In This Issue:  | | • | FREMONT SE JUEGA SU FUTURO e mas | FREMONT STAKES ITS FUTURE + more | | | • | LAWSUIT CHALLENGES SCHOOL FUNDING SYSTEM: State has week to respond to group's claims | | | • | CHILDREN'S LEMONADE STANDS RAISE MONEY FOR SANTA MONICA-MALIBU SCHOOLS | | | • | smf's REMARKS AT THE RIBBON CUTTING OF RAMONA OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL | | | • | HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS & THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT: The Rest of the Stories from Other Sources | | | • | EVENTS: Coming up next week... | | | • | What can YOU do? | |
Featured Links: | | | | YOU ARE EITHER IN.... OR YOU'RE OUT. - Heidi Klum.
SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER. - Alice Cooper
SCHOOL'S OUT A WEEK EARLY - courtesy of Dr. Cortines and Mr. Duffy - negotiated not as educational policy but an amendment to the union contract ...but really thanks to the California State Government's total ineptitude.. Maybe they have an excuse. After all - most of them - whether their gang/party colors are Crips/Democrat Blue or Bloods/Republican Red - were mostly publicly educated - many in post-Prop 13 California.
And while I'm picking on the governor and the lege: The constitutional deadline for a state budget was last Tuesday. In real life - and in turning in assignments for school - there is a word for those who miss deadlines: Dead..
4LAKids REUSES/RECYCLES/REDISTRIBUTES NEWS STORIES AND OPINION PIECES from the media and we go to great lengths and pains to remove paid advertising from those stories. Following in a link to a full-page paid ad from page B-10 of Thursday’s LA Times, placed there by the Campaign to Save Arts Education in the LAUSD.
http://bit.ly/ddCD1r - please go there.
The placers of this ad approached me and approached Los Angeles Tenth District PTA about being signatory to this campaign and this ad. With apologies to them, to the campaign, the arts education community and the greater membership of PTA - the ball was dropped.
Mea culpa: PTA should have been a signer of this letter. This is our mission, we had the necessary PTA votes and board support.
PRESERVING ARTS & MUSIC EDUCATION IS THE OFFICIAL POLICY AND POSITION OF PTA IN LA. And, not coincidentally: 4LAKids.
Gentle readers: Please support the campaign to save Elementary Arts Education in LAUSD, a program that was - until now - an award winning national paradigm of success - studied and emulated in other school districts elsewhere.
MEANWHILE: How ' bout those Lakers? How 'bout that US Soccer Team? How 'bout that questionable call at the end of Slovenia v. USA? How bout the 6th graders at Mt. Washington ES crushing the staff and facuty in the End of Year Softball Game? And how 'bout Lt Governor and CSU Trustee Abel Maldonado voting against the fee increase for CSU students? Maybe Abel was voting the GOP party line (No tax increases, no fee increases) but that vote was the right vote. The trustees who voted and prevailed in raising fees voted wrong; a compromise too far. But how do I really feel?
Happy Fathers Day/Dia de los Padres + ¡Onward/Adelante! -smf
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STORYBOOK THEATER: You can make a difference in Arts Ed in LA Right now, while sitting at your computer -- Vote for the Arts for Los Angeles Schoolchildren + Your vote = $ | http://bit.ly/bgw5Uc !
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FREMONT SE JUEGA SU FUTURO e mas | FREMONT STAKES ITS FUTURE + more
Fremont High School: ANTE EL CAMBIO HAY GRAN ÉXODO DE ALUMNOS Y MAESTROS
by Yolanda Arenales| La Opinión
2010-06-14 -- A sólo unas semanas de que entre en vigor el nuevo plan de reestructuración interno para revertir los pobres resultados académicos en la escuela Fremont High, lo único que todos tienen claro es que en este nuevo experimento del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles (LAUSD) están enfrentando a una verdadera lucha de poder.
Entre los padres y estudiantes existe el temor de que el cambio se convierta en un "experimento" más en el que los alumnos sean, de nuevo, los más perjudicados.
Paola López, una estudiante de Fremont, cuenta que algunos jóvenes han pedido el traslado a otras escuelas del distrito para evitar la presión que puede acarrear los cambios, y en busca de escuelas donde los mejores resultados son ya una realidad.
"Yo me quedo porque creo que tengo derecho a una buena educación aquí, donde vivo", dice López.
Muchos estudiantes como Paola reclaman que los cambios dejen de ser una lucha de poder entre el distrito y los sindicatos y se centren en lo que de verdad importa: el progreso de los alumnos.
El próximo 1 de julio comenzará oficialmente la nueva etapa de la secundaria Fremont, siguiendo el plan de restructuración anunciado por el LAUSD a fines del año pasado.
