Security Guard Elimination Postponed, Board Discusses Budget Committee

The Council Chambers was packed to the brim Tuesday night, but not with community members intent on speaking against a particular agenda item. After parents and teachers alike congratulated recipients of American Citizenship Awards, Toby Rubenstein 3rd Annual Chess Tournament Winners and All-League Athletes and many people cleared out, several agenda items were discussed to an almost empty council chambers. Here is a recap of the evening:

• The Kids Achieve! Charter Petition was unanimously denied, based on the “failure to present a sound educational program,” it is “unlikely to successfully” implement its program” and a failure to “set out reasonably comprehensive descriptions of the required elements of a charter petition.”
  
  Among the problems cited in the district staff report regarding the proposal were multi-grade level classrooms, a lack of sample curricula and student schedules, as well as a lack of explanation on how it would achieve a racial and ethnic balance. No representatives from Kids Achieve! were present to discuss their petition.
• The plan to eliminate one security guard from the school district budget has been tabled until the June 28 meeting, when the will be discussed. This single cut would have allowed six security guards to go from working 10 months to working 11, rescinding an earlier plan to cut their schedule, according to board member Katherine Paspalis. Among the many cuts, the reshuffling of the security department—which adds up to $122,000 per year—has been a lightning rod in the community: “We should be looking at restoring people,” said , president of the Association of Classified Employees, Culver City.
• The plan to add a Mandarin Chinese class to the middle school failed for lack of a motion. Criticisms from the board included the inability of middle school students to continue their Mandarin beyond the single year as well as the timing of adding an additional class during the budget crisis. “We don’t have a lot of money. I don’t see why we need to bring this in at this point. We need to see how we can strengthen the programs we have,” said board member Patricia Siever. Parent and suggested starting a Mandarin immersion program at El Rincon Elementary.
• The board also had a lengthy discussion on the Community Budget Advisory Committee, a revamped initiative from the superintendent to ensure that the budget is a “comprehensive reflection of the financial needs of the school program.” This committee will be composed of citizens, staff and administrators. Changes to the proposal for the operations of the group will be approved at the June 14 board meeting.