Resolution No. 92451
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RESOLUTION NO. 9245
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
VERNON APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FINAL DRAFT
STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE SOUTHEAST CITIES SCHOOLS
COALITION
WHEREAS, the City of Vernon (the "City") is a municipal
corporation and a chartered city of the State of California organized
and existing under its Charter and the Constitution of the State of
J California; and
WHEREAS, on July 19, 2006, the City Council of the City of
Vernon adopted Resolution No. 9097 supporting the City's participation
in the Southeast Cities Schools Coalition (the "Coalition"), a joint
powers authority being formed for municipal governance of Los Angeles
Unified School District("LAUSD") schools; and
WHEREAS, the City has been asked by the Coalition to present
and adopt a Draft Final Strategic Plan (the "Plan") that establishes
goals and strategies that will guide the efforts of the Coalition
Members and its partners on behalf of the communities comprised of the
Cities of Bell, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Maywood, South Gate and
Vernon; and
WHEREAS, the Plan was developed from November 2006 through
January 2007 through a participatory approach involving the Coalition
Members, the Superintendent of LAUSD District 6, representatives of
elected officials of the Southeast Area, consultants, community and
school representatives and other stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, the Coalition's focus during the first year will be
school safety, student performance and parent involvement, and the
Coalition is working on an implementation plan to identify resources
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and the structure required to monitor progress in implementing the many
strategies it has adopted to favorably impact education in the
communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby
finds and determines that the recitals contained hereinabove are true
and correct.
SECTION 2: The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby
approves and adopts the Strategic Plan, Final Draft, dated February 2007,
a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated by
reference.
SECTION 3: The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby
directs the Acting City Clerk, or her designee, to send a copy of this
Resolution to the City of South Gate as lead agency of the Coalition.
SECTION 4: The Acting City Clerk of the City of Vernon
shall certify to the passage of this resolution, and thereupon and
thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 20th day of February, 2007.
ATTEST:
MANUELA GIRM
Acting City Clerk
HILARIO GONZAL S, Mayor Pro-Tem
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1 STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
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COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
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4 I, MANUELA GIRON, Acting City Clerk of the City of Vernon, do
5 hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution, being Resolution No.
6 9245, was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Vernon at a
7 regular meeting of the City Council duly held on Tuesday, February 20,
8 2007, and thereafter was duly signed by the Mayor Pro-Tem of the City
9 of Vernon.
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ANUELA GIRON
12 Acting City Clerk
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(SEAL)
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EXHIBIT
0
SOUTHEAST CITIES
STRATEGIC PLAN
February 2007
8650 California Avenue, South Gate, California 90280-3075
Southeast Cities Schools Coalition 2
Southeast Cities Schools Coalition
A Joint Powers Authority
STRATEGIC PLAN
February 2007
Introduction
This document <represents the results of the Southeast Cities Schools Coalition (SCSC)
strategic planning process. It establishes goals and strategies that will guide the efforts of the
Coalition Members and its-° partners for the next three to five years. The Plan places goals in the
context of the Coalition's mission, vision and values which guide the Coalition's actions on
behalf of our respective communities comprised of the Cities of Bell, Cudahy, Huntington Park,
Maywood, South' 'Gate, and Vernon.
The Strategic -Plan was developed from November 2006 -January 2007 through a participatory
approach 'involving the Coalition Members, the Superintendent of LAUSD District 6,
xepresantatives of elected officials of the Southeast Area, community and school
representatives and other stakeholders. It represents an important tool for our work together
and was developed with the assistance of staff of the City of South Gate and Consultant Cecilia
In,tle first year of implementation, the Coalition will focus on the priorities of school safety,
student performance and parent involvement in addition to the ongoing development of the
Coalition itself. An implementation framework will help the Coalition Members monitor progress
in implementing the many strategies it has adopted to favorably impact education in our
communities.
Background
The Southeast Cities of Los Angeles County have about 62,000 students in LAUSD schools.
This represents about 10% of the total LAUSD student population. Approximately 22,000 of
these students are from South Gate where only 42% graduate from high school having fulfilled
the A-G requirements. Only 11% of South Gate high school graduates attend college. These
alarming statistics and the fact that local officials and community residents were not informed
nor involved in decision -making about leadership, instruction or safety of local LAUSD schools
moved local leaders to action.
