BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
Governing Board of Los Angeles Unified School District
AUGMENTED SCHOOL SAFETY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE NOTES
333 South Beaudry Avenue, 1st Floor Ð Board Room
10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 30, 2004
Board Members Present:
Ms. Julie Korenstein, Chairperson
Ms. Marguerite P. LaMotte, Member
Mr. David Tokofsky, Member
Mr. Jon Lauritzen
Mr. Lawrence Jarmon, Community Representative
Mr. Neal Kleiner, Associated Administrators
of Los Angeles Representative
Staff Present:
Superintendent Roy Romer
Mr. Alan Kerstein, Chief of Police
Mr. Steven LaRoche, Deputy Chief Police
Ms. Yi Hwa Kim, Deputy Director of Environmental Health & Safety
Ms. Maria Reza, Assistant Superintendent, Student Health and Human Services
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The meeting convened at 10:12 a.m.
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SPEAKER
Mr. Jed Hostutler, American Red Cross, Southern California Region, Donor Resources Development, Blood Services, spoke on the upcoming October 12 & 13 Blood Drive here at the Beaudry District Headquarters. He informed the Committee that 40-60% of the blood supply is coming from out of the state. With the number of people in California, we should not have to rely on other sources. He encouraged us all to begin donating blood and teaching students to do so before an emergency or urgent need arises.
Committee Members Marguerite P. LaMotte and Jon Lauritzen expressed their comments and questions.
Superintendent Romer expressed his concerns regarding an item he believed was to be on todayÕs agenda, the Community Oriented Policing Grant Award. He is worried about the cost of the plan to raise our police force from 350 to 600+ officers. He noted that the plan to change the
jurisdiction of not just having officers in school buildings but to give them the responsibility of policing the surrounding community is going to double the budget.
He stated the Committee is receiving piecemeal information. The Board needs to make a conscious decision about where the necessary money will come from and the impact on the budget in the next two or three years. He also stated that he wanted to be in the loop of discussions on this item.
Chairperson Julie Korenstein assured Superintendent Romer that this item has not been discussed at the Safety Committee meetings or before the Board. She stated that she understood his concern for a plan and not receiving piecemeal information. The grant in question is only a portion of what will be brought forth.
Committee Member LaMotte advised that she was not knowledgeable of what the Superintendent was referencing and requested more information on this for the Board.
SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND SAFETY ISSUES
Mr. Dan Isaacs. representing AALA, reported that progress has been made on the implementation of the concept of having a police officer and/or safety officer on every secondary campus. He reported that the previous 53 campuses without coverage have some sort of coverage this school year.
Mr. Isaacs encouraged the school district to budget the $1 million necessary for the matching grant with the United States Department of Justice. This would allow an additional 30 police officers to be added to school sites. AALA will continue to raise this issue until there is a minimum of one sworn police officer on every campus.
SPEAKERS
Ms. Lorena Jaramillo-Rosenberg, parent and active member of a distinguished diverse community of Los Angeles spoke. She announced that her organization supports Measure A and Proposition 66 because it increases the punishment to those who hurt their children. She informed the Board they are organizing a Neighborhood Watch near the schools in their neighborhood and want to support good police officers and make them accountable regarding the safety of the neighborhood.
Ms. Miriam Koenig, President, Magnet-Parent Association of Van Nuys High School, addressed the Committee because of a drive-by shooting in front of this school yesterday. She related several accounts of school shootings from people in the school or community. She stated the year-round schedule makes the neighborhood more chaotic. She believed going off this schedule would make the school safer but adding a continuation school would make it more dangerous.
Committee Members Korenstein and LaMotte both expressed their concerns that these problems are occurring at most of our schools.
Chief Alan Kerstein commented about the need for more officers on campuses. He stated that they have 300 officers and most officers do not have a police vehicle.
Board Member Lauritzen asked how much money would the District have to budget to supply the needed officers and vehicles. Chief Kerstein replied, that the Federal government would supply a $3.7 million grant over a period of three years and the school districtÕs first year matching funds requirement would be $907,000, the second year $1.2 million, and the third year approximately $1.4 million. By the beginning of the fourth year, the District would need to absorb the full cost for the 30 additional officers.
Committee member LaMotte asked about the sort of coordinating efforts we have with other police agencies for any grant. Chief Kerstein answered that they have established Village Policing, a community policing philosophy, to address issues on campus and proximity communities that affect the campus. He stated that the action groups do include local police agencies as well as parent and community.
SPEAKER
Mr. Kevan Otto, President of the L.A. School Police Officers Association, compared the School Police to a baseball team with five players and asked to win the game when it takes nine to make a team. He noted that they were under funded, under staffed, forced to change into uniforms in parking lots and to share cars and equipment. Just adding officers is not enough. Officers have to be hired and equipped properly to handle the job. Board Member Lauritzen concurred and stated that Board Members must support the School Police needs.
PRESENCE OF GANGS AT SCHOOLS
Mr. Buren Simmons, Director, Youth Relations and Crime Prevention, began the presentation on Safe Schools Planning. He spoke of the need to be knowledgeable of activities within the community such as graffiti, gang apparel, gang prevention and intervention programs. He noted that gang members face risks of academic failure, family problems, drug use and other problems. He gave information on Village Policing and School Safety Collaborative.
