III. Students' Concerns

Student Members Heather Whitlow of Westchester High School, Dylan Redmon of Fairfax High School, and Elizabeth Bernier of Hamilton High School

Our Kids, Our Schools - Review of Proposition BB Progress

A.Board of Education Report No. 2 ADOPTED

(1997-2000 Memorandum of Understanding Between the Los Angeles Unified School District and the California School Employees Association for Unit D {Office-Technical and Business Services})

B.Board of Education Report No. 1 ADOPTED

(Adoption of Traditional, LEARN, and Multitrack Year-Round Calendars for School Year 1999-2000)

Facilities Services Division No. 1

(Award of Advertised and Unadvertised Contracts)

Facilities Services Division No. 2

(Appointment of Architect for San Fernando/Sylmar New ES No. 2 (Pacoima MS) Project)

C.Audit Committee Report No. 1 ADOPTED

(Agreement for Audit Services)

Facilities Services Division No. 1

(Request for Proposition BB Funding for a New Primary Center and to Upgrade Buildings for Previously Authorized Primary Centers)

VII. Regular Calendar ­ Communications Dated January 26, 1998

E.Board of Education Report No. 2 ADOPTED

(1997-98 Class Size Reduction Program (K-3) - Certification of Implementation)

F.Board of Education Report No. 3 ADOPTED

(1998-99 Budget Development Calendar)

G.Board of Education Report No. 4 ADOPTED

(Agreements and Amendments, and Personal/Professional Agreements, Personal/Professional Services Agreements Aggregating $50,000 and Over Requested by Clusters and Offices)

(Cash Management Investment Policy)

I.Board of Education Report No. 5 ADOPTED AS AMENDED (See Minutes)

J.Board of Education Report No. 6 ADOPTED

(Liability Insurance Claims, Employee Reimbursement Program Payments, Self-Insured Liability Program Payments, Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Program Payments, Rejection of Liability Claims, and Property Damage Reimbursement)

K.Board of Education Report No. 7 ADOPTED

(Student Expulsions)

L.Board of Education Report No. 8 ADOPTED

(Routine Personnel Actions)

M.Board of Education Report No. 9 ADOPTED

(Classified Employees Suspension-Dismissals and Dismissals)

N.Ms. Castro - Greening Proposal (Noticed January 12, 1998)- Discussed in Facilities Committee on February 5, 1998 ADOPTED AS AMENDED (See Minutes)

Whereas, The Proposition BB Blue Ribbon Citizens' Oversight Committee has approved a motion to plant lawns and trees on playgrounds scheduled to receive Proposition BB funds, replacing up to one-third, or nearly 20 million square feet, of asphalt;

Whereas, The planting of lawns and trees, also known as "greening," presents countless benefits to Los Angeles schools and neighborhoods, including reduced pollution and exposure to ultraviolet light, a safer, more exercise-friendly environment and greater educational opportunities for students;

Whereas, Non-profit groups will continue their commitment to "greening" schools by supplying the District with volunteer labor and trees free of charge;

Whereas, "Greening" will eventually lower energy costs by shading school buildings and grounds, thus reducing the District's reliance on air conditioning; and

Whereas, Because of budget cuts to staff there are presently not enough gardeners and gardening equipment to attend to the immediate maintenance needs from any new greenery; now, therefore,

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles instruct the Superintendent to include in his 1998 budget the nearly $1 million in funds necessary to pay for the first-year costs associated with the "greening" proposal; and be it

Resolved further, That the Superintendent include in future budgets the funds necessary to cover the ongoing costs associated with this proposal.

Resolved further, That the Board instruct the Superintendent to include in future budgets the funds necessary to continue to pay for the costs associated with the "greening" proposal and phasing in over a five-year period the recommended gardening positions and equipment.

