A RECORD OF EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE

By Jose Huizar

As a member of the Board of Education for LAUSD for the past four years, José Huizar has led the district in the largest expansion of facilities in its history, has led the District in its fastest growth in academic performance, and has championed critical financial, business, and ethics reforms at the District.

As a community leader, José Huizar fought to increase community access to services, information and policy decisions. He has advocated for affordable housing as a Board Member of the East LA Community Corporation, worked for more jobs and economic development as a member of the Boyle Heights Project Area Committee, and promoted improved transportation as a member of the Residents Advisory Committee for the eastside rail expansion.

José Huizar's commitment to public service includes time working for the California State Legislature's Budget Committee, working for the City of Los Angeles as a Deputy City Attorney and a Member of the East Area Planning Commission.

José Huizar has worked tirelessly for educational and social justice. His interest in representing our community on the City Council is a continuation of his commitment and passion for educational and social justice, and improving the quality of life in our community.

A Champion for New and Modernized School Facilities

Under José Huizar's leadership, LAUSD has embarked on a historic effort to build 160 new schools over the next eight years and to modernize existing schools. The $14.4 billion effort is the largest public works initiative in the nation, and aims to alleviate the persistent overcrowding of the District's schools. After decades of neglect, the building of these schools will allow thousands of students to attend local neighborhood schools, reduce class size, end forced busing, and move toward all schools being on a traditional two semester calendar.

New Schools in the 14th Council District: José Huizar worked diligently to have two new schools open in the 14th Council District this school year: Wilson Elementary School in El Sereno and Dena Primary Center in Boyle Heights. Under José Huizar's leadership, two new high schools and one middle school are being planned for Boyle Heights, and a new high school will relieve Eagle Rock High.

A Fighter for Safer Schools and Safer Neighborhoods

• Obtained Resources for Additional Police Officers: Included a budget allocation in the school district's budget to expand the police force, ensuring that every secondary campus had a sworn officer. Pursued federal grants to fund 30 additional police officers.

• Safety Joint Task Force: Created task force to cooperatively work with the LA School Police, Los Angeles Police Department, County Sheriff, and MTA to provide increased safety for students and staff.

• Safe School Zones: Co-created "safe school zones" around LAUSD schools to combat violence on and around school campuses.

• Safety Valet Program: Initiated program with the City Attorney to provide increased safety for elementary students walking to and from school. The program has increased to over 100 schools after the success of the initial school.

• Anti-Gang Curriculum: Created pilot program for accredited anti-gang classes that encourages and enrolls young middle school gang members in a class for positive alternatives.

• A Chance at College for all Students: Lead the fight to raise academic standards and make college prep classes available for all students in every neighborhood.

• Exposed the District's Drop Out Rate: Brought in the Harvard Civil Rights Project and UC ACCORD to study the drop out problem and to work with the District to develop a comprehensive plan to address dropout prevention, intervention, and retention.

• Extended Learning Day Program: Established Saturday Academies for students on year round schools for supplemental services.

• English-Language Learners: Authored policy to require a District-wide implementation plan for Title III to improve service to students learning English.

• Improved Services For Probation and Foster Youth: Helped create a countywide Education Coordinating Council to improve services and policy for probation and foster youth. Co-chair the Council of leading advocates of probation and foster youth.

• Improved Services for Alternative Education Programs: Created Task Force to review district policy for the Options Programs to better serve students in continuation schools, community day schools, and other alternative education programs.

• Feria del Libro: A Family Book Fair: Co-founded this event aimed at promoting literacy among students of schools in communities such as East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, and El Sereno. The fair is in its third year with over 15,000 people attending.

• Presidents Joint Commission on District Governance: Partnered with City Council President Alex Padilla to lead the push for a comprehensive reexamination of the District's governance structure in order to determine ways to improve students' educational experiences.

• Huizar Excellence in Education Scholarship: Provided scholarships for graduating seniors at Roosevelt and Garfield High Schools.

• Small Business Support: Authored policy requiring contractors to have a small business participation goal of 25 percent.

• Supported Local Workers on School Construction Jobs: Launched the "We Build Program" that trains the local workforce and creates employment opportunities with construction companies working on LAUSD new schools. Advocated for the establishment of a 50 percent local worker participation goal.

• Promoting a Culture of Integrity and Ethical Values: Authored tough ethics and conflict-of-interest policies. Required sustained funding and increased staffing for the Ethics Office. Helped implement the District's first ever lobbyist registration system for lobbyist to register and disclose their clients.

• Procurement Reforms: Led the effort to ensure the competitive bidding of contracts, and to ensure that the District adopted and enforced strict waiver criteria.

José Huizar is committed to promoting environmental education programs, instituting environmentally friendly facilities and purchasing policies, and protecting District employees and students from environmental hazards. He has voted in support of resolutions to support greater efforts toward waste reduction and reuse and the purchase of environmentally friendly products. He sponsored policies to identify any potential environmental risks for all school sites, including any applications for permits for industrial activity adjacent to school sites.

José Huizar has fought to expand and improve the health services and education afforded to the District's students and their families. He has also supported resolutions to sustain partnerships with community health providers, to explore funding option for school-based health and school-linked centers, and to support the Children's Health Initiative, a multi-agency collaborative effort to enroll eligible children and families in the Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs.