BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES

Governing Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District

 

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

333 South Beaudry Avenue, Board Room

1:30 p.m. Thursday, September 30, 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 September 30, 2004, at the Administrative Offices, 333 South Beaudry Avenue, Board Room.

 

Vice President Marlene Canter called the meeting to order at 1:39 p.m.

 

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

Mr. Mike Lansing arrived at 1:45 p.m.  Mr. JosŽ Huizar was absent.

 

Mr. Lauritzen led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Superintendent Roy Romer was present.

 

Superintendent Romer highlighted some of the current events going on in the District and discussed the following elements of Small Learning Communities:

 

      ¥ the  process by which decisions will be made;

      ¥ the way to delegate appropriate autonomy with accountability; and

      ¥ the creation of a Òcommunity of interestÓ with parent and teacher involvement.

 

Dr. Lilliam Castillo, Executive Officer to the Superintendent, and Kathy Rattay, Director, Educational Options, Academy and Career Development Branch, commented on the grants provided by the Federal government through the State Department of Education.  Ms. Rattay introduced Mr. Michael Butler from Public Works who presented the findings of his evaluation of small schools and small learning communities in the District.   He indicated the evaluation uses the 2002-03 as the baseline year.

 

In response to Board Members questions, Mr. Richard Sheehan, Special Counsel to the Board, clarified that speakers must be heard before voting on the board report or the motion.  The Board gave an option to the speakers to speak at this meeting or when the items are before the Board for action. 

 

- - - -

Vice President Canter modified the Order of Business.

- - - -

 

BOARD MEMBER MOTION

 

DRAFT

 

Ms. LaMotteÕs motion regarding Adherence to the Promotional Examination Process was assigned to the Human Resources Committee:

 

Resolved, That the Los Angeles Unified School District implement and utilize a merit based promotional examination system for all certificated promotional administrative classifications with five or more positions, and who are members of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles;

 

Resolved further,That any circumvention of this motion by means of Administrative Regulations 4213 and 4214 receive approval by the majority of the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles;

 

Resolved further, That the Board directs the Superintendent to bring back within 60 days a proposal for an examination process, which would include:

 

            ¥     An assessment center

 

            ¥     Confidential tracers

 

            ¥     A ranked list incorporating a rule of five

 

            ¥     A process by which qualified candidates on an existing list would be integrated into newly established lists; and be it finally

 

            Resolved, That if this proposal is not acceptable, the Superintendent must submit a proposal to the Board to eliminate all promotional examinations and allow local and general superintendents to make all administrative assignments.

 

Ms. LaMotteÕs motion regarding Promotion and Transfer of Principals and Teachers was assigned to the Human Resources Committee:

 

Whereas, There has been no policy directing the promotion and transfer of principals and teachers from low performing schools (API 1-3) to central district positions after school has officially opened at the beginning of the school year;

 

Whereas, One of the goals of this District is to eliminate the achievement gap;

 

Whereas, Removing teachers and principals for promotions once school has begun disrupts the teaching-learning process for the school and adversely affects the academic performance and achievement level of the school;

 

Whereas, Long-range planning is imperative in effectively operating our schools; and

 

Whereas, If a waiver is granted, the assigned principal will not leave the school until a permanent principal has been assigned; now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved, That assignments, which require the transfer of a principal or teacher, must be made prior to the opening of school to minimize disruption to the schoolÕs learning environment; and be it

 

Resolved further, That this motion may be waived only after an exhaustive search has been

done for personnel whose transfer would not negatively impact the instructional or operational environment of the school.  Waivers must be approved by the local district and general superintendents and a school-community meeting hosted by the local district must be called to communicate the proposed change.

 

- - - -

Vice President Canter resumed the Order of Business.

- - - -

 

The following speakers addressed the Board on small learning communities:

 

      Mr. Doug Waybright representing the Senior High PrincipalsÕ Organization

      Mr. Steve Jubb representing Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools

      Mr. Steve Bachrach

      Mr. Jim Patterson

      Mr. John Fernandez

      Ms. Linda Guthrie representing United Teachers Los Angeles

      Ms. Laurie Fidler

      Mr. Mathew Taylor

      Mr. Manuel Aldana

      Ms. Lisa Milton

      Mr. Alvaro Bueno

      Ms. Lorena Jaramillo

      Mr. Tony Jackson

 

Superintendent Romer briefly discussed the budgetary impact and other matters regarding small learning communities.  He mentioned that some aspects of the policy need to be negotiated with the bargaining agencies and responded to questions from Board Members.

 

- - - -

The meeting recessed at 3:31 p.m. to reconvene at 1:00 p.m., on October 5, 2004.

- - - -

 

The Board reconvened the recessed meeting of September 30, 2004, at 1:34 p.m.  The following Board Members were present:  Ms. Korenstein, Mr. Lansing, Mr. Lauritzen, Mr. Tokofsky, and Vice President Canter.  Ms. LaMotte arrived at 1:35 p.m.  Mr. Huizar was absent.

 

 

The following speakers addressed the Board:

 

      Ms. Linda Guthrie, in place of Dr. Mike OÕSullivan, representing United Teachers Los Angeles

 

      Mr. Dan Isaacs representing Associated Administrators of Los Angeles

 

Superintendent Romer commented that for the last four years staff has been working on this issue as demonstrated by the grants from the Federal government with great involvement by principals, teachers, and others.  This policy will structure the DistrictÕs continued efforts in small school reform.

Every proposal will start at the school level and will come for approval to a Central District Committee, where each proposal will be evaluated for recommendation to the Board. 