O.Mr. Kiriyama - National School Breakfast Week ADOPTED

Whereas, National School Breakfast Week is observed in March each year and its theme for 1998 is "Get Up for School Breakfast";

Whereas, The Los Angeles Unified School District provides a school breakfast program in every school and child care program in the District, and serves more than 216,000 breakfast meals daily, constituting the largest school breakfast program in the United States;

Whereas, Numerous studies have shown that children who eat breakfast perform better in school, are more creative than those who skip the morning meal, and are able to work faster and make fewer mistakes than students who do not eat breakfast; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles join other school districts throughout the Nation to observe the week of March 2-6, 1998, as National School Breakfast Week; and be it

Resolved further, That the Board of Education continue its support of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs and nutrition education for the District's students.

P.Mr. Tokofsky - Government Pension Offset (Waiver of Board Rule 72) ADOPTED AS AMENDED (See Minutes)

Whereas, In the 1960's, employees of state and local governments were given the opportunity, as a group, to elect whether or not to participate in the Social Security system;

Whereas, In the 1960's and 1970's public employees in 36 states opted to enroll in the Social Security system;

Whereas, In the 1960's and 1970's public employees in 14 states, and a number of local governments, chose to maintain and enhance their own retirement systems;

Whereas, In 1977, Congress enacted legislation requiring a dollar-for-dollar reduction of Social Security benefits to retired individuals, whose federal, state, or local government employer did not participate in Social Security;

Whereas, These individuals, primarily in 14 states, would have been otherwise entitled to Social Security spousal benefits based on their spouse's private sector employment;

Whereas, The present system creates a tremendous inequity in distribution of Social Security benefits to surviving spouses of retirees covered by Social Security;

Whereas, The law does not provide such an offset in the case of persons receiving a private pension;

Whereas, According to the Congressional Budget Office, the government pension offset reduced benefits for some 200,000 individuals by more than $300 per month, a loss of some $750 million in income; and

Whereas, The spousal benefit is wiped out in nine of ten cases where the surviving spouse is a public employee with a separate retirement other than Social Security, even though the covered spouse paid taxes for many years to earn the right to this benefit; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles support efforts that would legislatively move toward correcting this inequity;

Resolved further, That the Board of Education support the current HR 2273 sponsored by Representatives William Jefferson (D-La) and J. D. Hayworth (R-Az), and a companion bill,

S 1365 sponsored by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md), that would amend Title II of the Social Security Act to limit the so-called government pension offset and to protect low and middle-income retirees affected by this provision, and urge an amendment to eliminate the entire social security offset; and be it

Resolved further, To direct the Deputy Superintendent of Government Relations and Public Affairs to communicate the District's support concerns to members of Congress and urge them to reinstate equity among public and private employees by restoring to eligible survivors the full Social Security benefit earned by their spouses.

Board of Education

Q.Accounting and Disbursements Division No. 1 CONSENT

(Report of Warrants Issued, Request to Reimburse Revolving Cash Fund, and Request to Reissue Stale Dated Warrants)

R.Budget Services and Financial Planning Division No. 1 CONSENT

(Ratification of Revised Unique Multitrack Year-Round Calendars for Canoga Park Elementary School for School Year 1997-98)

S.Budget Services and Financial Planning Division No. 2 CONSENT

(Ratification of Revised Unique Calendar for Watts Learning Center Charter School for School Year 1997-98)

T.Business Services Division No. 1 REGULAR

(Ratification of Agreements and Amendments, Personal/Professional Services Agreements, Personal/Professional Services Agreements Aggregating $50,000 and Donation of Money)

U.Facilities Services Division No. 1 REGULAR

V.Facilities Services Division No. 2 CONSENT

W.Facilities Services Division No. 3 CONSENT

(Appointment of Architect for Lincoln High School Project)

X.Facilities Services Division No. 4 REGULAR

(Amendment to Lease of Property for District Use - Budget Services Branch)

Y.Facilities Services Division No. 5 CONSENT

(Authorization to Advance Proposition BB Funds for South Gate New High School)

Z.Personnel Division No. 1 CONSENT

AA.Personnel Division No. 2 CONSENT

(Notice of Release/Reassignment for Appropriate Certificated Management/Supervisory/ Confidential Employees and All Contract Management Employees)