El objetivo es sacar a la escuela de la situación de bajo desempeño en la que ha estado sumida por los últimos 12 años, pero la transición no está libre de polémica.
"Queremos despolitizar el proceso", dice Carla Vega, madre de un alumno en Fremont.
Siendo madre de tres hijos educados en las escuelas del distrito, Vega ha luchado ya en muchas batallas en busca de mejores opciones educativas en su comunidad, y ahora se enfrenta a ésta con optimismo.
"Creo que el cambio va a ser para bien", dice basando en parte su esperanza en los fondos adicionales que la escuela pueda recibir como apoyo para implementar su reforma interna.
Por ejemplo, según el Departamento de Educación de California, Fremont encaja en los criterios federales para recibir una Beca de Mejora Escolar (SIG) de $6 millones en los próximos tres años, de los cuales tres cuartas partes deberían destinarse a la plantilla de enseñanza.
Sin embargo, el hecho de que todos los maestros actuales de Fremont deben solicitar de nuevo su puesto para poder continuar enseñando en esta escuela bajo el nuevo plan de reestructuración, ha ahuyentado a muchos con amplia experiencia.
En torno al 40% de los 250 maestros de este plantel no han renovado su solicitud para el puesto, según explica Joe Vaca, un ex alumno de Fremont y maestro de la escuela desde hace 10 años.
"Yo crecí en el barrio y mi sueño siempre fue jubilarme en esta escuela", dice Vaca, quien optó por buscar trabajo en otra escuela donde comenzará a impartir clases el próximo otoño.
"Como alumno viví en primera persona los problemas a los que se enfrentan ahora sus estudiantes, pero la restructuración va a ser un cambio impuesto por el distrito ignorando a los que afrontan la realidad diaria de esa comunidad", sostiene Vaca.
Algunos maestros sienten que el procedimiento se ensaña con ellos al culparlos por resultados sobre los cuales, dicen, tienen un control limitado.
La escuela tiene un índice de desempeño de 524 puntos, frente al objetivo de 800 y el promedio de 694 en LAUSD y sólo un 13.6% de los estudiantes alcanzó el nivel de aprendizaje correspondiente a su grado según, los estándares de California (CST), o más alto el año pasado.
Hasta ahora, y a unas semanas de que empiece el nuevo ciclo escolar, los maestros que sí optaron por seguir las reglas impuestas por el LAUSD y solicitaron de nuevo su puesto, aún no saben quiénes serán readmitidos y quienes no, tampoco se sabe quienes reemplazarán a los maestros que irán.
"Hay demasiadas interrogantes. No creo que nos estén informando bien", sostiene Liz Rivera, una residente del área, quien percibe la restructuración como una maniobra política para "quedar bien" ante el gobierno estatal y federal.
Por su parte, Rafael Balderas, director de la escuela Fremont no contestó a los reiterados intentos de este periódico por conseguir información actualizada sobre la situación de su escuela, y se limitó a decir que lo hará en el futuro próximo.
Para Siris Barrios, de la organización Community Coalition, que aboga por el progreso del Sur de Los Ángeles, uno de los efectos positivos del proceso es la atención que ha despertado.
"Lo importante ahora es que se incluya la participación de la comunidad", dice Barrios, señalando que su organización está programando reuniones con LAUSD para conseguirlo. Entre las prioridades que quieren plantear destacan la recuperación de "los olvidados’ –los chicos que abandonaron la escuela sin terminarla-, conseguir servicios de terapia familiar, e incluir academias de enseñanza práctica a nivel universitario que faciliten él éxito de los jóvenes
Fremont, el reto es mejorar las "calificaciones" actuales:
Indice de desempeño: 524, frente al objetivo de 800 y el promedio de 694 en LAUSD.
Sólo un 13.6% de los estudiantes alcanzó el nivel de aprendizaje correspondiente a su grado según los estándares de California (CST), o más alto.
De entre 3, 226 estudiantes examinados en matemáticas en 2009, sólo 45 estaban al nivel requerido en todos las pruebas y sólo dos sobresalieron.
Tasa de abandono de estudiantes: 34.2% (2007-08)
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Fremont High School: BEFORE THE CHANGE THERE IS GREAT EXODUS OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
by Yolanda Arenales | La Opinión ....with apologies, automatic translation by Google Translate - cleaned up (somewhat) by smf
2010-06-14 -- In the couple weeks before the new internal restructuring plan to reverse the poor academic performance at Fremont High School comes into effect the only thing that is clear is that this new experiment at Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is facing a real struggle for power.
Among parents and students there are concerns that the change will become an "experiment" in which most students are, again, the hardest hit.