Sgt. Vince Masterson and Officer Bryant from Los Angeles School Police gave a presentation on safety issues around Crenshaw and Dorsey high schools. They reported to the Committee that each campus has several gangs on campus. There were six homicides adjacent to the Crenshaw campus last week and 15 drive-by shootings the week before that. There is a lack of safe corridors around the campuses and many students are fearful of walking to school and, consequently, stay home.
Committee Member Marguerite LaMotte commended the officers and Mr. Simmons for their reports. She made a Òcall for actionÓ to the community, other law agencies, ministers,
et al, to be aware of these school incidents and what students must endure and to help to stop this problem.
SPEAKERS
Mr. Kevan Otto, President, L.A. School Police Officers Association, provided the Committee with Penal Code 653, making it a crime to loiter on or around a school campus. Also, Los Angeles Municipal Code 4504 is a Daytime Curfew. He advised that these codes could be enforced to get children back into school or away from the school.
Chief Kerstein, Board Member Lauritzen, Chairperson Korenstein, and Committee Member Tokofsky made comments. Ms. Korenstein stated she was bringing forward a motion to immediately put together a task force regarding this issue. Mr. Tokofsky commented at length on Program Improvement Schools, Measure A, and our DistrictÕs lack of funds.
Mr. Lawrence Jarmon, Community Representative, inquired about the safety procedures during after-school hours and holiday activities.
BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING
PROGRAM
Mr. Jay Brakensiek, gave an in depth presentation on the recycling of beverage containers at several LAUSD schoolsÑplastic, aluminum, etc., recycling bins and pick-up services and the revenue it generated. He also mentioned the Cleaning Green Program and Sea Lab, learning about marine animals and their setting, which provide a positive activity for 2,000 students a year, while they are off track. He introduced Mr. Phil Mateo, Deputy Director, of the Corp.
Mr. Robert Skillman, Project Manager, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, spoke on two ongoing recycling programs with LAUSDÑL EAP II Program and RACLA--Recycling Across Los Angeles. He reported that students are being taught that recycling saves resources, energy, and reduces pressures on local landfills.
Chairperson Julie Korenstein presented certificates to persons involved in promoting these worthwhile programs to the students of LAUSD.
Committee Member Marguerite LaMotte suggested we use these programs as incentives to raise funds through leadership for student needs. Mr. Lauritzen inquired about the amount of revenue the District receives from the recycled cans and bottles. He was told that we actually receive more money than the public because they add a scrap fee to our refunds.
UPDATE ON CAMPUS LOCKER POLICY
MOTION
Mr. Jim Delker, Acting Deputy Chief Facilities Director, Existing Facilities, gave an update on
campus book lockers. Originally, administrators were given the option of whether or not to include lockers in their new schools. In 2002, a resolution was passed to have all schools
equipped with lockers or be included in their design and older schools would have their book lockers restored. This project is 95% complete and was funded by Bond BB and Measure K. There are a total of 1500 projects still to be completed.
Board Member Lauritzen requested an update on what is being done about changing locker combinations. He inquired if Plant Managers would still be given authorization to change locks or be given the master key.
WEST NILE VIRUS PRECAUTIONS
Ms. Yi Hwa Kim, Deputy Director of Environmental Health & Safety gave a brief presentation on the impact of the West Nile Virus on our campuses. Mr. Robert Hamm, Deputy Director of Maintenance & Operations reported that they have been very proactive in eradicating mosquitoes by not using pesticides. They have begun a Pest of the Month incentive program.
MISCELLANEOUS SPEAKERS
Ms. Ruth Sarnoff, Community Activist, spoke on an urgent health issue at Banneker Special Education School. She stated that the allegation that students were inhaling paint fumes should be investigated.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 12:32 p.m.
BOARD
OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
Governing
Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District
AUGMENTED
SCHOOL SAFETY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
10:00
A.M., Thursday, September 30, 2004
333
South Beaudry Avenue Ð 1st Floor (Board Room)
Committee Members District
Staff Members
Julie
Korenstein, Chairperson Alan
Kerstein, Police Chief
Marguerite
Poindexter LaMotte Angelo
Bellomo, Director of
David
Tokofsky Environmental
Health & Safety
Maria
Reza, Assistant Superintendent
Student
Health and Human Services
External Members
Beverly Cook, Vice President Committee
Contact Person
United Teachers Los Angeles Yi
Hwa Kim, Deputy Director of
Lawrence
Jarmon, Community Environmental
Health & Safety
Representative
Neal
Kleiner, AALA Representative
A G E N D A
PRESENTATION PRESENTER(S) TIME
School
Violence and Safety Issues Michael
OÕSullivan 20
minutes
Dan
Isaacs
Presence
of Gangs at Schools Chief
Kerstein 20
minutes
Buren
Simmons
Beverage
Container Recycling Program Jay
Brakensiek 20
minutes
Robert
Skillman
Update
on Campus Locker Policy Motion Jim
Delker 20
minutes
West
Nile Virus Precautions Angelo
Bellomo 5
minutes