commissioner norton, on the curriculum. commissioner norton: i was just getting there in my agenda. i didn't get there fast enough. yes. so what we heard at the last curriculum and program committee on april 11, we heard an update on the plans for summer school which i'm very happy to note that the city has found $250,000 which will allow us to offer somer school to our -- summer school to our ninth graders who did not pass their core courses in that first year. they also had an update on the requirements for high school students in sfusd. and finally we had a presentation from coleman advocates on the kinds of sore spoers that really need to be in place to -- kinds of support that really need to be in place to our students wesm did have some disappointing numbers from the first semester from students who didn't pass core courses. this is the first year that we were checting them to -- [inaudible] that was a good presentation. we also had a very interesting presentation on identifying -- on identifying students who are at risk for dropping out. there are some very specific numbers t

commissioner norton? commissioner norton: we had several informational items. we had a very good discussion on the new inclusive practices plans for the special education -- for special education students. we had representatives from united educators and also the community advisory council for special education on hand to discuss the implications and some of the concerns around that which we then brought up in greater detail in the next night which i'm sure you will discuss further. we also heard a presentation about avid, advancement via individual determination, which was one of our strategies for underserved youth developing college-going culture and helping them achieve. we heard a presentation on the act explorer assessment which is part of our new college and career plans. i had brought this item, it was a complaint, actually, that i heard at one of the school sites about a test that was part of this curriculum so we had an interesting presentation about what it measures and the report it generates for students to begin understanding what are their partic

commissioner norton, on the curriculum. commissioner norton: i was just getting there in my agenda. i didn't get there fast enough. yes. so what we heard at the last curriculum and program committee on april 11, we heard an update on the plans for summer school which i'm very happy to note that the city has found $250,000 which will allow us to offer somer school to our -- summer school to our ninth graders who did not pass their core courses

commissioner norton: yeah. i had a question where you talked about employee rights in the staff commentary? is that common to have that kind of language in interpreting our own policies and procedures? where teachers can take unpaid leave to work at the charter school? is that common? >> it is not common for the charter school to represent that information or any interpretation of our policies or procedures. with our locally authorized charter schools, we do describes -- we have a section around employee rights. it is very distinct. our policies and procedures, our rights and the charter schools. the charter schools do not propose - - for example. the charter schools cannot make promises to that employee if they return. >> that language is problematic. we can reach agreement with our bargaining partners. we can make certain concessions and offer that to the charter schools. they say that teachers who leave will be a credit when we return here. that is the sole discretion. that will have to be eliminated from th

commissioner norton: yes. commissioner wynns: aye. vice president yee: aye. president mendoza: yes. >> seven ayes. president mendoza: we are looking forward to moving this forward. this will complete all of our schools, is that correct? >> actually, lopez will be completed at the end of the 2006 fund program, on june 30, 2012. this will fully modernize and bring upper to 21st century learning another 50 schools, which should pretty much complete the cycle. president mendoza: it will be an exciting time. we will be upgrading all our schools and will all be modernized. i just want to reiterate that. >> the next item is item i, board members' proposals. this is the -- this was moved and seconded on may 10. i need a report from the rules committee. commissioner murase: at the rules committee, we had a presentation by cathy fleming about the public education enrichment fund. this is a $30 million general fund, in kind support from the city. one-third goes to children ages 0 to 5. a third comes to find music. one-third goes to general purposes, including nurses and

i want to show you the picture of a young man named will norton, who is missing right now. he was driving in his hummer h3 with his father shortly after graduation ceremonies from the high school here when the storm hit. he was actually sucked out of the vehicle by the power of this storm. he's been missing all day. his family, obviously, has been desperate. we've gotten late word now just in the last couple hours he has been -- he is alive. he has been found alive. he is in a hospital, we're told, but we don't know -- we don't know where the hospital is. we're going to get the latest information from his family in a few minutes. i want to show you first what we have seen over the last 28 hours here, what the storm looked like when it hit and the aftermath. let's take a look. >> reporter: it's 5:40 on sunday evening and a monster rakes across joplin, missouri. >> strong tornado! >> oh, man! [ bleep ] get in the car! [ bleep ] get in the car! get in the car! watch out. >> i can't film. i can't film. >> i got it. i got it. i got it. i got it. i got it. >> stop, stop, stop, st