In 2006, the Southeast Schools Coalition was formed as a Joint Powers Authority to ensure that
Southeast students and adults get the education they deserve and the benefits that come along
with quality educational opportunities. The Mayors and Council Members of six Member Cities
agreed that local elected officials should be responsible and accountable for the quality of
education in their communities and that, as representatives and residents of their communities,
they have firsthand knowledge of the issues students face and the needs of local schools. The
Schools Coalition is a new approach to obtaining more authority over the quality and availability
of education which is vital to the economic health and development of these communities.
Southeast Cities Schools Coalition 3
MISSION, VISION, VALUES
MISSION
The Southeast Cities Schools Coalition is committed to advocating for and promoting equitable
outcomes and quality education for all students by collaborating with school districts, students,
parents, the community and elected officials to achieve a higher level of accountability and quality
of life in our communities.
OK*ey
The Southeast Cities Schools Coalition Members are elected representatives and residents of our
communitie's with first-hand knowledge of the needs of the students and parents in our local schools. We
understand that the proper education of our residents is vital to the economic health and development of
-our communities: Therefore, we have come together to:
• Empower and enable all students in our communities to perform at proficient levels, graduate
'high school and realize their full potential;
• Create a community and school environment where children and youth feel good about their school
experience and educational attainment;
Ensure that all students have access to university or vocational/career training and are prepared to
assume leadership roles to transform their communities in the future;
Work with schools and other partners to provide every resident with educational opportunities to
ensure an educated workforce and informed and involved citizens in our communities;
• Ensure that parents, residents and local officials are better- informed about education -related
issues and have greater influence on decisions made by the Los Angeles Unified School District
and other educational institutions regarding funding, facilities and curriculum;
• Strengthen the linkages between government, schools, parents and residents to increase the
probability of successful actions that will enhance community well-being in our cities and create a
better society.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
We believe that local elected officials and school leaders should be responsible - and be held
accountable —for the quality of education in their communities. We believe in:
• Educational equity
• Justice and fairness for our communities
• Integrity and ethical behavior
• Transparency in our work
• Accountability to and for our communities
• Collaboration and partnership
• Consensus building
Southeast Cities Schools Coalition 4
STRATEGIC ACTIONS
Through the Strategic Plan, the Southeast Cities Schools Coalition will fulfill its mission by focusing
on seven strategic goals:
1. Ensure safe schools in our communities.
2. Improve student achievement at all levels.
3. Work to create a more informed, involved and empowered community on issues'of
education.
4. Maximize the use of school and community facilities to support educational objectives.
5. Advocate for our communities on policy decisions at the local/district, state and federal
levels.
6 Make the Southeast Cities Schools Coalition a household name in the Southeast Area.
7 Ens re' a sustainability of the Coalition and continued collaboration of Member Cities.
Sh tegic Goal Key Strategies
➢ Ensure safe schools in Work with LAUSD and other groups to identify safety needs by
our communities gathering and analyzing current safety -related data, area police
structures and safety protocols.
■ Develop a collaborative work plan with LAUSD District 6, the SCSC
member cities, businesses and other groups based on safety needs
identified.
■ Improve relationships between LAUSD Police and local police
jurisdictions in the Southeast Area.
■ Improve communication and information sharing between LAUSD
Police and local law enforcement agencies to better coordinate their
efforts in and around school campuses.
■ Work with LAUSD District 6 to establish a more organized approach
to adult supervision within the schools and when students are
traveling to and from school.
■ Use surveillance technology in schools and on school routes.
• Access °E-rate° funds to develop technological resources and
`Safe -route to Schools' programs.
■ Implement laws related to substance abuse and other practices that
put children at risk and advocate for laws with more severe penalties
for those who commit crimes involving children.
Southeast Cities Schools Coalition 5
Strategic Goal
➢ Improve student
achievement at all
levels
Key Strategies
■ Strengthen data and information sharing among school districts, cities
and providers to better meet the educational needs of children, youth
and adults in our communities.
• Work with the LAUSD District 6 Superintendent to develop
appropriate school accountability mechanisms that take into account
parent, student and community feedback and clearly state how
progress will be measured.