BB.School Management Services No. 1 REGULAR

(1998-99 Relief of Overcrowding Planning)

CC.Budget Services and Financial Planning Division No. 1 CONSENT

School Safety and Campus Environment Committee

CC-1.Office of the Superintendent No. 1 REGULAR

XI. Approval of Minutes APPROVED

DD.3:00 p.m., Special Meeting, June 26, 1995

1:00 p.m., Regular Meeting, July 17, 1995

1:00 p.m., Regular Meeting, February 24, 1997

2:00 p.m., Regular Meeting, December 15, 1997

2:00 p.m., Regular Meeting, January 12, 1998

10:00 a.m., Closed Session, January 26, 1998

XII. Correspondence and Petitions

EE.Report of Correspondence APPROVED

FF.Mr. Tokofsky - Motion to Establish an Office of Inspector General (Noticed November 3, 1997)

Whereas, the Los Angeles Unified School District projects one billion six hundred million dollars ($1,600,000,000) annually in business, construction, and consulting contracts for the next 10 years, adding an additional approximate four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) in voter approved Proposition BB funds;

Whereas, such funds should be allocated in the most cost-effective basis that prevents tax dollar waste or abuse; and

Whereas, the District wishes to avoid even the appearance of lax controls over these new expenditures; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles establish the Office of Inspector General and appoint an Inspector General to a term of office of five years, which may be renewed once for a total of 10 years; and be it

Resolved further, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles convene a panel of at least three members of the Association of Inspectors General to screen and recommend candidates for the selection of an Inspector General; and be it

Resolved further, That the selection panel use the following criteria when making their selection: That the inspector general shall have verifiable experience in criminal investigations and prosecutions, the conducting of audits, public administration, conflict of interest and campaign finance laws, and any additional skill or knowledge necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of an inspector general; and be it

Resolved further, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles shall select the inspector general from the candidates recommended by the panel of Inspectors General; and be it

Resolved further, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles establish policies and procedures for the removal from his or her position as Inspector General if 1) a two-thirds majority of its members votes for the removal; or 2) if the Inspector General is found to have violated a state or federal law or regulation, local ordinance, or a policy or practice of the Board, relative to ethical practices, including, but not limited to, the acceptance of gifts or contributions; and be it

Resolved further, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles define the duties of the Inspector General as being responsible for auditing and investigating any and all matters regarding the operations, activities, construction, and expenditures of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles, District and Board staff, and District contractors and subcontractors. The authority of the Inspector General shall also include investigation of possible conflicts of interest, improper communications with Board Members on potential contracts before contract awards, or other ethical violations and be it

Resolved further, That the Inspector General shall have subpoena power as authorized by state and local codes or granted powers and the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles acknowledges that any investigatory file compiled by the inspector general is an investigatory file compiled by a law enforcement agency subject to disclosure pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 6254 of the Government Code; and be it

Resolved further, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles direct the Inspector General to establish procedures to require that a prequalification questionnaire be completed by each construction company, engineering firm, consultant, legal firm, product vendor, and any other business entity seeking to contract with the board for the furnishing of goods or services. The Board will establish polices and procedures to prohibit the District from entering into a contract or doing business with any firm that knowingly provides false information on the questionnaire. The questionnaire shall solicit information regarding the firm including, but not limited to the following subjects: (1) Experience; (2) Quality and timeliness of past performance; (3) Reliability and responsibility; (4) Compliance with wage, hours, and other fair; (5) Compliance with equal employment requirements; (6) Subcontractors used by the firm; (7) Integrity of the firm and its key personnel; (8) Gifts given, or contributions made, to members, alternate members, or employees of the Board; (9) Lawsuits filed against the firm and their dispositions; and be it

Resolved further, That the Inspector General shall, at a noticed public meeting of the Board of Education, report quarterly on the following: (a) School construction, design, and repair contracts, including expenditures on such projects for consultants, attorneys, developers, and construction firms; b) Expenditures of funds allocated by Proposition BB and any future bond measures approved by the voters for school construction, design, or repair; (c) Travel, meals, and refreshments, private club dues, membership fees and charges, and any other expenditures which are specified by the Board; (d) A report on savings or recommendations for savings; and be it

Resolved further, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles fund the Office of Inspector General using existing District resources, which may include redirecting funds which would otherwise be allocated to the Independent Analysis Unit or the recently established Special Audits Branch.

