LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BOND CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BOND CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE David Crippens, Chair L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce Elizabeth Bar-El, Vice Chair LAUSD Student Parent John Naimo, Secretary L.A. County Auditor-Controller s Office (Alternate Member) Christopher Espinosa L.A. Mayor s Office Constance Rice L.A. City Controller s Office Joseph P. Buchman Legal Counsel Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP Charles Bergson LAUSD Student Parent Scott Folsom Tenth District PTSA John Hakel Associated General Contractors of California (Alternate Member) David Jenkins Associated General Contractors of California (Primary Member) Lynda Levitan Thirty-First District PTSA Anastacio Medina BREATHE California Thomas A. Rubin Oversight Committee Consultant Citizens Regular Meeting 333 S. Beaudry Avenue Los Angeles, CA Wednesday April 15, 2009 Richard Slawson L.A. Co. Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Virginia Tanzmann American Institute of Architects Betty Valles AARP Wendy Watanabe L.A. County Auditor-Controller s Office (Primary Member) (Vacant) California Taxpayers Association (Vacant) Environmental Justice/Civil Rights Group Gary C. Anderson Director Frank Padilla Administrator Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: D. Crippens; E. Bar-El; J. Naimo; C. Espinosa; S. Folsom; L. Levitan; A. Medina; V. Tanzmann; B. Valles C. Bergson; D. Jenkins; C. Rice; R. Slawson Agenda Item 1. Call to Order Mr. Crippens called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Agenda Item 2. Chair s Remarks Mr. Crippens noted that every BOC meeting will include a policy discussion. Today s policy discussion will cover the future of the Facilities Services Division (FSD). Mr. Crippens noted that FSD is moving into a new phase. Between now and , the FSD will finish building 55 new schools: however, FSD will be moving away from new school construction as these projects are completed. With Measure Q, the focus will shift to modernization of existing campuses. Regarding Measure Q, Mr. Crippens reported that the taxpayers were promised the tax rate would not go above what it is now and that is the intent. Mr. Crippens reported that the building program will eliminate multi track schools. These students are being shorted days less of instruction than those on single track. He also reported that the building program will eliminate involuntary bussing. Bussing will continue for programs such as magnets and special education. Mr. Crippens noted that some of the LAUSD busses have been replaced with green busses. Mr. Crippens reported that joint use was an important aspect of the building program. He noted that the District is looking at how school and school grounds can be used for multiple purposes. Mr. Crippens noted that the District is one of the largest landowners in Los Angeles. This is important for joint use as the District partners with others such as clinics or opens the facilities to students in the summer for swimming.

2 Page 2 Mr. Crippens discussed the many jobs that are created with the construction program, even during these tough economic times. Agenda Item 3. Consent Calendar Mr. Crippens introduced the Consent Calendar consisting of the March 18, 2009 minutes. Ms. Bar-El amended the minutes. Aye: 8 Absent: 5 The Consent Calendar Passed Unanimously Agenda Item 4. BOC Election -- At-Large Executive Committee Members Presenter: Joseph Buchman, BOC Legal Counsel The BOC Bylaws provide for up to two at-large executive committee members. There is currently one vacancy. Mr. Crippens nominated Ms. Rice for the at-large executive committee member vacancy. There was a motion, second and vote. Ms. Rice was elected at-large executive committee member. Agenda Item 5. Monthly Program Status Report New Construction Presenter: Fred Smith, Acting Deputy Chief Facilities Executive, New Construction Mr. Smith provided a monthly update on the New Construction Program. There a total of 418 new construction projects, of which, 291 have been completed. There are a total of 131 new school projects, of which, 76 have been completed. In addition there are a total of 64 addition projects, of which, 59 have been completed. Mr. Smith highlighted the East Los Angeles High School #1 project. The buildings will be completed in June. The playfields will be completed in July and the school will open in September, which will be one year ahead of schedule. The school will provide 1,026 new seats with two small learning communities. Roosevelt HS will be relieved. Mr. Smith reported on Central Region ES #14. A tentative agreement with the City of Los Angeles has been reached to vacate the street and alley. The school is anticipated to open in Mr. Crippens asked Mr. Smith to discuss construction costs. Mr. Smith stated that the bids are coming in better than what was projected at this time a year ago. More general contractors and sub-contractors are coming to the