Civic Leadership Award
Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education
It is easy to find public and political bodies that strongly support public safety during the times when money is plentiful. But to have a body that shows equal public safety support during times of a state budget crisis is rare.
The Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education has proven to have a good understanding of the need to maintain a level of public safety, regardless of budget cuts or political pressures bestowed upon them.
In 2003, the Board of Education for the LAUSD was faced with an apparent insurmountable budget deficit. The Board of Education was challenged with making approximately $500 million worth of cuts in order to balance their budget. The LAUSD initially proposed to furlough the over 80,000 District employees, which included the school police. The Board of Education, showing an uncompromising commitment to public safety, unanimously stepped in and removed its police officers from the proposed furlough plan.
The next proposal from LAUSD involved reducing the existing work force. Thousands of layoff notices went out in the beginning of 2004. Once again, the Board of Education, continuing their unwavering support, removed the police force from the list of proposed layoffs. In addition to removing public safety from the layoff list, the Board pleaded the case to LAUSD that the school’s police were already under-staffed and under-budgeted. Facing an uphill battle and political pressure over the school police exemptions, the Board of Supervisors continued their fight to improve public safety’s situation, despite the $500,000 shortfalls in the budget.
Ultimately, the seven members of the LAUSD Board of Education managed to:
• Approve a $3.5 million increase to the Police Department’s budget earmarked for hiring 50 additional police officers and
• Approve an additional $2 million increase to the police budget earmarked to purchase 100 new police vehicles and much needed equipment.
Despite criticism from the media and special interest groups, all seven members of the LAUSD Board of Education stood together to support public safety as a number one priority. Their dedication and commitment to providing the schools with a safe environment, even in the face of a financial crisis, is to be commended. It is an honor to present the 2004 Civic Leadership Award to the LAUSD Board of Education.
