on September 10, 2002, for action on September 24.

On roll call, the report as amended was adopted 4 ayes, 2 abstentions, Mr. Huizar, Ms. Korenstein,
1 no, Ms. Hayes.

• Reduce Funding for Contracted Consultants by $3.2

• Reduce the Operations Division by $500,000

• Reduce the general fund contributions to the Facilities Division by $20 million for a 7 percent total cut to the Division.

• Reduce Classified Personnel Overtime. Ms. Canter seconded the motion.

Superintendent's staff, in consultation with the Inspector General and the Independent Analysis Unit, will present to the Human Resources Committee in October, a review of Overtime Use, its cost, and impact with any recommendations for a Board policy.

• The Superintendent will present to the Business, Finance, Audit and Technology Committee a proposal to convert more District schools to Community Day Schools to generate an additional $5 million of revenue as was done with six Opportunity Schools. Ms. Canter seconded the motion.

• Examine local and central district office functions to determine where District services can be consolidated at the central district level in order to maximize efficiency.

  After discussion, it was agreed to change it as follows:
  

Adopted as Amended: General Consent

Ms. Hayes moved a waiver of Board Rule 72 in order to allow action on the following motion regarding Operation Bright Future. Ms. Korenstein seconded the motion, which by general consent was adopted. Ms. Canter, Mr. Huizar, and Mr. Lansing were absent.

Ms. Hayes moved:

Whereas, Chronic truancy is a problem in our community resulting in an increase in gang membership and juvenile crime, lower academic achievement, the increased victimization of children, and the loss of money for our schools;

Whereas, Chronic truancy is a powerful indicator of juvenile delinquency and future gang membership;

Whereas, A youth is three times more likely to join a gang when the youth has low school attachment, low academic achievement, or learning disabilities;

Whereas, Studies show that 44% of violent juvenile crime takes place during school hours;

Whereas, 21% of victims of crime committed during school hours are juveniles;

Whereas, Studies show that truancy impacts a child's future ­ high-school dropouts are 2 times more likely to be on welfare than high school graduates and 82% of incarcerated males dropped out of school;

Whereas, The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office wishes to collaborate with the Los Angeles Unified School District in a truancy prevention program called Operation Bright Future;

Whereas, Operation Bright Future will target the parents of sixth grade students to teach them their legal responsibility to send their children to school and the legal consequences if they do not; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles endorse Operation Bright Future, a collaboration between the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles Unified School District, to combat truancy.

On motion by Ms. Korenstein, seconded by Ms. Hayes, the meeting was adjourned by general consent at 5:23 p.m. Ms. Canter, Mr. Huizar, and Mr. Lansing were absent.

APPROVED BY THE BOARD ON: September 24, 2002

____________________________________ __________________________________
CAPRICE YOUNG JEFFERSON CRAIN
PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BOARD