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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNOVEMBER 20,1996 I I I 38:0352 OliO - ; 0 11,),0% C<. CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK 1. ROLL CALL CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL SCHOOL BD. 2. 3. 4. OI.nJ ,,~," , MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA and the ARCADIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD NOVEMBER 20, 1996 The Arcadia City Council and the Arcadia Unified School District Governing Board met in a joint meeting on Tuesday, November 20, 1996, at 6:30 p,m, in the School District Administration Center Board Room. PRESENT: Councilmembers Harbicht, Kovacic, Young, and Kuhn ABSENT: Councilmember Chang (arrived at 6:35 p,m,) It was MOVED by Councilmember Kovacic, seconded by Mayor Pro tern Harbicht and CARRIED to EXCUSE the absence of Councilmember Chang. PRESENT: School Board Members Dougherty, Gibson, Lamb, McClain, and Steinmeier ABSENT: None OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: William R Kelly, City Manager Ronnie Gamer, Chief of Police Michael H, Miller, City Attorney June D. Alford, City Clerk Terrence Towner, Superintendent, Arcadia Unified School District Diane Carlile, Director of Student Services Don Cooke, Coordinator of Child Welfare and Attendance SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS Superintendent Towner distributed miscellaneous items for Council's information only. AUDIENCE P ARTICIP A TION None. PRESENTATION ON YOUTH ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING "AT RISK" STUDENTS AND YOUTH GANG ACTIVITY The City Manager stated in part, that at the last joint City CounciVSchool Board meeting, the issue of youth activities and gangs was addressed from a negative point of view, A Youth Master Plan is in the process of development which will focus on youth needs now and in the future, and how the community will pay for the necessary improvements, functions, activities, and needs. The goal is to ensure that we represent roughly 95% of the youth who need the programs and 1 11/20/96 38:0353 participate positively. Currently, cooperation between the City and the School District ensures I good control of any incidents which may occur on campus, With the D.A.R.E. officers, patrol ollicers, and communication between the District, City, and Police Department, we have had a lot of good containment, good control and good public relations. SChools Superintendent Tonner slated in part, that after the last meeting with the City Council, the School District issued a memo presenting a comprehensive outlook of what the District is trying to do with regard to awareness, responses, and prevention. Arcadia schools have been very fortunate to escape any major problems, but that docs not mean such problems will never happen. Diane Carlile, Director of Student Services, presented information regarding expulsions, which have been decreasing since the implementation of middle schools, She answered questions regarding "at risk" students, and programs which have been developed to deal with such students, Ms, Carlile and Don Cooke, Coordinator - Child Welfare and Attendance, previous to the meeting this date, prepared a comprehensive report centered on "At Risk Students and Youth Gang Activity" supporting the agenda item. Considerable discussion ensued. In response to School Board Member McClain, Police Chief Gamer stated that there are periodic meetings between the School District and the Police Department and a sharing of informalion to ensure thaI bolh entities are aware of current issues. Councilmember Chang asked about students who were expelled from other school districts, Ms, Carlile stated the Arcadia School District does not take in these students, but is considering starting a Community Day School. The law changed last summer and now states that although a student is expelled, he must be providcd an education. The School would accept and educate students who may be going to or coming back from a juvenile camp situation, students who are having an attendance or discipline problem, and expelled students. The District may also consider accepting students who are expelled from other school districts. The State provides the I money for this program. Superintendent Towner explained that very few students are expelled because of weapons possession or extreme violence, The Community Day School will provide better help for students than they can get if sent to some of the schools available now. If a student cannot be controlled or educated in the Community Day School class, there would be the option of sending him to a County Day School. Councilmember Young commented that she is frequently asked if there are gang members on school campuses. Mr. Cooke stated that there are gang members on campus, but he docs not know very much about them. They do not present an intimidating-type presence, but tend to be more sophisticated and to conduct their business outside of school hours and outside of the community. There is probably a range of evel)1hing from high-intensity gangs to "wanna be" gangs, and members everywhere in between, even though they may be good students, Council member Kovacic was concerned that students who may not be defined as the classic "at risk" students might fall through the cracks, when intervention might be appropriate, The Police Chief commented that the Police Department has a gang expert who tracks gang members; it is known who they associate with, what gang they belong to, etc. Ms, Carlile commented on children who are enrolled in District schools but do not live with their parents, A new law allows enrollment if the student lives with a "caregiver," who is anyone over the age of 18. There are currently 76 students enrolled under a caregiver affidavit. The caregiver form must be renewed every year; yearly house checks are made to verify that the caregiver is living with the student. Mr. Cooke noted some of the potential pitfalls of the caregiver law, including the fact that there is no limit to how many children a caregiver can sponsor. He would like Council's support in tl)'ing to change this law. Mayor Pro tem Harllicht agreed that perhaps Council should t.1ke a position on this matter and put pressure on legislators. He would like to know how many children live in a home without their parents or other responsible adults. This is a concern, particularly with rcgard to gangs, because these children have no family and are looking for family. Mayor Pro tem Harbicht suggested that if this is a potentially serious problem I 2 11/20/96 I I I ADJOURN- MENT 38:0354 and the School District has limited resources to check out these situations, then perhaps it could be discussed how the City, Police Department, or other agencies might be brought in to help. Discussion continued with regard to situations of enrollment in the School District, the problem of gangs, and "at risk" children. It was concluded that the meeting was very helpful to both the City and the School District. At 7:57 p.m, the joint meeting of the City Council and the School District Governing Board ADJOURNED, the City Council to December 3, 1996 at 7:00 p,m, in the City Council Chamber, and the School Board to November 26,1996 at 5:15 p.m. in the School District Administration Center Board Room. /~ ~~ Mayor Pro tempore Barbara D, Kuhn, Mayor of the City of Arcadia ATTEST: ~"<, .A~~ . . D, Alford, City Cle 3 11/20/96