As used in this chapter, “institute” means the Otis Art Institute of Los Angeles County, which was formerly known as Otis Art Institute, and includes that property adjacent thereto, commonly referred to as “The Earl Property.” (Ord. 7981 § 10 (part), 1961: Ord. 5253 § 1 (part), 1949: Ord. 4879 § 1 (part), 1947: Ord. 4846 § 5 (part), 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 200, 1942.)

Subject to the supervision of the board of supervisors of the county, the institute shall be under the management and control of a board of governors, which board is created. The board of governors shall have charge and control of the administration and maintenance of the institute. The board of governors shall consist of 15 regular members and one advisory nonvoting member, all of whom shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. The advisory nonvoting member shall be selected from the members of the board of supervisors. None of the regular members shall hold any other salaried office or county position. (Ord. 9518 § 1, 1968: Ord. 6276 § 2, 1953: Ord. 5253 § 1 (part), 1949: Ord. 4879 § 1 (part), 1947: Ord. 4846 § 5 (part), 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 201, 1942.)

A. In making appointments to the board of governors of the institute, the board of supervisors will screen potential candidates to secure members with the following general qualifications. Board members should have demonstrated a high caliber of leadership in their professions as well as a deep interest and knowledge of education. It is essential that board members have a clear understanding of what the college is about and the temperament and interest to serve it effectively.
B. It is important that board members represent various segments of the community such as business, the professions and the arts to provide the necessary bridge between the institution and the community and to bring expertise and interest to Otis. Finally, the board of governors should be composed of men and women who are recognized by their success in those activities and interests of special significance to the institute. (Ord. 10996 § 2, 1974: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 202.2, 1942.)

Each member of the board of governors shall serve for a period of three years subject, however, to the provision of Section 5.12.050 of this code, and subject to the right of the board to remove any member at its pleasure. The members of the board of governors at its first meeting after March 14, 1949, shall so classify themselves by lot as to serve terms of one, two and three years, so that the term of one-third of the board of governors shall terminate each year. (Ord. 8355 § 4, 1963: Ord. 5253 § 1 (part), 1949: Ord. 4879 § 1 (part), 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 202, 1942.)

The board of governors annually, by a majority vote, shall elect a chairman from the members thereof. (Ord. 7746 § 1, 1960: Ord. 7579 § 1, 1959: Ord. 5253 § 1 (part), 1949: Ord. 4879 § 1 (part), 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 203, 1942.)

There is created in the board of governors an executive committee, consisting of five members, to be appointed by the board of governors from its members. The executive committee shall meet at such times between meetings of the board of governors as shall be necessary or expedient, and shall have the power and duty to handle, during such times and consistent with the policies of the board of governors general and specific matters involving the administration of the institute and, to that end, shall have power to act. The executive committee shall keep a minute record of all its proceedings and all actions taken by it, and shall file with the board of governors at each regular meeting a copy of such minutes involving all matters acted upon since its preceding report. (Ord. 6276 § 3, 1953; Ord. 5253 § 1 (part), 1949: Ord. 4879 § 1 (part), 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 204, 1942.)

The board of governors shall perform the following duties:
A. In conjunction with the director and the Otis Art Associates, to establish goals and plans as to fund-raising activities to be targeted for the forthcoming year;
B. In conjunction with the director and the Otis Art Associates, to develop a master plan establishing priorities for allocation of contributed funds to institute programs;
C. To solicit funds and donations to assist students and the institute in its services to the community;
D. To coordinate the fund-raising activities of the board of governors and the Otis Art Associates in achieving fund-raising goals;
E. In conjunction with the director and the Otis Art Associates, to study and evaluate new programs and how they may be funded. (Ord. 10996 § 1, 1974: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 2021,1942.)

The members of the board of governors shall receive the compensation specified in the current salary ordinance. In the absence of any provision in the current salary ordinance, the members thereof shall serve without compensation. In any event, when required to travel in the performance of their duties they shall be reimbursed for their necessary traveling expenses, including transportation, meals and lodging, in accordance with the provisions of Ordinance 4099 or any other ordinance providing for the same. (Ord. 7579 § 2, 1959: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 203.5, 1942.)

The board of governors, subject to confirmation by the board of supervisors of the county, pursuant to civil service provisions of the County Charter, may appoint a director of the institute, which office is created. (Ord. 5253 § 1 (part), 1949: Ord. 4879 § 1 (part), 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 205, 1942.)

The director shall be responsible for and have charge of all administrative financial and personnel matters of the institute, subject only to the general supervision of said board of governors. (Ord. 5253 § 1 (part), 1949: Ord. 4879 § 1 (part), 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 206, 1942.)

The director of the Otis Art Institute may grant a leave of absence with pay to any employee of professorial rank for a period not to exceed one academic year for the purpose of permitting advanced study, research, creative work or other pursuit, the object of which is to benefit the institute by enabling the employee to improve his professional competence. (Ord. 8923 § 1 (part), 1965: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 207, 1942.)

A. No leave of absence shall be granted to any employee under this chapter who has not been employed in a professorial capacity at the Otis Art Institute for at least six consecutive academic years preceding the granting of the leave of absence.
B. Not more than one leave of absence with pay, as set forth in this chapter, shall be granted to an employee in each seven-year period.
C. Such leave of absence is not to be deemed automatic, but rather a privilege earned by achievement and promise as determined by the director. (Ord. 8923 § 1 (part), 1965: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 207.2, 1942.)

A formal application for a leave of absence shall be submitted to the director by the beginning of the semester preceding that during which such leave will commence. The application shall include or be accompanied by the details of the applicant’s plan of study, together with a statement of the benefits which would accrue to the art institute and students thereof from the proposed study. (Ord. 8923 § 1 (part), 1965: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 207.4, 1942.)

Leave may be granted for a period of one academic year at one-half salary, or for a period of one-half an academic year at full salary. (Ord. 8923 § 1 (part), 1965: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 207.1, 1942.)

No more than one employee of the institute shall be granted a sabbatical leave in any one academic year. (Ord. 8923 § 1 (part), 1965: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 207.3, 1942.)

Final approval of an application for a sabbatical leave of absence shall not be granted until the applicant has filed a suitable bond, or assigned savings and loan certificates or shares pursuant to Chapter 4.36 of this code, indemnifying the county of Los Angeles against loss in the event the employee fails to render two academic years of service at the Otis Art Institute following the return of the employee from the leave of absence. The bond or assignment shall be in the amount of the total salary computed to become due to the applicant during his leave of absence, except that the bond or assignment shall be exonerated if the failure of the employee to return and render two years of service is caused by his death, his physical or mental disability, layoff or dismissal. The obligation to file a bond or assignment may be waived by the director if he feels that the interest of the county will be protected by a written agreement of the employee to return to the service of the Otis Art Institute and render at least two years’ service therein following his return from the leave of absence. Such agreement shall be accompanied by a statement of assets showing, to the satisfaction of the director, the employee’s capacity to indemnify the county of Los Angeles in the event he fails, through fault of his own, to fulfill his agreement. (Ord. 8923 § 1 (part), 1965: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 207.5, 1942.)

Upon his return, the employee shall submit a report detailing the accomplishments achieved during his leave of absence. (Ord. 8923 § 1 (part), 1965: Ord. 4099 Art. 13-A § 207.6, 1942.)