Board Members Present:
Mrs. Barbara M. Boudreaux, Chairperson
Ms. Julie Korenstein
Mr. David Tokofsky

Staff Present:
Mr. Dan Isaacs, Assistant Superintendent, School Operations
Dr. Evangeline R. Stockwell, Assistant Superintendent,
Office of Intergroup Relations
Mr. Hector Madrigal, Director, Pupil Services
Chief Wesley C. Mitchell, School Police Department
Ms. Anita Ford, Assistant Personnel Director, Selection, Classified Personnel
Ms. Carmen Terrazas, Cluster Leader, Manual Arts Cluster
Mr. Wendell Greer, Principal, Manual Arts High School
Mr. J. F. Cervantes, Jr., Dean of Students/Discipline

Others Present: (See attached list)

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The meeting convened at 1:35 p.m.
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OPPORTUNITY TRANSFER DATA

Mr. Madrigal referred to two reports prepared by the Information Technology Division covering statistical data requested by Ms. Korenstein at a previous meeting. He noted the first report delineates transfers for a three year period broken down by clusters. He called attention to the Chatsworth/Granada Cluster and noted an increase in opportunity transfers, 73 in 1993-94, 156 in 1994-95 and 258 in 1995-96. He pointed out that the Kennedy/Monroe Cluster had a decrease,125 in 1993-94, 246 in 1994-95 and 191 in 1995-96. The total opportunity transfers for all clusters has increased, 4,197 in 1993-94, 5,575 in 1994-95, and 6,110 in 1995-96. He advised that an ethnic breakdown shows Hispanics and African American students constitute the vast majority of opportunity transfers.

He referred to the second report covering an eight year period, and stated that the opportunity transfer activity is broken down by individual secondary schools. The activity at the elementary level is minimal, about two percent of all opportunity transfers, and sometimes there is none at all.

A lengthy discussion by the Committee followed and Mr.Madrigal responded to their questions and concerns. The Committee recommended that these reports be sent to all Cluster Leaders.

RECRUITMENT OF SCHOOL POLICE

Mr. Isaacs advised that about 2-1/2 years ago the Board passed a motion to add five additional police officers each year for five consecutive years in an effort to increase the school police staff to provide services for approximately twenty-two middle schools. The District continually makes an

effort to recruit police officers but as each new school year began, there would always be a loss of some officers due to retirement and various other reasons. Newly-hired officers would replace those that had left and as a result, the maximum capacity was never achieved.

Chief Mitchell advised that although all officers are not in the field as yet, all except four of the existing vacancies have been filled. At the present time there are twenty-one officers currently in training at Rio Hondo Regional Academy that will be returning to the District late this Spring.
He advised they have a new eligibility list and an examination in process which will insure that attrition will be met.

Ms. Ford thanked the Committee for funding a position for six months which enabled them to target recruitment for police officers; she attended seven police officer job fairs and was able to expedite selection procedures; in the past it took approximately fifty-five days to complete the entire selection process but it was now completed in thirty days. The process could have been done in three weeks except every time the physical agility test was scheduled, it rained. At the present time there is another selection process starting Monday, January 20, in conjunction with the NAACP job fair which she will attend emphasizing the recruiting women for this position. The plan is to have continuous filing, (applications can be submitted at any time), quarterly examinations given, and a brochure is in the process of being developed. A workshop is planned for March 3, "How To Prepare For A Career In Law Enforcement " and individuals interested in becoming police officers will be invited.

Following discussion by the Committee, Chief Mitchell and Ms. Ford responded to their questions and suggestions.

CARMEN TERRAZAS, MANUAL ARTS CLUSTER ADMINISTRATOR

Ms. Terrazas advised that the presentation today will focus on a schoolwide safety program at Manual Arts High School and introduced the presenters, Mr. Wendell Greer, Principal, and
Mr. Joseph Cervantes, Dean of Students.