GG.Ms. Fields and Mr. Kiriyama - Regular Board Meeting Schedules (Noticed December 15, 1997)

Whereas, The Board has a significant responsibility as the policy making body of the Los Angeles Unified School District;

Whereas, The history of the L.A. City Board of Education reveals that prior to 1976, the Board held regular meetings every Monday and Thursday; in the 1976-77 school year the Board reduced its regular meetings to once a week; and beginning in the 1991-92 school year to the present, the Board has held its regular meetings twice a month to do the Public's business;

Whereas, The fulfillment of the Board's duties requires informed decision making taking into account recommendations from the Superintendent, his staff and community members;

Whereas, The volume of District business requiring the Board Members' attention has increased necessitating substantially more preparation time and resulting in extended board meetings; and

Whereas, The Board has an interest in reducing any delays felt by schools because of several factors, including but not limited to the number of agenda items due to the passage of Prop. BB and class size reduction; now, therefore, be it

Resolved That, the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles make all necessary changes to the rules, policies and procedures of the District to allow the body to hold its regular meetings on the first, second, third and fourth Monday of each month at 2 p.m.;

Resolved That, the agenda items be limited to 26 a meeting, with the exception of items of urgency and placed on the agenda by the Board president or the Superintendent;

Resolved That, one Board of Education meeting per month be held in each Board district on a rotating basis; and be it

Resolved further That, the above resolutions be implemented on a 10 month trial basis and reviewed at that time before becoming permanent.

HH.Mr. Horton, Mrs. Boudreaux, Ms. Castro - Spending Limits on School Administration (95/5 Ballot Initiative)(Noticed January 26, 1998) ASSIGNED TO BUSINESS OPERATIONS/ PERSONNEL COM.ON 2/19/98

Whereas, The Initiative proposes that, beginning in the 1999-2000 fiscal year and every year thereafter, no more than five percent of all funds received by school districts (all federal, state and local revenue) shall be expended on administrative costs, as defined by the measure;

Whereas, The Initiative proposes that, beginning in the 1998-99 fiscal year and every year thereafter, each school district shall include in its budget a system indicating the contribution of each expenditure to the achievement of a specific performance objective pursuant to the district's effort to improve pupil performance;

Whereas, The Initiative states that every district failing to comply with any provision of the Initiative shall be fined by the State Board of Education an amount equal to five percent of the basic
per-ADA revenue limit times total ADA;

Whereas, The penalty for the Los Angeles Unified School District would total $116.4 million if the District was to be found out of compliance;

Whereas, The Initiative includes in the five percent, and thus subject to reduction, certain school district costs that protect the safety of students, such as school bus maintenance and repair;

Whereas, The Initiative includes in the five percent, and thus subject to reduction, certain school district costs that provide and protect the quality of educational services provided to students, such as curriculum development, staff development, and supervision of instruction;

Whereas, The Initiative reduces fiscal efficiency by reducing district services provided to school sites, such as data processing, payroll, accounting, bulk purchasing, and warehousing.

Whereas, The Initiative will increase administrative costs at school sites as they assume more administrative responsibilities from the district;

Whereas, The Initiative will increase administrative costs in school districts as they carry out the mandates contained in the Initiative; and

Whereas, The Initiative is opposed by several major statewide educational organizations, including the California State PTA, California School Board Association, Association of California School Administrators, California School Employees Association, Service Employees International Union, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, California Association of School Business Officials, Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, and the League of Women Voters; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles oppose the Spending Limits on School Administration (95/5) Initiative.