commissioner norton first. commissioner norton: if it was not addressing the first time, it certainly was the sun appeared i wanted to make two comments, the first being that we are in a much better situation than a lot of other districts across california because of the help that we have gotten from the city, and i think it is really important to point that out, that the rainy day fund access and the proposition h fund had been crucial to maintaining where we are now, so we are grateful for that. the other thing i wanted to say is that the california teachers association and our local teachers union are planning a week of action around the budget situation, so they 9-13, there will be rallies in sacramento, and rallies and events locally every day of that week -- may 9- 13. i think we can still advocate to make the situation better. the solutions are not easy, but i think the people rise up and said that this is unacceptable, because it is unacceptable, we have a shot that may be moving -- may be moving a few

commissioner norton. commissioner norton: i would just like to ask the author if i could add my name onto her resolution. commissioner murase: of course. president mendoza: i just want to -- i'm obviously going to support this resolution. but i have to say that lisa has just been an outstanding partner, not only for san francisco unified, with many of the organizations that we work with and we're really going to miss having you at the fund. you've been a real stellar and solid support and we wish you the very best in all of your endeavors. you always know where to find us and you're always welcome to come and help any time as a fabulous volunteer which you continue to promote throughout our school district. thank you so much for your years of service, lisa. >> thank you. i i would just like to also add my voice to the chorus of kudos to lisa spi nell -- spi naly. i will tell you as far as keeping children always first, lisa spi nalia has always been first and -- spinali has always been first and foremost

norton? >> aye. >> ms. yee? >> yes. >> ms. mendoza? >> except on items six, two, seven, eight and nine which are all retroactive. >> item p is the consent calendar resolution for mediate action. we have several items. the first is k-7 and k-8 that commissioner maufas pulled. and those are on pages 145 and 147. >> good evening. it's star king elementary school. >> it will be the repeat of u.s.f., president kelly's question -- >> well, i could talk about discretionary funds for this particular school and then there is the general conversation about discretionary sense. for star king these are p.t.a. moneys that were donated to -- or deposited into the principle discretionary fund so he could use that money to purchases the epgy. so the p.t.a. raised money and they put it through the district accounts so the contracts can go through our district. >> speaking of it in general? >> it's recommended because that way all the contracts can go through our contract office and then we can deal with the fingerprinting and all the appropriate measur

we met tracy pressler and her niece, sarah norton.hey were looking for sarah's brother, will, who was driving home from his graduation with his dad and was sucked out of the sunroof with the suv as the tornado struck. >> we cry a lot. >> yeah, we cry. >> but we have faith, you know, that they're going to find him alive. you have to have hope and you have to pray. and if they don't, we just pray they find him. >> we're going to have more on will norton's story tonight. and also that of lance heir, a 16-year-old who disappeared in the storm, and his father told he he would drive to every hospital he could. >> until lantze is find dead or alive, i've got to find him. >> reporter: frank wood rushed his family into their storm shelter as a twister struck. >> we got to get in now. come on, bud. it's coming right over us. we're right in its path. >> one beloved member of the wood family, roxy, the dog, didn't make it into the shelter. we'll find out what happened to her, and believe me, you'll want to hear that. all these stories in detail t

commissioner norton, please. commissioner no.: i just wanted to thank the library -- commissioner norton: i just wanted to thank the library. my daughter was so excited to get her first library card through this program here also, a wanted to thank you for going too far gone today. i was there as well. it was wonderful. -- a wanted to thank you for going to argon. supervisor avalos: i just wanted to apologize for not giving our books back in a timely manner. i guess i am wondering, how do we help families, let them know -- lessen the stigma they might sense. it could be a barrier that is there. >> absolutely. one of the things we take great pride in, we're still working on this, is eliminating barriers to access and checking out materials. i do not know if anyone is aware, but we do not have funds for children, so any of those can be returned readily, no questions asked. but we want to encourage youngsters and families in particular to excess materials and books and borrow as many as they want. i think that it is

