Roll Call

Pledge of Allegiance

Adoption of Consent Items - Regular Meeting of April 13, 2004

1. Board of Education Report No. 263 - 03/04 ADOPTED
Facilities Services Division

(Ratification of Award of Advertised, Unadvertised, and Information Contracts, Approval of Change Orders, Completion of Contracts, Rejection of Bids, and Approval of Agreements and Amendment for Professional Services Contracts) Approves advertised and unadvertised construction contracts totalling approximately $26.7 million, four change orders totalling approximately $770,000 and professional service agreements for approximately $420,000.

(Warrants Issued and Reissue Stale Dated Warrant) Reports A & B warrants issued by Controller for approximately $515 million.

(Animo Venice Charter High School Petition) Approves charter school petition for 5 years to create an independent charter school in the Venice area of Los Angeles for grades 9-12 proposed to begin July, 2004 with 140 students.

(Animo Downtown Charter High School Petition) Approves charter school petition for 5 years to create an independent charter school in the downtown area of Los Angeles for grades 9-12 proposed to begin July, 2004 with 140 students.

B Howard from Venice High School, Sabryna Beckles from Hamilton High School, and Justin Standard from University High School

6. Board of Education Report No. 277 - 03/04 REGULAR
Business Services Division

(Agreements, Amendments, and Donations of ÿMoney) Approves professional service agreements with California State University Northridge and the University of California totalling approximately $2.7 million; approves an increase of $750,000 to contract with Consolidated Waste Industries, Inc.; and approves donations of approximately $64,000.

(Ratification of Award of Advertised, Unadvertised. and Information Contracts, Approval of Change Orders, Completion of Contracts, Rejection of Bids, and Approval of Agreements and Amendment for Professional Services Contracts) Approves advertised and unadvertised construction contracts totalling approximately $87 million including new school construction at two sites, eight change orders totalling approximately $1.7 million and a professional service agreement amendment for approximately $1 million.

(Delegation of Authorized Agent for Obtaining Financial Assistance for Disaster Relief) Designates four District staff positions as agents to file application to obtain Federal or State disaster assistance.

(Authorization for staff to Enter into Development Agreement for the Delivery of Noble New Elementary School No. 1) Authorizes entering into a development agreement with Eastridge Companies, LLC which includes Turner Construction, for the construction of Noble New Elementary School #1 for a guaranteed maximum price of approximately $17 million.

(College-Ready Academy High School Charter Petition) Approves charter petition for five years to create an independent charter in the south Los Angeles area for grades 9-12 proposed to begin July 1, 2004 with 250 students.

(Southern California Academy of Arts and Sciences [SCAAS] Charter School Petition) Approves charter petition for five years to create an independent charter in the Jordan and Locke High School areas for grades 6-12 proposed to begin July 1, 2004, with 200 students.

Fairfax High School Boys' Basketball Team - State Champions (Canter)

Millikan Middle School, Multnomah Elementary School, and Kester Avenue School - 2004 Bravo Award Recipients (Lauritzen/Huizar)

Monroe High School - 2004 Best ROTC Program (Lauritzen)

Superintendent's Budget Update

(Delegation of Authority to Negotiate and Execute Leases, Licenses, Permits, and Other Agreements or Instruments that are Necessary or Incidental for the Use of Real Property) Increases existing delegation of authority to allow Chief Facilities Executive to enter into certain leases and other agreements up to $250,000.

(Agreements and Donation of ÿMoney) Approves professional service agreements with California State University Northridge totalling approximately $1.6 million and approves donation of $30,000.

(Approval of Districtwide Library Plan) Approves plan in order to fulfill funding requirements of the California Public School Library Act of 1998 anticipating revenues totaling approximately $1 million.

(Student Expulsions) Approves expulsion for 21 students with the suspension of its enforcement for 16 of the students and their appropriate placements.

(Student Reinstatements) Approves reinstatement of 10 previously expelled students.

(Various Purchasing Transactions) Ratifies purchase of approximately $24 million of goods and services and approves two contracts for computer and technology services for approximately $1.25 million.

(Routine Personnel Actions) Approves 11,071 routine personnel actions such as promotions, transfers, leaves, terminations, etc.

(Nonroutine Personnel Actions) Approves nonroutine hiring of 2 individuals, the dismissal of 4 classified employees, and the rescission of dismissal of one case.

Board Members Motions

Whereas, For more than 225 years, Americans have shared a vision of democracy in which all citizens understand, appreciate, and engage actively in civic and political life;

Whereas, The goals of a quality civic education should help young people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their life;

Whereas, In recent decades, concern has grown about the increasing numbers of Americans who are disengaging from civic and political institutions, volunteer associations, religious congregations and community-based organizations;

Whereas, Voting trends have seen a continued decline in Americans under the age of 25 who are less likely to vote than either their older counterparts or young people of past decades;

Whereas, Surveys show that young people do not understand the ideals of citizenship, they are disengaged from the political process, they lack the knowledge necessary for effective self-government, and their appreciation and support of American democracy is limited, at best;

Whereas, Too many young people dropout of school before they take their single semester civic course in the twelfth grade;

Whereas, It is crucial for the future health of our democracy that all young people, including those who are usually marginalized, be knowledgeable, engaged in their communities and in politics and committed to the public good;

Whereas, Encouraging the development of civic skills and attitudes among young people has been an important goal of education and was the primary impetus for originally establishing public schools;

Whereas, Schools are communities in which young people learn to interact, argue, and work together with others and arenas for developing and promoting civil discourse, an important foundation for future citizenship,