II.Mr. Horton - Establishment of Accountability Task Force (Noticed 1-26-98)

Whereas, This school district and its schools are currently organized around compliance with specified procedures rather than around responsibility for student achievement;

Whereas, Every school district employee must take some responsibility for student achievement; and

Whereas, The Board of Education intends to move as rapidly as possible towards a system structured around accountability for student success; now therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles direct the Superintendent to appoint a Task Force on Accountability which shall be charged with recommending to the Board and the Superintendent an organizational structure to create clear accountability at all levels for student achievement.

This Task Force shall develop a plan which will address issues such as:

Resources and procedures for intervention in low performing schools;

The link between employee evaluation, promotion, rewards and sanctions--both individually and collectively--to measurable student achievement;

Meaningful measurements of student achievement;

Resources and organizational changes necessary to institute accountability for student achievement in all aspects of District operations, including schools and classrooms, cluster and central offices;

The effect of decentralization, and the role of central authority; and

Other issues the task force deems appropriate to achieving the goal of reorganizing the schools and the District along proven principles of accountability.

The Task Force shall take into account existing research, educational studies, and proposals on related issues, such as the recently issued report of the California Commission on Rewards and Interventions, the CSBA Focus Group on Accountability, the report of the LEARN Task Force on Assessment and Accountability, and other relevant documents from professional and private sector organizations

The Task Force shall be composed of leading educational experts with direct knowledge and understanding of organizational structures and accountability, with an advisory committee composed of representatives from:

• Organizations of District employees and parents;

• The business community;

• Universities and K-12 educational organizations;

• Other public institutions; and

• Shall also include the Board's Independent Analysis Unit.

In order to move as rapidly as possible, the Superintendent shall appoint the Task Force and report its composition to the Board of Education by the end of February, 1998. The Task Force shall complete its work and submit a set of recommendations to the Board and the Superintendent by the end of May, 1998.

JJ.Ms. Castro - School Construction Program (Noticed 1-26-98)(Discussed in Facilities Committee)

FOR ACTION AT SPECIAL FEBRUARY 17, 1998, BOARD MEETING

Whereas, The Los Angeles Unified School District has participated in the Greene-Lease Purchase School Construction Program since its inception and has completed over 210 new construction and modernization projects totalling over $690 million in the last 11 years;

Whereas, Notwithstanding the increase in and improvement of school facilities mentioned above, the District continues to grapple with severe overcrowding and the resulting need to house students in their neighborhood schools;

Whereas, The District's enrollment has increased by approximately 32,500 students over the last two years; with its total enrollment representing over 12 percent of the entire State of California student population;

Whereas, The District has not benefitted fairly from the existing State School Construction Programs given its complexities and favoring of districts that could match the State's funding prior to 1996; and

Whereas, The District would like to see a State school construction program that includes the following:

• State funding to match the $900 million in new construction and modernization funds set aside from the $2.4 billion bond authorized by the voters in April 1997 (the State will match 50 percent of the total cost of the project);

• long-term State funding guarantee;

• program simplification;

• separation of the Operational Grant and the Greene-Lease Purchase Programs and the restoration of the 40,000 units of lost eligibility;

• revised elementary loading standards to reflect CSR-20:1 ratios in Grades K-3

• guaranteed funding for pipeline projects for which at least a planning approval has been obtained by the State Allocation Board; and

• modernization grant programs that recognizes age of the building; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles authorize the Superintendent to review the various legislative proposals to streamline the current program and provide Statewide funding for school construction and to identify the package that includes the District's goals mentioned above; and be it

Resolved further, That the Board of Education adopt as its position that bill which most adequately addresses the needs of the students of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

KK.Mr. Kiriyama and Ms. Fields - Restoration of Visual Arts Education INSTRUCTION/ CURRICULUM AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE, MARCH 12, 1998

Whereas, The visual arts education program in the District has been seriously eroded in recent budget-cutting times and is at present taught by visual arts teachers in secondary schools only, leaving over 150,000 elementary students without a sequential program of visual arts instruction;

