Alliance College-Ready Public Schools
Minutes of a Special Quarterly In-Person Meeting of the Board of Directors of Alliance Renee and Meyer Luskin Academy High
School Thursday, October 25, 2012
A special quarterly in-person meeting of the Board of Directors of Alliance Renee and Meyer Luskin Academy High School (the
“corporation”), a California nonprofit corporation, was held at 8:00 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012.
The following guests and individual school board directors were in attendance:
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Alliance members of each individual school board: Darline Robles and Gayle Miller
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Ex-officio members from LAUSD: Dana Edlis and Thomas Nichols
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Guests from the Alliance Board: Frank Baxter
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Alliance Renee and Meyer Luskin Academy High School: R. Medrano-principal, Guadalupe De La O-teacher, Maria
Avergara-parent, and Roger Huff-community liaison
The following Alliance Staff members participated: En LaVan-Vice President of Schools, Robert Pambello-Vice President of
Schools, Javier Fuentes-Vice President of Instruction, David Hyun-Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Tony Kline-Vice
President of Operations, Megan Hadden-Vice President of Real Estate, Spencer Styles-Vice President of Finance, Catherine
Suitor-Chief Development Officer, Kristine Kelley-Communications Coordinator, Russell Ng-Director, Student Information
Systems, Jennifer Drake-Director of Special Projects, Artha Conerly-Office Manager, Albert Nguyen-Data Analyst, and Mary
Louise Silva-Director of Parent and Community Engagement.
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 am by Board Member Gayle Miller. All present were welcomed and introduced.
The minutes from the May 24, 2012 meeting were approved as read.
Each school principal introduced and recognized the participation of their respective school board members.
Dr. David Medina gave a brief presentation on 2011-12 school performance data. Highlights include:
 Over the past seven years average API scores increased 90 points.
 Over the past seven years, the Alliance has increased (proficient/advanced) student performance in English Language
Arts (ELA) and Math -13% and 21%, respectively.
 Over the past five years, (proficient/advanced) middle school performance in ELA has been sustained but scores have
not improved significantly except for grade 8.
 We have sustained (proficient/advanced) high school performance in ELA but scores have not improved significantly.
 Over the past 5 years we have sustained improvement (proficient/advanced) middle school performance in Math but
Geometry performance has been uneven year to year.
 Over the past 5 years we have improved (proficient/advanced) high school performance in Geometry and Summative
Math.
 Over the past four years we have sustained (proficient/advanced) 8th grade performance in History.
 Over the past 5 years we sustained (proficient/advanced) high school performance in World History and US History.
 Over the past 3 years improvement has been sustained (proficient/advanced) middle school performance in Science.
 (Proficient/advanced) high school performance in Science has been stable over the past two years, but experienced
growth relative to 2007-08.
 Alliance 8th, 9th 10th and 11th grade students are outperforming LAUSD students in ELA and are catching up with
California in grade 11.
 Alliance students are outperforming LAUSD students in Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 and Summative Math and are
average in Algebra 1 compared to the rest of the state.
 Alliance students are outperforming LAUSD and CA students in all History courses.
 Alliance 10th graders (on their first attempt) outperformed LAUSD and California students, passing the California High
School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) requirement in Math and ELA.
 Alliance students (on their first attempt) outperformed LAUSD in overall CAHSEE passage rates.
 More Alliance students are taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams but there has been a slight drop in passage rates.
 We have not experienced a significant increase in the percentage of students meeting SAT college-ready target.
 We have increased the percentage of students demonstrating college-readiness in ELA, Math and Science on the ACT.
 On the EAP (Early Assessment Program) Alliance students are performing at the same level as LAUSD students with a
slight increase in ELA
 We have experienced a slight increase in our reclassification of English Language Learners but considerable growth as
made from 20090-10.
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Ms. Miller asked each to school board to review their school performance accountability report for school year 2011-12 and to
identify strengths and challenges.
Alliance Renee and Meyer Luskin Academy High School
Success:
 CRAHS #7 had a 91 point API increase
Goals:
 Maintain success and increase CAHSEE passage rate by 10%
 Increase proficiency levels across content areas
 Increase parent participation
Mr. Spenser Styles reviewed the board approved enrollment budget for 2012-13 versus the actual enrollment budget and noted
that we are only 117students short. Each school board will receive a mid-year budget update that will need to be approved.
Ms. Megan Haden provided a facilities update. Highlights include:
 CRAHS #5, CRMA #7 and Smidt Tech have each moved to their permanent site.
 We are still looking for suitable permanent sites for Health Services and CRAHS #16.
 Media Arts should be moving into their permanent site next August.
Public Comment:
 Dr. Rhodes of Smidt High School thanked Tennenbaum High School for allowing them to stay on their campus as
construction on the joint Smidt/CRMA #5 was being completed.
 Mr. Waller introduced the annual school wide Gertz Reads program where all students are required to read the same
book.
 Ms. Harris talked about Skirball’s partnership with Computers for Youth (CFY) where all 6th grade students will be
provided with a refurbished computer that stays at home and is loaded with educational software, “Power My
Learning.” Parents and students will receive training regarding how to use the computer and the software.
 Ms. Funes shared that parents have raised funds so that all O’Donovan students and families can take a field trip to
the Getty Center on November 8th.
 Mr. Ramirez announced that students at CRMA #7 were treated to a visit by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
(LACMA) mobile museum.
 Mr. Medrano announced that 100 of his students will participate in a residential/educational program at UCLA.
 A recent graduate of CRAHS #7 thanked everyone at his former school for everything they did to ensure all students
graduate from high school and succeed in college.
 A parent from Gertz-Ressler and Richard Merkin acknowledged school leaders and teachers for all their hard work
preparing students for college.
 Mr. Versage shared that a large percentage of students from ESAT are passing their AP courses and will most likely do
well on the AP exams next year.
Mr. Frank Baxter thanked Ms. Miller for successfully running the meeting for Ms. Judy Burton and acknowledged all Alliance
schools for their outstanding work preparing students and families for college, careers, and beyond. Ms. Miller also shared
similar praise for all Alliance schools, particularly parents who volunteer countless hours and successfully work in partnership
with their child’s school.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
Reviewed by Gayle Miller, School Board Member:
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Date: _____________
Prepared by: Mary Louise Silva, Recorder:
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Date: _____________
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