table. Agenda Item 6. Monthly Program Status Report Planning and Development Presenter: John Creer, Director, Planning and Development Mr. Creer provided a monthly update on the Planning and Development Branch. There have been 33 joint use projects approved by the BOE for approximately $64 million that have affected 111 campuses. Mr. Creer reported on the charter program. He reported that there are 68 Proposition 39 applications totaling 22,000 seats. Approximately 27 Proposition 39 offers were made. Mr. Creer reported that the BOE was presented with the fourth housing project, which is at Norwood ES. Mr. Medina noted that money has been used to improve clinics within the District. He noted that there are major health issues affecting the students within the LAUSD. These include obesity, diabetes, and asthma. Mr. Medina believes

3 Page 3 schools have a responsibility to address these issues. Mr. Medina requested an update on the number of incidents of asthma and obesity in the District. Mr. Folsom asked if the charter community agrees with the District s thinking that co-location is a short term solution. Mr. Creer responded that Proposition 39 by definition is a short term co-location. The District s point to charters is that you can build your business on an annual event but there is no guarantee where you will be located, which may not be in the best interest of the students. Mr. Creer added that Proposition 39 is for charters that are on their way to a goal, or emerging, or growing and their current facility solution isn t meeting their need. Mr. Folsom expressed concern that with the class size increase there will be a surplus of classrooms. Mr. Creer responded that his group is studying the potential impact of the class size increase. He added that if 1-2 classrooms opened up, there would be no use for a charter. Mr. Espinosa asked if a charter master plan had been completed. He also asked for comment on the Jordan Downs Housing project. Regarding a charter master plan, Mr. Creer noted that nobody could articulate where everything is going. Mr. Creer s group tries to meet with each group to determine where they are going in the future. Regarding Jordan Downs, Mr. Creer noted that he has been meeting with the housing authority to discuss the project. Ms. Bar-El noted that in past discussions about offers made to charter schools and the class sizing being equivalent to the host school. As class size goes up in the host school, Ms. Bar-El asked if the offer to the charter school is equivalent. The concern is the potential to create a situation where charters in the same school are given the opportunity to have smaller class sizes while the host school isn t. Mr. Creer responded that the offer of a classroom is given in the size that it is. For example, if the school is loaded at 31 students per classroom, the charter is offered the same size classroom. It is up to the charter to operate how it desires. On the other side, Mr. Creer noted that he is being told that the students should have the same amount of computers that their children would have had if they didn t attend a charter. The offers for the coming year have been made at the current loading levels. Mr. Crippens requested a more comprehensive charter presentation at a BOC meeting in the future. Agenda Item 7. Monthly Program Status Report Existing Facilities Mr. Kendall provided an update on the Existing Facilities Program. Eighty-two percent of Prop. BB, Measures K, R, and Y are either in construction, contracts, or complete. By the end of the year the program will be 80 percent in construction or complete. Mr. Kendall reviewed construction starts and construction completions. He also reviewed the lessons learned process improvement for construction and pre-construction. Agenda Item 8. Existing Facilities SEP Amendment Removal of Portable Classrooms Resolution This SEP amendment is the plan to remove portable classroom buildings. The plan includes the removal of 49 portable classrooms in the summer of 2009 and is budgeted for $1,960,000. Ms. Bar-El requested clarification that most of the portables are inactive and therefore the number of students in portable classrooms is not really changing. Mr. Kendall responded that as the District moves to a single track calendar the demographics are indicating that these classrooms are not required. Department of Housing portables are mandated to be removed. Others are in poor condition. He also added that the removal of portables is being planned in conjunction with the Escutia Program. Ms. Bar-El asked if the money being saved would go toward maintenance or address other economic deficiencies. Mr. Kendall responded that removal of leased portables will constitute a savings that is called cost avoidance. Regarding Measure Q planning, Ms. Bar-El asked how the school community would be involved in looking at the campus wide needs. Mr. Kendall noted that there will be future presentations made on the subject. He noted that there is a lot of effort going into what the process will be.

