Mayor Hahn, LAUSD Superintendent Romer, LABC Host Inaugural Joint Education Summit.

Business Editors/Education Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2003

Summit Identified Major Initiatives and Collaborative Methods to Build

and Support Los Angeles Schools

Mayor Jim Hahn and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Roy Romer today convened Los Angeles' first-ever Education Summit with the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) to improve collaboration between the City of Los Angeles, LAUSD and the private sector and to promote successful business strategies for enhancing LA's economic and educational performance.

The Education Summit, entitled "Superintendent Romer & Mayor Hahn: A New Era of Innovation & Collaboration for Public Education," brought more than 150 academic, non-profit, government and corporate leaders together to remove development barriers and foster innovation to maximize the economic benefits of billions of dollars in current and future school construction bonds. Michael D. Eisner, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, delivered the keynote address.

"Helping build new schools to alleviate overcrowding and providing access to after school programs have been top priorities throughout my administration," said Mayor Hahn. "By working in collaboration with the business community and LAUSD, we are improving the quality of life in neighborhoods and creating learning and community centers that will bolster our economy for generations."

The summit was presented by the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) at the Getty Center. At the half-day conference, Mayor Hahn and Superintendent Romer stressed the importance of the summit as a crucial step toward helping the LAUSD to build on recent successes to continue them into the future.

"For years, LAUSD has been striving to meet the needs of a burgeoning student population, overcome decades of neglect and surmount major institutional challenges that come with being the second largest K-12 district in the country," said LAUSD Superintendent Roy Romer. "We are making significant progress, but we are not yet where we want to be, and we need everyone's help to get there."

In his keynote address, Michael Eisner called upon local businesses to develop creative new approaches to help public schools meet the diverse needs of Los Angeles' student population. "Everyone in our community has a stake in public education, so we all need to make a meaningful contribution to its success, especially those of us in the business community," said Eisner. "In Southern California, the demand for quality education is great and growing, and I applaud the Los Angeles Business Council, Mayor Hahn and Superintendent Romer for sponsoring this crucially important Education Summit to bring the public and private sectors together to chart an effective course toward the future."

Key outcomes of the summit were: 1) the launch of a new mapping and collaborative RFP process for joint use of school sites with housing, libraries, and commercial centers; 2) the creation of a summit working group to strengthen the state Field Act, which will ensure safety and provide greater flexibility to include commercial real estate as a viable alternative to new construction; and 3) the release of an Education Report Card delivered by the business community to support best practices and policies at LAUSD.

LAUSD is under way with a multi-phase building program to construct new schools and upgrade facilities. With 120 new schools planned for the next ten years, the program is one of the largest public works projects in the country. However, to fully accomplish the task of reducing overcrowding and creating smaller learning centers for the 21st century, additional investment is crucial.

Funding from Measure K and Proposition 47 have helped to launch the program, although additional funding is needed to complete the district transformation. LAUSD will also be the biggest contractor in the city in this decade, and assistance is needed to help the District ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.

"LAUSD's continued success in building a sound infrastructure is important to strengthening and creating new economic opportunities for the local business community," said LABC President Mary Leslie. "A strong school system is important to attracting skilled workers to Los Angeles so local businesses have the best workforce to compete in the market."

Noted speakers included California State Superintendent Jack O'Connell; LAUSD Board President Jose Huizar; Michael Eisner, Chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company; and Sir Ken Robinson, Senior Advisor to the President, Education, J. Paul Getty Foundation and Trust.

"The Getty is delighted to work with the LABC and we are honored that the Getty Center has been chosen as the venue for this important Education Summit that is so critical to the Los Angeles community. We are equally pleased that our senior education advisor Sir Kenneth Robinson will serve as a facilitator for the dialogue, discussion and ideas that will be exchanged among the LABC's distinguished guests and participants," said Deborah Marrow, Director of the Getty Grant Program and Getty Trust Dean for External Relations.

Sponsors of the summit included: the American Institute of Architects (AIA), African-American Chamber of Commerce, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, British American Business Council, Central City Association (CCA), Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, Latin Business Association (LBA), Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Economic Development Council (LAEDC), New Schools Better Neighborhoods, UCLA School of Education, UNITE-LA, Urban Education Partnership, Urban League, and the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA).