January 20, 1998

WHEREAS, the Marine Corps Air Station - El Toro, is scheduled for closure by the year 1999; and

WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Supervisors certified an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in December, 1996, for the development of a commercial passenger and cargo airport at the site of the MCAS - El Toro; and

WHEREAS, Superior Court Judge Judith McConnell ruled on January 7, 1998, that the EIR was inadequate and ordered the County of Orange to prepare a supplemental environmental analysis on regional air quality impacts, traffic impacts, noise mitigation, endangered species impacts and mitigation for the loss of prime agricultural land; and

WHEREAS, the Irvine Unified School District serves over 23,000 kindergarten through twelfth grade students at thirty-one school sites located in the City of Irvine and adjacent County territory which will be impacted by the proposed airport; and

WHEREAS, development of commercial and/or cargo flight operations at MCAS - El Toro likely will increase the frequency of noise impacts on Irvine schools; and

WHEREAS, the negative environmental impacts of noise and air pollution of the proposed airport on the health and learning of the 23,000 students in IUSD has not been fully disclosed or analyzed in the EIR; and

WHEREAS, recent studies, including those completed by Cornell University, have demonstrated that repetitive and chronic noise has a demonstrable negative effect on the ability of students to learn; and

WHEREAS, the adverse environmental impacts of air pollution on the health of students have been well documented; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Irvine Unified School District is responsible for providing an environment conducive to learning in all its schools; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Irvine Unified School District is responsible for fostering the safety and security of its students on the school sites;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Irvine Unified School District strongly opposes the location of a commercial passenger and/or cargo airport at the present site of the Marine Corps Air Station - El Toro and urges the adoption of Reuse Alternatives that will not negatively impact the health and learning of students in Irvine Unified School District.

AYES: Jeanne Flint, Karen Preston, Michael B. Regele, Margie Wakeham

NOES: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAINING: Hank Adler

STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ) ss COUNTY OF ORANGE )

I, Michael B. Regele, Clerk of the Board of Education of the Irvine Unified School District, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved and adopted by the Board of Education of the Irvine Unified School District at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 20th day of January, 1998.

/s/ Michael B. Regele Clerk of the Board of Education