Board Members Present:
Ms. Marlene Canter, Chairperson
Mr. Jon Lauritzen
Ms. Marguerite P. LaMotte
Mr. David Tokofsky

External Members:
Ms. Lana Brody, Retired Administrator
±Mr. Jon Fullerton, Vice President, Strategy Evaluation Research and Public Policy, Urban Education
Partnership
Ms. Joyce Murdock, President of Murdock Human Resources Consulting Group
Mr. Steve Siry, Principal, Nora Sterry Elementary School and the President of Association of
California School Administrators (ACSA)

Staff Present:
Superintendent Roy Romer
Mr. Tim Buresh, Chief Operating Officer
Ms. Deborah H. Hirsh, Chief Officer, Human Resources
Ms. Anita Ford, Director, Personnel Commission
Ms. Bobbi Morris, Assistant Director, Certificated Placement and Assignments

Ms. Hirsh briefly spoke about the renewal of credentials, job fairs, document imaging, customer feedback, the downsizing of the personnel offices on July 1, 2004, the reduction in force throughout the District, the absenteeism task force, the Teach for America program, and the Gallup study.

Ms. Hirsh reported that from July 1, 2003, to June 15, 2004, 3,612 teachers were hired. She presented several charts that summarized the number of teachers hired by early entry contracts, and the status of teachers (credentialed, university interns, District interns, individual interns, pre-interns, and emergency permits).

SPEAKER

Mr. Dan Isaacs, representing Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, expressed his concern over the process used to select Local District Directors.

Ms. Canter and Mr. Lauritzen requested that this issue be scheduled for an upcoming Closed Session.

Ms. Hirsh and Ms. Morris responded to questions raised by the Committee concerning early contracts, school assignments, teacher vacancies, and Teach for America Program.

EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION REVIEW: EMPLOYEE ABSENCE BY SCHOOLS

Mr. Buresh presented a number of charts that showed the average number of days absent for all employees at elementary, middle, and high schools, and the attendance pattern for elementary teachers. There are a significant number of teachers missing 20 days or more during the year. There are two factors that impact a child's ability to learn‹the child's attendance and the teacher's attendance. For teachers who are missing four days or less, there is very little negative impact in the classroom.

Mr. Buresh advised that all of the data he has obtained on employee absence was based on payroll data.

Mr. Buresh stated that it was unrealistic to have zero absenteeism. The goal is to maintain a low range of absenteeism. Many times, an individual's attendance pattern is driven by their school's culture, the leadership, and the peer environment. Individuals who are missing large blocks of time may be out due to a long-term disability or illness, or it could be chronic abuse of the system.

Mr. Buresh presented a number of charts that showed the lowest and highest average days absent at elementary, middle, and high schools. High schools have a higher percentage of people who miss a large amount of time.

Mr. Buresh stressed that the majority of employees have good attendance. Individual case management is required for employees who have poor attendance.

Mr. Buresh advised that on June 22, 2004, the Board received a communication recommending the adoption of an employee attendance policy. It is important that the Board adopt the policy to communicate the importance of staff attendance.

Mr. Buresh recommended removing the 100-day sick leave law and replacing it with short-term disability and long-term disability programs. He noted that the 100-day sick leave law is a State law that applies to both certificated and classified employees.

Mr. Buresh noted that there is currently no fiscal reward for good attendance, and no fiscal disincentive for poor attendance. The total cost of absenteeism this year will be $430 million. If absenteeism is reduced, additional funding could be sent to school accounts.

Mr. Buresh and Ms. Hirsh responded to questions raised by the Committee.

Ms. Canter announced that Superintendent Romer was present to respond to the concerns raised by
Mr. Isaacs. Superintendent Romer stated he reviewed the process utilized four years ago to hire the Local District Directors. When the Board approved the reduction in the number of Local Districts from 11 to 8, the positions were noticed, existing Directors and new applicants were eligible to apply, the applications were reviewed to verify who was a qualified applicant, and a paper screening was done. Extensive discussion on the applicants was done by the new Local District Superintendents, Superintendent Romer, and certain senior staff. Superintendent Romer expressed his belief that this process was fair and valid.

NEW SCHOOL STAFFING

Due to time constraints, this item was not discussed.

The following reports were received without discussion:

€Certificated Staffing and Vacancy Report

€Absence Management Task Force Project Schedule

Ms. Canter expressed her appreciation to Ms. Brody for her participation on this Committee as this is her final day serving as a member.

Mr. Lauritzen announced that a test will be given on August 7, 2004, that will reduce the time to
obtain a teaching credential from two years to a few months for capable individuals. For this one day only,
Senator Jack Scott will reduce the fee from $145.00 to $25.00.

SPEAKERS

Ms. Sonja Luchini, a parent, spoke about special education issues and charter schools.

Ms. Lorena Jaramillo, a parent, spoke about reductions in school transportation and the Belmont High School Complex.-

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The meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.-
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3. New School Staffing - Dale Braun, Director, School Management Services and
Robert Cordova, Principal, Jefferson New Elementary School #2

4. Certificated Staffing and Vacancy Report

5. Absence Management Task Force Project Schedule

6. Public Comment
Persons who wish to address the Committee may sign up at the meeting.

The Committees may consider and act upon motions, Board Reports, or other business referred to it by the Board of Education or Committee of the Whole, with respect to any properly posted matter at a meeting immediately preceding this committee meeting, where the time between that meeting and this committee meeting is less than 72 hours. Members of the public are encouraged to review the order of business or agenda for the meetings of the Board of Education or Committee of the Whole.