Paola Lopez, a student at Fremont, says that some young people have requested a transfer to other schools in the district to avoid the pressure that can lead to changes, and are looking for schools where the best results are now a reality.
"I choose to stay because I believe I have the right to a good education here, where I live," says Lopez.
Many students like Paola desire that the reform cease to be a power struggle between the district and the unions and that the focus shift to what really matters: the progress of students.
Next July 1 will officially begin the new regime at Fremont High School, following the restructuring plan announced by the LAUSD late last year.
The aim is to get to school out of the situation of poor performance in which it has been mired for the past 12 years ...but the transition is not without controversy.
"We want to depoliticize the process," says Carla Vega, mother of a student at Fremont.
As the mother of three children educated in district schools, Vega has already fought in many battles in search of better educational options in their community, and it now faces this one with optimism.
"I think the change will be for good," she says partly basing her hopes on the additional funds that the school may receive as a support to implement its internal reform.
For instance, under the California Department of Education,, Fremont fit the federal criteria to receive a School Improvement Grant (SIG) of $ 6 million over three years, of which three quarters should be directed to the teaching staff.
However, under the new restructuring plan the fact that all current teachers must reapply for their jobs at Fremont has alienated many with extensive experience.
About 40% of the 250 teachers of the faculty have not renewed their application for their positions, says Joe Vaca, a former student of Fremont and school teacher for 10 years.
"I grew up in the neighborhood and my dream always was to retire at this school," says Vaca, who chose to seek employment in another school where he will begin to teach next fall.
"As a student I experienced first-hand the problems that students now face, but the restructuring will be a change imposed by the district ignoring those who face the daily reality of this community," says Vaca.
Some teachers feel that the procedure is implacable and leads to results to which, they say, they have no control.
The school has a Academic Performance Index (API) of 524 points, against a target of 800 and average 694 in LAUSD and only 13.6% of students are performing a grade level according to the California Standards Tests (CST) or higher last year.
Until now, a few weeks from the start of the new school year, even teachers who do chose to follow the rules imposed by the LAUSD and reapplied for their jobs - do not yet know who will be readmitted and who will not; further it is not known who will replace teachers who leave.
"There are too many questions. I do not think we are well informed," said Liz Rivera, an area resident, who sees the restructuring as a political maneuver to "save face" by the state and federal government.
For his part, Rafael Balderas, principal of the Fremont did not respond to repeated attempts by this newspaper to get an update on the status of the school, saying only that he will in the near future.
To Siris Barrios, of the organization Community Coalition, which advocates the advancement of South Los Angeles, one of the positive effects of the process is the attention it has attracted.
"The important thing now is to include the participation of the community," Barrios said, noting that his organization is planning meetings with LAUSD to get it.
Among the priorities they want to raise include the recovery of "the forgotten", the boys who left school without finishing," to get family therapy services and include practical teaching academies at university level to facilitate the achievement of young people
At Fremont, the challenge is to improve the "skills" :
Academic Performance Index: 524, against a target of 800 and average 694 in LAUSD.
Only 13.6% of students are performing at grade level or higher according to the California
Among 3, 226 students tested in mathematics in 2009, only 45 were proficient in all tests and only two were above proficient..
Student dropout rate: 34.2% (2007-08)
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additional content:
UTLA responds to Cortines plan to restructure Fremont HS under NCLB | http://bit.ly/d1INsW
United Teacher articles
- Fremont High takes fight to the School Board (5/21/10) by UTLA staff
- We are all Fremont (4/23/10) by UTLA members
- Fremont High calls for reform,not reconstitution (3/26/10) by UTLA staff
- Fighting the good fight (1/26/10) by the Save Fremont Committee
- Why Fremont Matters (1/22/10) by UTLA/AFT Vice President Josh Pechthalt
- Reconstitution: Publicity stunt, not real reform (1/22/10) by the Save Fremont Committee
Background – from UTLA
In a letter dated December 9, LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines announced the restructuring of Fremont HS. The Superintendent cited continued poor performance at Fremont as the reason to invoke the provisions of NCLB to begin restructuring the High School.
- See Cortines' restructuring letter
The school will report directly to Cortines beginning July 1, 2010.
UTLA is outraged that this takeover was brought to the attention of the teachers and UTLA leadership at the last minute. “At this point, we are not sure what form this restructuring will take. We will insist that teachers, parents, community members, UTLA and other bargaining units must be a part of the process,” said UTLA president A.J. Duffy.
UTLA remains committed to positive change at schools. We believe that change must occur collaboratively between teachers, parents, community members and the District along with other bargaining unit partners.
UTLA is making an official request to negotiate the details of this process.