Whereas, The visual arts assist students in their ability to explore new concepts and associations, to understand abstract ideas, to build models, and to recognize patterns;

Whereas, Evidence is growing that the arts are critically important to education and learning; that research shows that arts education strengthens students' academic and cognitive abilities; that according to the College Entrance Examination Board, students of the arts outperform non-arts educated peers on measures of academic ability; and, a UCLA study consistently found higher levels of student involvement and educational achievement among students taking advanced arts courses; and

Whereas, Visual arts programs are effective when they are comprehensive, are sequential in content, are well planned, are implemented districtwide through careful consideration of resources to meet identified needs, and are given a high priority by the District and the community; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles establish as a goal that the District provide a visual art resource teacher for each of the 27 clusters;

Resolved further, That the Board of Education direct Superintendent Ruben Zacarias to provide resources in the District budget to add the number of visual arts resource teachers necessary to provide visual arts staff development to each Cluster;

Resolved further, That the program be phased in over a period of 5 to 6 years starting in the school year 1998-1999 with the addition of 4 visual arts advisers in the first year of the restoration program to be assigned in four geographic areas of the District (north, south, east and west) with additional teachers or the total number necessary to insure that a comprehensive, sequential program of staff development be available to Cluster schools; and be it

Resolved further, That appropriate central clerical support be provided for resource personnel and materials.

LL.Mr. Tokofsky, Ms. Fields, Mr. Horton, and Ms. Korenstein - Support of the Very Special International Arts Festival - INSTRUCTION/CURRICULUM AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE, MARCH 12, 1998

Whereas, The arts are an integral part of our community life, giving us a tapestry of human experience and expressions that both celebrate our differences and exemplify our commonality;

Whereas, The arts offer unique opportunities to enliven and deepen the lifelong educational process for children and for adults;

Whereas, The Los Angeles Unified School District recognizes the importance of both arts education and education through the arts;

Whereas, Very Special Arts is an organization that promotes arts, education and creative expression involving children and adults with disabilities, thereby strengthening the human spirit and improving the quality of life for all; and

Whereas, The Very Special Arts International Arts Festival, Art & Soul, to be held in Los Angeles from May 28 through June 2, 1999, will bring thousands of artists with disabilities from around the globe to our community to share those goals of deepening the educational process for all; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles enthusiastically welcomes Very Special Arts and the Art & Soul Festival to Los Angeles and wholeheartedly supports the educational and artistic opportunities provided by this festival to understand our differences and celebrate our shared humanity.

MM.Meeting, Conference and Convention Motions and Announcements

NN.This Week In Education

• Black History Month Kickoff - City Hall

• King Elementary School Black History Month "Quilt on Literacy" Unveiling

• USC California Science Center Public Grand Opening 2/7/98

• Save The Dream March & Rally 2/23/98

• Black Education Commission Black History Month Program & Celebration 2/27/98

• Black History Month Cultural Dress Day 2/27/98

• Our Authors Study Club Black History Month Activities

• California School Boards Association Federal Issues Council Trip to Washington, D.C.

• Vice President Al Gore, Senator Barbara Boxer, and Lieutenant Governor Gray Davis' visit to

• Riordan Foundation Kids Type Award - Glassell Park Elementary School

• Preparation of District 5 High Schools for Upcoming Academic Decathlon Competition

• Federal Government E-Rate Application Timeline

• Mendez Family
  
  

OO.Speakers

Please Note That The Board Of Education May Refer Any Item On This Order Of Business For The Consideration Of A Standing Committee Of The Board Of Education Which Meets On The
Thursday Immediately After This Meeting.