Ms. Sylvia Rousseau, Mr. Robert Collins, Ms. Rowena Lagrosa, Dr. Dale Vigil, Local District Superintendents, made brief presentations to the Board.

 

Superintendent Romer urged the Board to adopt both the policy and the motion.

 

Ms. Rousseau, Dr. Castillo, Ms. Lagrosa, Mr. James Delker, Deputy Chief Executive for Existing Facilities, and Superintendent Romer responded to concerns expressed by Board Members.

 

After discussion, Mr. Lansing moved a motion to call the question to end discussion.  Ms. Korenstein seconded the motion, which on roll call was adopted 6 ayes.  Mr. Huizar was absent.

 

REGULAR CALENDAR

 

Board of Education Revised Report No. 63 - 04/05

Small Learning Communities

 

Ms. Korenstein moved that the report be adopted.  Mr. Lauritzen seconded the motion, which on roll call was adopted 5 ayes, 1 no, Mr. Tokofsky.  Mr. Huizar was absent.

 

BOARD MEMBER MOTION (Continued)

 

ACTION

 

Ms. Korenstein moved the following motion regarding Small Learning Communities:

 

Resolved, That no General Fund Money be used for  Small Learning Communities in Fiscal Year 2004-2005.

 

Whereas, The Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles is committed to increasing the numbers of students who graduate from high school and ensuring equal access to post-secondary opportunities;

 

Whereas, Educational research and experience demonstrate that students do better academically when they feel a connection with their schools, and small schools are a hopeful avenue for the improvement of urban public education;

 

Whereas, Small Learning Communities should have a distinct and compelling vision, mission, goals and objectives as well as identity that is clearly recognizable hence creating a spirit of collaboration among stakeholders;

 

Whereas, Small Learning Communities, generally ranging from 300-600 350-500 students, provide a personalized learning environment where every student is well known by a group of educators;

 

Whereas, Small Learning Communities have an inclusive admission policy reflective of the diverse student population and should mirror that of the former large comprehensive high school;

 

Whereas, Teacher learning and planning time are an integral part of Small Learning Communities; therefore, Small Learning Communities develop their own professional development component that will honor all District initiatives, while focusing on the needs of the students within a particular Small Learning Community;

 

Whereas, Small Learning Communities provide coherent, rigorous standards-based curriculum and culturally linguistically responsive pedagogy that provide a continuous educational experience across a range of grades;

 

Whereas, Students will be expected to demonstrate mastery of the California State standards in order to graduate; and

 

Whereas, Small Learning Communities seek out community partners, whose identities help to shape and support the educational process inside and outside the school; now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved, That the Superintendent and his staff provide timely and regular feedback on the progress of the implementation and receipt of grant awards and report by October 1 on all past federal, state, and private grants for Small Learning Communities as well as provide their evaluations and proposals;

 

Resolved further, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles instructs the Superintendent of Schools and his staff to redirect appropriate existing resources and seek additional outside funding in the form of grants to support planning, design, professional development, and implementation activities for Small School Learning Communities;

 

Resolved further, That each Small Learning Community will may develop an assessment schedule as well as monitoring system for evaluating student progress and informing instruction in addition to state and District mandated instruction and assessments;

 

Resolved further, That Small Learning CommunitiesÕ curriculum will may be developed by the Small Learning Community group and be fully aligned to state and District standards; and be it finally

 

Resolved, That the Small Learning Communities will be approved for a maximum of five years by the local schoolÕs governance structure model and may be submitted on appeal to the Central Small Learning Communities committee or local superintendent and alternatively or on second appeal to the Board of Education upon recommendation by the local school site council, the Local District Superintendent, and the Central Small Learning Communities Committee, for approval by the Superintendent with appeal to the Board of Education.  If a disposition is not made within ninety (90) days, it may be brought directly to the Board of Education.

 

Mr. Lauritzen seconded the motion, which on roll call was adopted 6 ayes.  Mr. Huizar was absent.

 

DRAFT

 

Ms. Canter, Mr. Tokofsky - Targeted Instructional Improvement Grant Funding

 

Whereas, The Los Angeles Unified School District conversion charter schools serve District students;

 

Whereas, Funding for Targeted Instructional Improvement Grant (TIIG) is the court-ordered desegregation and voluntary integration program funding; and

 

Whereas, TIIG funding reduces the harm of racial isolation and meets court orders still in force in conversion charter schools; now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles directs the Superintendent to restore all TIIG resources previously allocated to conversion charter schools for fiscal year 2004-2005; and be it

 

Resolved, That the Board directs the Superintendent to conduct a full review to determine whether TIIG funding should continue to be allocated to conversion charter schools beyond fiscal year 2004-2005.

 

Ms. Modesta Bassity, Coordinator of Student Integration Services, and Mr. Mark Shrager, Deputy Budget Director, made a brief presentation regarding the discontinuance of resources for 7 conversion charter schools totalling approximately $2.2 million and the calculation of TIIG funding.

 

Ms. Bassity and Dr. Ott responded to questions from Board Members.

     

On motion by Mr. Lauritzen, seconded by Ms. LaMotte, the meeting adjourned by general consent at 3:48 p.m.   Mr. Huizar, Mr. Lansing, and Mr. Tokofsky were absent.

 

 

APPROVED BY THE BOARD:   November 23, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________                                    ___________________________________

            MARLENE CANTER                                                      JEFFERSON CRAIN

              VICE PRESIDENT                                      EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BOARD