Whereas, The California Constitution specifically recognizes the importance of citizenship education, stating that, "A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people," and

Whereas, The recently published Education for Democracy: California Scope and Sequence, a project mandated by the California State Legislature and funded by the California Department of Education, provides a blue print for Civic Education; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, As we continue to develop literacy and plan professional development opportunities in the content area of social studies in preparation for the social studies standardized tests, that civic education be an integral part of the curriculum at every level;

Resolved further, Every student in grades kindergarten through grade twelve be provided formal instruction that leads to the development of democratic and civic dispositions and attitudes; promotes an understanding of our nation's identity and constitutional heritage; encourages them to effectively exercise their rights and responsibilities and that prepares them well for their role as citizen living in a democratic society; and be it finally

Resolved, The Superintendent provide a comprehensive plan to this Board of Education that addresses and fulfills the goals of "the civic mission of schools" by January 2005.

Whereas, April 19-25, 2004, marks an event that offers an important opportunity to promote the healthy development and education of our children as well as the revitalization of our community: TV Turnoff Week;

Whereas, The average American child watches more than 1,000 hours of television each year while spending only 900 hours in school which means the students of the Los Angeles Unified School District watch approximately 750,000,000 hours of television annually;

Whereas, Last year, an estimated 614 million people took part in more than 16,000 organized "Turnoffs" in schools, libraries, families and community groups nationwide;

Whereas, Feedback from thousands of participants show that a week-long recess from TV allows for more family interaction, reading, volunteering, exercising, enjoyment of nature, playing of sports, community involvement, thinking, creating and doing;

Whereas, Many individuals and organizations in California and the Los Angeles area are joining with the people across the country in observing TV-Turnoff Week;

Whereas, Participants in TV-Turnoff Week engage in a broad range of screen-free activities that foster greater social, physical, academic and creative development;

Whereas, Lack of physical activity is now literally killing our children through diseases such as diabetes and as was learned from California's 2003 mandated physical fitness test, 75 percent of the State's children failed to meet the minimum fitness standards and more than one quarter were overweight; and

Whereas, The United States Surgeon General and thirty-one U.S. Governors have supported past TV-Turnoff weeks; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Los Angeles Unified School District does hereby join in proclaiming April 19 25, 2004, as TV-Turnoff Week and encourages all students, parents, staff and the community-at large to refrain.

Whereas, School districts cannot stand by and watch their students lose access to school libraries, elementary music, counselors and sports programs;

Whereas, 50 years after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, education in California is still separate and still unequal;

Whereas, School districts, especially urban districts, are heading toward a future where only children from wealthy homes will get a quality education;

Whereas, The West Contra Costa Coalition will walk 70 miles from San Pablo to Sacramento from Friday, April 9, and will be arriving in Sacramento on Friday, April 16, 2004; and

Whereas, The Goals of this coalition are: Equal ADA funding for all districts, full funding of Proposition 98 and the elimination of District debt are admirable and commendable; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles endorses and supports the March for Education by the West Contra Costa Coalition, April 9 through April 16, 2004.

25. Synergy Charter Academy Petition ADOPTED

Resolved, That to Eliminate any uncertainty or ambiguity, the Board of Education hereby ratifies and approves its adoption the Superintendent's recommendation in Board of Education Revised Report No. 252 - 03/04 (March 9, 2004) and its approval of Synergy Charter Academy's petition to start up a grade K-5 charter school, for a period of three years, beginning July 1, 2004.

That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles hereby authorize the notification of one additional probationary psychiatric social worker that the employee's services will be terminated no later than June 30, 2004, as a result of budget reductions. The number of permanent psychiatric social workers authorized for reduction-in-force will be reduced correspondingly by one (from 18 to 17), so that the total reductions previously authorized by Board (40), will continue to be achieved.

Whereas, The Public Employees' Retirement Law permits the participation of public agencies and their employees in the Public Employees' Retirement System by the execution of a contract, and sets forth the procedure by which said public agencies may elect to subject themselves and their employees to amendments to said Law;

Whereas, One of the steps in the procedures to amend this contract is the adoption by the governing body of the public agency of a resolution giving notice of its intention to approve an amendment to said contract, which resolution shall contain a summary of the change proposed in said contract; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Governing body of the Los Angeles Unified School District does hereby give notice of intention to approve an amendment to the contract between said public agency and the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System, a copy of said amendment being attached hereto, as an "Exhibit" and by this reference made a part hereof.

Correspondence and Petitions

29. Report of Correspondence PUBLIC HEARING APPROVED

Miscellaneous

30. Approval of Minutes APPROVED

12 noon, Special Meeting, March 5, 2004
12:30 p.m., Special Meeting, March 10, 2004
9:30 a.m., Closed Session, March 23, 2004
1 p.m., Regular Meeting, March 23, 2004
9:30 a.m., Closed Session, March 30, 2004
12 noon, Special Meeting, March 30, 2004

Announcements

This Week in Education

Mr. Tokofsky will comment on the following:

• Nueva Vista Elementary School Fourth Grade Student Wins "Dare to Dream...Expect to
  

Succeed" Scholarship

Adjournment

Please Note That The Board Of Education May Consider At This Meeting Any Item Referred from a Board Meeting Five Calendar Days Prior To This Meeting. (Education Code 54954.3(b)(3))

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

Members Of The Public Who Wish To Address The Board Regarding Items On This Agenda Should Call The Board Secretariat At Area Code (213) 241-7002 or Toll Free (877) 772-6273, Prior To 10:00 A.M. The Day Of The Meeting To Determine If They May Be Added To The Speakers' List.