1. Board of Education Report No. 287 - 03/04 (Direct) POSTPONED TO MAY 25, 2004
Budget Services and Financial Planning Division
(Budget Reductions for Fiscal Year 2004-05)

2. Mr. Lauritzen - Amendment to Budget Reductions POSTPONED TO JUNE 8, 2004

That the Superintendent be instructed to dissolve the eleven (11) Local Districts and create three (3) new divisions. The purpose of this new District administrative structure is to affect cost efficiencies and help the District better achieve its instructional goals. The three (3) Divisions will be: one (1) Elementary, one (1) Middle School, and one (1) Senior High School Division;

That the Superintendent be further directed to cut the Central District Administration enough to provide funding for the local schools (replacing the $50 per student cut from each school, returning to last year's counseling, psychiatric social workers, and nursing norms, and eliminating mid-year renorming); and

That the Superintendent and Board President organize a District-wide committee to study and recommend the implementation of a new administrative structure for the District that will result in greater cost efficiencies, help the District better achieve its instructional goals, and encourage greater parent/community involvement.

Whereas, The $50 per pupil cut imposed last year places a significant hardship on schools;

Whereas, Schools have been directed to apply the $50 per pupil cut to General Fund Unrestricted accounts, which total only a small portion of a school's budget;

Whereas, The limited number of accounts from which schools can cut further exacerbates the impact of the cuts;

Whereas, The acute nature of the budget crisis requires schools to have the greatest flexibility in making cuts;

Whereas, The District supplements certain General Fund Restricted (003) accounts with General Fund Unrestricted (001) dollars;

Whereas, Cuts to the aforementioned General Fund Restricted accounts in the amount of the encroachment on the General Fund Unrestricted Program can be applied to the District's 2004-05 deficit; and

Whereas, By allowing schools to apply a portion of the $50 per pupil cut to General Fund Restricted accounts that encroach upon the General Fund Unrestricted Program, the District will give schools much needed flexibility in creating their 2004-05 school budgets; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles directs the Superintendent to work with schools and Local Districts to allow reductions in those General Fund Restricted accounts that encroach upon the General Fund Unrestricted Program, and

Resolved further, That the Board directs the Superintendent to return to the Board by June 30, 2004, with a summary report on school-site reductions in both restricted and unrestricted accounts for the 2004-05 school year.

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 (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.