Mr. Greer advised that there are a lot of resources within the District that can be of great assistance if utilized properly to make sure the complex or high school is safe. He referred to the Student Study Team (SST) or the Manual Arts Support Team which is made up of the school psychologists, nurse, out-of-classroom staff and teachers. He explained that students are typically referred by the classroom teacher, but any member of the school staff may request support from the SST for a student whose learning, behavior or emotional needs are not being met under existing circumstances. Parents are sent a brochure of the SST and prior to the first formal SST meeting, teachers meet to review classroom modification that enhance learning for students. A modification may be as simple as a change in seating location, a daily assignment sheet, or an increase in the use of visual teaching aids.

The last program referred to by Mr. Greer was the Los Angeles County Chapter of MAD DADS, and the implementation of a Safe Passage program. A Safe Passage member will be assigned to a specific location near/around the school to assure that the students get to and from school safely. Safe Passage members wear like clothing, which will distinguish them from other members in the community making them easily identifiable.

Mr. Cervantes referred to the strategies that are being used at Manual Arts High School and noted
there is a schoolwide orientation for each grade level each semester and students are advised of the educational opportunities, tutoring, student services and counseling services that are available for them and the necessity for students to be in a safe learning atmosphere. He advised that there is a great team effort between the student body, parents, faculty members and the administration of the school. There is a strict dress code and code of conduct which is pointed out to the students during orientation and, as explained to the students, it is for their safety. These student codes have reduced many conflicts that the school had in the past. When a student has frequent violations, detention is given by one of the deans, followed by a parent conference and after speaking to the parent and student, there is a contract that must be signed and agreed to.

Mr. Cervantes explained that when students are found out of class during class hours, they are brought to the dean's office, and a grade check and attendance check is done. He stated that some students have low academic achievement and possibly bad attendance, and the school is trying to correct this in lieu of giving the student an opportunity transfer. He advised that at the present time there are approximately 180 students that are under the contract and they are monitored specifically on daily attendance and academic achievement on a weekly basis.

Mr. Cervantes referred to the anti-graffiti program at Manual Arts High School and explained that early in the morning before school starts, a quick run of the campus is done and if there is any graffiti that was placed after school hours, it is wiped out.

Following a lengthy conversation by the Committee, Mr. Cervantes and Mr. Greer responded to their questions and concerns

Mr. Isaacs stated the week of January 13-17, 1997 has been designated by the State as Yellow Ribbon Week; the resolution encourages families, students, teachers, all school personnel and members of the community to wear yellow ribbons in recognition of students who have lost their lives as a direct result of school violence and to demonstrate their commitment to school safety. Our District supports this endeavor and encourages schools to promote activities that seek to find answers to the problems of violence and develop proper leadership in our young people.

EDUCATING FOR DIVERSITY UPDATE

Dr. Stockwell recalled that for the past several years, school personnel, students, and members of the community who have implemented in their schools programs that provide students with the skills on resolving conflicts without resorting to violence have been brought to the committee. She said that progress has been made, not in terms of students, but the Los Angeles Unified School District as a workplace, as well as an educational institution. She noted that there have been areas where individuals or groups may experience conflict based on disagreements, misunderstanding, cultural differences, or personalities. ð

Dr. Stockwell reported that through the efforts of the school police department, especially Gwen Perez, the school police officers have been trained in the area of greater cultural sensitivity and in the area of heightening their awareness of bias motivated incidents; in addition, they have worked with Mr. Campbell in the Personnel Commission and are presently collaborating and participating with them in their design of staff development in the area of workplace violence. Along with that, all the administrators in the Child Development Division are being trained in enhancing administrative skills.

She explained that by the end of March all ninety administrators in the Child Development Division and child care centers will have been trained. Training will then enter into a phase where all middle school administrators will receive comparable training in the area of conflict resolution.

She advised that her office is getting involved in Superintendent's Call to Action. She explained that this specifically dealt with hate crime and bias motivated incidents. She stated that she has been working with the Student Health and Human Services Branch, and has identified some high level professionals in that branch who will be participating in victim assistance training that will add to their skills particularly dealing with how the school district brings assistance to the victims of hate crimes..

Notes by: Mary Brosnahan, Board Secretariat