will norton's family went to one hospital. a patient there who matched will's description. it was not him we're told. >>> right here on this part of the storm, on the southeastern part of the storm. it's beginning to rotate. this part of the storm is going this way. this part of the storm is going this way. that's enough rotation, especially with what has already happened in joplin, to put the tornado warning out for that storm. not saying there's a tornado on the ground. in fact, there probably isn't. this is a doppler radar indicated potential tornado. but everyone there in joplin needs to be taking cover in some place substantial. some place out of the weather. i'll be here watching it for the rest of the night. >> and gary tuchman is at a shelter where hundreds of people have sought safety tonight. i'm told we just lost gary. there's about -- i think gary told me before he left, there were about 400 people at a shelter tonight that they have gone to. and chad, one of the things we've been talking about yesterday is there's

will norton's family went to one hospital. after hearing a patient there who matched will's description. it was not him we're told. tracy tresler, will's aunt, joins us. >> we did look -- >> tracy, why don't you go to the basement. we'll talk to you later on in the broadcast. i don't want you to stay. >> thank you. >> we'll talk to you later. chad myers joins us now. chad, we're now hearing the sirens here. can you get a sense of where the storm is? >> the storm has now a tornado warning on it, about ten minutes to go. they issued a severe thunderstorm warning. right here on this part of the storm, anderson, on that southeastern part of the storm, it's beginning to rotate. this part of the storm is going this way. this part of the storm is going this way. that's enough rotation, especially with what has already happened in joplin, to put the tornado warning out for that storm. not saying there's a tornado on the ground. in fact, there probably isn't. this is a doppler radar indicated potential tornado. but everyone there in jo

will norton disappeared while driving home with his dad from his high school graduation. his dad, mark, survived. the powerful winds of the twister pulled will right up through the sunroof of their suv, according to his dad. his family heard reports that a young man watching will's description was take on the a local hospital and moved to another hospital. well, will's sister tracked down that hospital and visited the young man, but sadly it wasn't her brother. >> we'll be okay. we've got a lot of people looking for him. a lot of people love him. >> for will norton's aunt tracy and sister sarah, the wait is at times too much to bear. will was driving home from his high school graduation with his father mark when the tornado struck. >> they thought if they could pull into this subdivision they could find a place to go. they only got as far as that median when the tornado picked him up and they got wrapped up in this stuff and it was a big mess. i don't know where that came from. >> what has he told you about what happened when the tornado hit? >> he said that he remembers

>> i have not really been very closely involved in this period could commissioner norton address that? >> i did not think there is anything immediate that we have in the hopper, but there are certain properties that always come up. it is actually right adjacent to the campus, so that is one that we do not have a use for. it needs a tremendous amount of work, but if we could get sf state to buy it, that would be good for us, although i do not know if they have the money to do it. there are options like that that we have talked about for a long time. i do not think there is anything that will provide as immediate relief in the next couple of years. >> thank you. >> i think that there is 3 that i would cite. there's also two other properties, 1950 mission, and the other is 1155 page street. i would echo what commissioner norton pointed out, which is i would not see anything immediately happening, but we are actively looking at those properties for development. and moving forward with an rfp sometime in the near future. i'm not sure the exact timing, but those big ones some point out. we

. >> more on will norton's story and also that of lantz hare. a 16-year-old who disappeared in the storm and his father told me he would drive to every hospital he could in hopes of finding his son. >> until lantzy is found, dead or alive, i've got the find him. >> parts of oklahoma were struck by tornadoes, as well. frank wood rushed his family into the storm shelter as the twister struck. >> we've got to go now! it's coming right over us. we're right in its path. >> one beloved member of the wood family, roxie the dog, didn't make it into the shelter. we'll find out what happened to her, and believe me, you will want to hear that. all these stories and details tonight and witness the courage of people beset by catastrophe and tragedy. but we start at the beginning. it's 5:40 on sunday evening and a monster rakes across joplin, missouri. >> strong tornado! >> as the twist error -- as the twister roars towards this convenience store -- >> no, they haven't yet. >> customers huddle in terror inside a dark refrigerated storeroom. [ screaming ] >> j