• Ensure the availability of high -quality, affordable early care and
education programs that are sensitive to cultural and linguistic
differences in child development.
■ Support the adoption of high expectations for children and youth with
special needs (i.e. disabilities, foster and probation youth, ELL etc.)
and help provide the supports necessary for them to succeed.
■ Seek more funding for programs that enhance and support academic
performance and vocational education especially for vulnerable
children and youth.
• Ensure that youth and adults in our communities are provided the
appropriate skills and training to succeed in post -secondary education
and in the workforce.
➢ Work to create a more
Create an expanded parent/community advisory group to work in
informed, involved and
collaboration with the LAUSD District 6 Superintendent and SCSC.
empowered community
on issues related to
Help develop training and informational workshops to educate parents
education
on school structure, policies and practices.
■ Develop models for parent participation in each school site that are in
compliance with the Education Code and parent expectations.
■ Ensure that schools, cities and other institutions are accountable and
respond to parent concerns related to education.
■ Work with the schools to develop options for the time and location
(facilities) of parent and/or community meetings and trainings.
■ Support incentives to encourage parent participation in school -related
activities.
■ Address child care needs to facilitate parent participation with schools.
• Help strengthen the relationship between Adult Schools, K 12,
colleges, universities and early childhood education.
■ Work with the District 6 Superintendent and other LAUSD managers
to adopt processes for feedback from parent groups, teachers and
students related to the assignment and reassignment of school
principals.
Southeast Cities Schools Coalition 6
Strategic Goal
Key Strategies
Maximize the use of
■ Review current LAUSD joint -use agreements to identify issues to be
school and community
addressed, and/or develop agreements on new joint -use projects
facilities to support
given SCSC priorities.
educational objectives.
■ Work with the District 6 Superintendent to ensure that LAUSD
facilities construction and modernization projects are informed by
parents, local officials and community representatives in SCSC
Member Cities.
■ Identify public meeting sites in Member Cities that could be made
available to local school groups and develop guidelines and an
application process for their use.
■ Identify public and private funds available for new facilities and
improvements to existing facilities or sites.
• Improve the integration of schools into the organizations, institutions
and infrastructure of local communities.
Advocate for Southeast
Develop strong working relationships with congressional, state and
communities on policy
local elected and education officials representing the Southeast Area.
" decisions at the local,
district, state and
Ensure that LAUSD District 6 schools receive their fair share of
federal levels.
formula and discretionary funds,. based on the number, concentration
and performance of students in this region.
■ Work with school officials to ma)amize access to state funding for
schools and facilities.
■ Work with the District 6 Superintendent on a process to review and
comment on LAUSD budget development and decision making.
• Establish a mechanism to hold community forums from time to time
on policy issues impacting students, teachers and parents in the
Southeast Area.
■ Seek representation on other education -related bodies and be
proactively involved in similar dialogues.
➢ Make the Southeast ■ Develop a communication plan to establish and enhance the visibility
Cities Schools Coalition and positive image for the Coalition in Los Angeles County.
a household name in the
Southeast Area. ■ Improve the Coalition's ability to reach out to parents and residents
more effectively.
■ Establish a "home base" so that parents, students, teachers and
residents know how to access the Coalition.
■ Identify protocols and a communication mechanism to respond
quickly to education -related issues and to speak with one voice.
Southeast Cities Schools Coalition 7
Strategic Goal
Key Strategies
➢ Ensure the sustainability
■ Bring a plan to each of the Member Cities for adoption by March
of the Coalition and
2006.
continued collaboration
of Member C"fies
• Build the infrastructure, establish protocols and develop the
materials required to accomplish the SCSC mission and vision.
■ Strengthen the Coalition Members' understanding of basic
educational structures, codes, policies and practices.
• Identify the resources required to accomplish the SCSC work and
identify private sector partners to invest in these efforts.
■ Secure ongoing public and private funding to support the
implementation of SCSC work plans, initiatives and programs.
MEMBERS:
Maria Davila, Chairwoman
George Cole, Vice Chairman
Frank Gurule
Ofelila Hernandez
Felipe Aguirre
W. Mike McCormick
Southeast Cities Schools Coalition
City of South Gate
City of Bell
City of Cudahy
City of Huntington Park
City of Maywood
City of Vernon