4 Page 4 Resolution Passed Unanimously Agenda Item 9. Existing Facilities SEP Amendment A&I and Board Member Funded Projects Resolution This SEP amendment is for Alteration & Improvement and Board Member Funded Projects. There are a total of 10 projects with a value of $982,296. Resolution Passed Unanimously Agenda Item 10. BOC Membership/Succession Planning Presenter: Tom Rubin, BOC Consultant Mr. Rubin provided an update on BOC membership and succession planning. A Joint Task Force is currently being set up to review BOC membership and succession planning. The Task Force will be made up of members from the Board of Education and. Mr. Espinosa expressed his concern about succession planning. He noted that a six year term limit on the BOC seemed appropriate and disagreed with removal of the term limits outright. He believes there should be new BOC members added to replace termed out BOC members. As the number of interested organizations grows, Ms. Bar-El recommended adding conditions that do not currently exist now. This would include a commitment to appoint/re-appoint within a certain time frame when someone resigns, after which, there will be a waiting list of organizations that have shown interest and did not get represented in the first cut. The next one in line would then be given the opportunity to have that reasonable amount of time to appoint someone. This would prevent a situation where someone has a seat and doesn t appoint a representative and it takes the BOC a while to name a new appointing authority. Agenda Item 11. Bond Audit Update Presenter: John Naimo, BOC Secretary Bond Audit Motion Mr. Naimo reported that there is a requirement for an annual audit of bond spending, which is past due, going back to 2006/07. The BOC has patiently waited through District payroll problems and are understanding of the delays this caused in terms of the District s financial audit. Late last year when the financial audit was completed, the expectation was that the agreed upon procedures audit, was going to be forthcoming. Mr. Naimo reported that it was time to formalize and escalate the issue to the BOE and Superintendent. Mr. Naimo introduced a Bond Audit Motion.

5 Page 5 Bond Audit Motion Passed Unanimously Agenda Item 12. Facilities Outlook 2009 and Beyond Presenter: Guy Mehula, Chief Facilities Executive Mr. Mehula provided a presentation that covered the future of the FSD. Ms. Levitan expressed concern about labor and asked if they have accepted the concept that was presented. Mr. Mehula responded that the bargaining units have not accepted the concept. Ms. Bar-El wanted to know when the bond program ramps down and then up for Measure Q, how would the employee numbers compare to those of today. Mr. Mehula responded that there will be fewer employees. Mr. Mehula s concern is that there are talented folks that will be lost as certain functions in FSD are ramped down. Mr. Folsom expressed concern about maintenance and operations funding reductions. Mr. Folsom requested assurance that safety would not be compromised as a result of maintenance and operations reductions. Mr. Mehula noted that the facilities are getting older so there are more service calls. The safety service calls are prioritized as emergencies and are handled first. There will be fewer people to respond but they will continue to be prioritized the same way. There will be more and more work that will not get done. There will be no funding for routine repair but there will be bond funding available that can be used for a capital project. Mr. Espinosa noted that Measure Q will focus on existing facilities. He added that the community outreach process is going to be more pronounced and is going to need to be emphasized. Mr. Medina noted that his concern was safety. He stressed keeping in mind the maintenance of schools and keeping them safe within the constraints of the money that is available. Mr. Naimo expressed concern over the District s ability to maintain the large investment in facilities. He suggested formulating strategies such as accumulating money out of budget so there is not a constant competition for general fund resources to maintain the billions of dollars investment. Mr. Mehula shared the same concern. He noted that currently there are fewer dollars available than what the District had seven years ago and there were 76 fewer schools and there will be a reduction of what exists today by 20 percent. Mr. Crippens adjourned the meeting at 12:25 p.m. Minutes of April 15, 2009 Approved per Bond Oversight Committee on May 20, 2009 John Naimo John Naimo, Secretary