delegate norton.ologize for that but as she said, time for celebration but again agreeing with everyone else that vigilance is something that must be maintained. >> absolutely. of course, this is the top story on newscasts and web sites and newspapers across the globe. here is the cover of "the washington post." justice has been done. u.s. forces kill osama bin laden. there is a picture of bin laden on the left. president obama giving his speech last night. "the washington examiner" headline, osama bin laden slain in pakistan. the same quote from the president. justice has been done. >> to the "denver post," bin laden dead. you can see a big photo. people celebrating and that's from right here in washington. finally, the "new york post" taking the quote from when saddam hussein was captured. got him! >> and, of course, our time is 6:50. it is 56 degrees here in northwest washington. >> another check of our monday forecast when 9news now returns. [ banker ] mike and brenda found a house that they reall

commissioner norton: two in favor, one opposed. it was a positive recommendation. vice president yee: i am going to take some time here. first of all, first of all, i am feeling very torn in this process. we had the assumption that they would come like they always do. pretty clean proposals. what is easier to accept the recommendation -- to me, as many as today. there are a lot of questions. when we go through this process, it goes to the budget committee. you review and you ask questions. there is a more give-and-take in terms of the responses. there are times when we might say no, that particular answer is not good enough. we would like you to go back, and by the time we get to the full board meeting, give us a better explanation. in this process right now, we are not giving them the opportunity. i feel really uncomfortable with this. part of it is that they are not a new petition. they have been in existence for a while. it is a change from a for-profit group to what they are now. it gives me a sense that they are doing the right things for the students. somehow

i want to find him, but i don't want to time him out here. >> she said the tornado ripped norton through the hood of his family's car. a hummer. as it rolled several times. he was leaving high school graduation with his father, who is badly injured and still hospitalized. >> reporter: you'll just keep going? >> yes, yes, until he is found. until we have some closure. >> since the tornado, as many as 1,500 reported missing. poor communications leaving many cut off. today, officials say 232 are unaccounted for. >> it's extremely important in this situation that we positively identify these individuals. >> reporter: that number of missing dropped by one when 75-year-old sally adams turned up safe at her home. neighbors had rescued her, but her relatives didn't know. mainly, the search for survivors has only found more victims. and joplin's newspaper now has funeral plans and obituaries for people like m. dean wells who was 59. he saved many lives at home depot when the tornado struck, his family wrote, and ultimately lost his life in the process. late today, a happy moment. betty, a golden

commissioner norton? >> i think my question mainly is the -- where are we with implementing these specific steps that you have outlined. you know, i have to say it is sort of strains credibility to me that we have all of these things in emplementation at every single middle school. i know you don't want to call out specific schools to go to that level of detail but really where are we with these steps in general? system-wise? >> i think they are at varying levels throughout the 11 middle school sites currently supervised but the gaining grounds in middle grades, we have been using that as i work this entire school year. it really is happening in our middle schools. every middle school has to document. we reference that at all of our principal meetings and eplc's. there is not one principal who should not be familiar with the work that we're doing here. i am actually going to be convening their leadership conferences starting this week and that is going to be part of their evaluation. >> if it is possible

around company. >> tom: if there is such a thing as a household name in security is symantec and norton but a lesser known name is fortinet. it has gone from the teens up close to $50 a share. significant growth in the share price and significant growth in evaluation. does it have much gas left in the tank? >> i think so. fortinet is one of my favorite security companies. they basically sell these appliances that do all different types of security functions. it is another company that put out good quarterly numbers and boosted its cash position. the thing i really like about them, though, is they have a great multiple, particularly in comparison to other companies in this space. >> tom: and it's a little different because it is a device-maker when it comes to security, and not necessarily software. and the last analyst you speak is a software, websense sense. again, a possible catalyst, and could be a buyout because this is a smaller company? >> this firm was recently upgraded by the street and rated on the strength of its revenue and profit growth. it is doing quite well. it sells basi