XIII. Miscellaneous Business

Motions and Resolutions (Initial Announcements)

PP.Mr. Tokofsky and Mr. Kiriyama - Recommendations to Implement the Learning Support Component of School Reform

Whereas, In its "Call to Action", the Los Angeles Unified School District has made clear its intent to create a learning environment in which all students succeed;

Whereas, New governance structures, higher standards for student performance, new instructional strategies, and a focus on results are specified as essential elements in attaining student achievement;

Whereas, A high proportion of students are unable to fully benefit from such reforms because of learning barriers related to community violence, domestic problems, racial tension, poor health, substance abuse, and urban poverty;

Whereas, Teachers find it especially difficult to make progress with the high proportion of youngsters for whom barriers to learning have resulted in mild-to-moderate learning and behavior problems;

Whereas, Many of these youngsters end up referred for special services and often are placed in special education;

Whereas, Both the Los Angeles Unified School District and various community agencies devote resources to addressing learning barriers and initial processes have been implemented to reform and restructure use of their respective resources - including exploring strategies to weave District and community efforts together - in ways that can overcome key barriers to student achievement; and

Whereas, A comprehensive, integrated partnership between all District support resources and community resources will provide the LEARNING SUPPORT necessary to effectively break down the barriers to student achievement; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles should adopt the following recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Student Health and Human Services:

1.The Board should resolve that a component to address barriers to student learning and enhance healthy development be fully integrated with efforts to improve the instructional and management/governance components and be pursued as a primary and essential component of the District's education reforms in classrooms, schools, complexes/clusters, and at the central office level.

2.In keeping with the California Department of Education's adoption of the unifying concept of Learning Support, the Board should adopt this term to encompass efforts related to its component for addressing barriers to student learning and enhancing healthy development.

3.In adopting the concept of Learning Support, the Board should adopt the seven area framework currently used by the Division of Student Health and Human Services to guide coordination and integration of existing programs and activities related to school, home, and community.

4. The Board should direct the Superintendent to convene a working group to develop a plan that promotes coordination and integration of the Learning Support component with instruction and management reform efforts at every school site. This plan would also clarify ways for complex/cluster and central office operations to support school site efforts (e.g. helping schools achieve economics of scale and implement practices that effectively improve classroom operations and student learning). The plan would also focus on ways to further promote collaboration with communities at the classroom, school, complex/cluster, and central office levels. Such a plan should be ready for implementation by Spring 1998.

5.To counter fragmentation stemming from the way programs are organized and administered at the central office, the Board should restructure the administrative organization so that all programs and activity related to the Learning Support including Special Education are under the leadership of one administrator. Such an administrator would be charged with implementing the strategic plan developed in response to recommendation No. 4.

6.The Board should direct those responsible for professional and other stakeholder development activity throughout the District to incorporate a substantial focus on the Learning Support component into all such activity (e.g. all teacher professional education, training activity related to LEARN, the Chanda Smith/Special Education Consent Decree, early literacy programs).

7.To facilitate continued progress related to the restructuring of student health and human services, the Board should encourage all clusters and schools to support the development of Cluster/Complex Resource Coordinating Councils and School-Site Resource Coordinating Teams. Such Councils and Teams provide a key mechanism for enhancing the Learning Support component by ensuring that resources are mapped and analyzed and strategies are developed for the most effective use of school, complex, and District-wide resources and for appropriate school-community collaborations.

QQ.Mr. Horton - Opposition to Anti-Worker Initiative on the June 1998 Ballot - BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS/PERSONNEL COMMITTEE, MARCH 19, 1998

Whereas, Working people have historically joined unions to make their voices heard on government decisions that affect their daily lives;

Whereas, The Anti-Worker Initiative will make it difficult for union members to join together and be heard on government decisions;

Whereas, The Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles respects and affirms the right of its employees to join unions and have a voice in the political process;

Whereas, The Anti-Worker Initiative was placed on the ballot by out of state interests who do not care about California's working families;

Whereas, The Anti-Worker Initiative singles out labor unions, placing costly bureaucratic restrictions on unions but not on corporations and other special interests; and

Whereas, The Los Angeles Unified will be required to implement costly new procedures in order to comply with the Anti-Workers initiative, money that will be diverted from the education of our children; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles opposes the Anti-Worker Initiative on the June 1988 ballot.