Staff Present:
Mr. Dan Isaacs, Assistant Superintendent, School Operations Division
Dr. Evangelina Stockwell, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Intergroup Relations
Mr. John Di Cecco, Projects Coordinator, Student Health and Human Services
Ms. Pam Wagner, Coordinator, Student Health and Human Services
Ms. Francine Eisenrod, Unit Coordinator, Health/D.A.T.E. Programs
Mr. Tom Boxwell, Director, Environmental Health and Safety Branch
Dr. Julie Crum, Director, Design and Inspection Branch
Ms. Marleen Wong, Director, School Mental Health
Ms. Jeri Durham, Administrator, School Operations Division
Chief Wesley Mitchell, School Police Department

Others Present: See attached list.

Dr. Stockwell reported that Fourth Street School has two exemplary programs‹Character Education Books of Responsibility and Theories of Constraint.

Mr. Genaro Carapia, Principal, Fourth Street School, stated that children and adults must be provided with proactive and preventive tools to deal with conflict. The Garfield Cluster principals have been trained by the Office of Intergroup Relations in conflict resolution.

The following teachers spoke about their participation in a workshop entitled "Lessons in Character": Mr. Michael Bush, Mr. Francis Kelly, Mrs. Jennifer Gage, and Mr. Keith Gage.

The following students spoke about the character education books they have read and demonstrated a lesson in character, "Be a Considerate Person": Ms. Violet Brand, Ms. Valerie Rivera, Mr. Vincent Aldapa and Mr. Steven Naredo.

Dr. Stockwell and Mr. Carapia responded to questions raised by the Committee.

WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE

Chief Mitchell reported that he and Ms. Wong were guests of First Lady Hillary Clinton on October 15, 1998, in Washington, D.C. and participated in the "White House Conference on School Safety: Causes and Prevention of Youth Violence." Chief Mitchell and Ms. Wong highlighted the topics that were discussed. The overwhelming concerns of the participants were the connection between juvenile delinquency and school safety and the importance of after school programs.

Ms. Wong noted that President Clinton is bringing a proposal to Congress called Project SERVE (School Emergency Response to Violence). The program will build capacity at the State and local levels to manage prevention efforts and to respond to emergencies in schools; to provide training and technical assistance to State and local educational agencies; to help school districts and communities cope with the consequences of major emergencies; and to improve the coordination of services at Federal, State, and local levels.

Chief Mitchell announced that Secretary of Education Richard Riley will visit Los Angeles during the third week of February. During that week, he will convene a meeting with the Chiefs of Police and the Directors of Security for the 30 largest school districts in the country.

D.A.T.E. PROGRAMS

Ms. Eisenrod provided an overview of the Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco Education (D.A.T.E.) Programs and the program's budget. The comprehensive health education program covers grades K-12, and the content areas include personal health, consumer and community health, injury prevention and safety, alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, nutrition, environmental health, family living, individual growth and development, and communicable and chronic diseases.

Following a number of questions raised by the Committee, Mr. Isaacs suggested that Ms. Eisenrod prepare an informative with a matrix that reflects the programs, the alignment to grade level, and the source of the funding.

Ms. Eisenrod responded to questions raised by Ms. Korenstein.

Ms. Eisenrod recommended that two programs be implemented at the secondary level‹ BREAKTHROUGH and CALM (Community Alliance for Leadership and Mediation) Club. She briefly described each program.

Mr. Tokofsky asked that Ms. Eisenrod review the matrix at the next Committee meeting.

PEST MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE

Mr. Boxwell introduced Dr. Julie Crum, Mr. William Currie, Integrated Pest Management Consultant, and Ms. Christina Graves, representing Pesticide Watch. Mr. Boxwell advised that yesterday afternoon the Committee members were provided with a draft copy of the Integrated Pest Management policy. The policy will be finalized by the end of January.

Ms. Graves advised that a conflict has occurred in the development of the policy pertaining to the precautionary principle. The precautionary principle places the burden of proof on the industrial producer to show that their chemicals are safe for use, rather than on the government or the public to prove that human health is being harmed. She noted that District staff has objected to the precautionary principle because suppliers and manufacturers would be required to prove that their

product, beyond any doubt, cannot cause harm. Ms. Graves explained why she felt the objections were not valid.

Mr. Currie advised that there are products available that can manage pests without risk. He provided the Committee with a copy of a letter he wrote to Mr. Bruce Sidwell with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, about this issue. In response to Mr. Currie's letter, Mr. Sidwell advised that, under the present law, it was not legal for a company to provide the requested information if it is a registered pesticide.

Dr. Crum highlighted the changes that will need to take place when the policy is implemented.

Mr. Currie responded to questions raised by Ms. Korenstein.

The following individuals expressed their views concerning the Integrated Pest Management policy:

Ms. Yvonne Gomez Nelson, representing Action Now
Ms. Robina Suwol, a parent
Ms. Fe P. Koons, representing the Philippine Action Group for the Environment

Mr. Boxwell and Dr. Crum responded to questions raised by Mr. Tokofsky.

Mr. Isaacs suggested that a draft Board report on the Integrated Pest Management policy be reviewed at the next Committee meeting.

YELLOW RIBBON WEEK

Due to time constraints, the resolution supporting Yellow Ribbon Week was not discussed. It will be acted upon at the Board of Education meeting on January 12, 1999.

PROPOSITION BB

Due to time constraints, this item was postponed.

SAFETY UPDATE

Due to time constraints, this item was postponed.

HEALTHY STUDENTS PARTNERSHIPS

Mr. Di Cecco and Ms. Wagner reviewed a contract with the Los Angeles County, in concert with the District, proposing an amendment to the County's existing Medicaid Demonstration Project for Los Angeles County to incorporate a new Healthy Students Partnership program. The program will seek to meet students' health care needs by expanding school-based ambulatory care services.

At the next Committee meeting, Mr. Di Cecco and Ms. Wagner will discuss the Healthy Students Partnership Program.

Ms. Wagner and Mr. Di Cecco responded to questions raised by the Committee.