Confusion at Fremont High School for axed teachers | http://bit.ly/bnbG9z
Jose Lara | The South Los Angeles Report
4-5-2010 | Los Angeles school officials decided at the end of 2009 to close Fremont High School in South Los Angeles and start afresh. All the teachers were fired, but some are confused as to why they have been asked to re-apply for their jobs.
LAWSUIT CHALLENGES SCHOOL FUNDING SYSTEM: State has week to respond to group's claims
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer | Contra Costa Times
6/13/2010 -- State officials have about a week to respond to a lawsuit that could force lawmakers and the governor to overhaul California's school finance system and policies.
The suit says the current education financing system is unconstitutional and asks the court to require the establishment of one that provides the proper funding for all of the state's programs.
The case was filed in Superior Court in Alameda County on May 20 by more than 60 students and their families, nine school districts, the California School Boards Association, the state PTA and the Association of California School Administrators.
The state has 30 days to respond.
"We have tried many avenues as an education coalition to let the governor know that what they're doing to education is harmful to education and to the generation, and they have done nothing to remedy the problem," said Caryn Payzant, Alta Loma School District board member and California School Boards Association's key communicator for San Bernardino County.
"This is a last resort to get their attention and to let them know about what they're doing is wrong."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he has instructed his lawyers to work with the court and with the plaintiffs to "really make sure that we are working and going in the right direction.
"We are interested in funding and the money that goes into the classroom. That is the important thing. I think that we need funding. We need to go and straighten out our funding mechanism. I think that we've got to straighten out our budget system, our tax system.
"And also, we have to concentrate on that we have equal education for every child and that we have accountability. There is no such thing as increasing funding and just throwing more money at that broken system."
California's revenue and expenditure system makes schools almost completely dependent on the state.
California ranks 47th in per-pupil spending, with an average of $7,500 spent per student, in comparison to the national average of $9,900.
With class sizes increasing, and summer school, arts, music, librarians, nurses and counselors being cut, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said failing to fund programs and resources will threaten students' need to thrive and compete in a competitive global economy.
"According to the Legislative Analyst's recent analysis on per capita real general fund spending in the governor's proposed May budget revision, `The level of spending proposed by the administration would continue the recent drop in state spending, as adjusted for growth in population and inflation. In 2010-11, the inflation adjusted per capita spending level would be similar to that of 1993-94 - also a low point due to a recession,"' O'Connell said.
"If the political will to protect our future is faltering, perhaps this lawsuit and the courts will be the catalyst to meet our obligation to the more than 6 million students in our state."
The suit itself has been a year in the making, said Deborah Caplan, attorney for the plaintiffs.
Time was spent developing the legal theory and making sure whatever action was taken made a solid argument.
"Any time you bring a constitutional challenge to the state education finance system, it's a big challenge," Caplan said.
Caplan said this suit is special because of its approach. Some states have tried to create a similar suit that asks the courts to define what type of education is needed and determine how much it would cost for the education it deemed necessary, she said.
"We think the state has defined the educational program that it thinks is necessary to prepare students to go to college, get a job and be productive in the 21st century, but we are saying that once you define the program ... (you) also have a duty to fund it," Caplan said.
"I think districts have been increasingly concerned because they're the ones who are responsible for delivering the program, but they don't have the any additional resources to meet those needs."
State Secretary of Education Bonnie Reiss said all agree that funding is important, but countless studies show that more money alone will not help students.
"The Governor's Administration stands ready to work with the courts and the plaintiffs on reviewing the state's school finance system, however, we must look at the entire education system and reform the way that money is spent to put the needs of students first and maximize funding in the classroom," she said.
Payzant has extended an offer to visit other school districts, service organizations and chambers of commerce to discuss the suit.
"The education of our next generation affects all of us as a community, and that's why it's not just the education community that should be aware of this, because having an educated population makes us strong," she said.
More about the lawsuit: http://www.fixschoolfinance.org/
* Press Release: Historic Lawsuit Challenges California’s Unconstitutional Education Finance System - May 20, 2010
* California School Funding Lawsuit Press Kit
* Complaint: Robles-Wong v. California
* Press Statements from San Francisco and Sacramento Press Conferences
CHILDREN'S LEMONADE STANDS RAISE MONEY FOR SANTA MONICA-MALIBU SCHOOLS
SMMUSD'S $7.1 MILLION IN BUDGET CUTS INCLUDES ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND SOME MUSIC PROGRAMS - 'A lot of my past teachers have gotten a pink slip and I want to save them,' one girl says.
by Ann M. Simmons, Los Angeles Times
June 20, 2010 -- A group of children manned a lemonade stand on a Santa Monica street corner Saturday morning, waving posters urging passersby to buy a beverage and a cookie and help "Save Our Teachers." A woman pulled up in an SUV, ordered five cookies and handed over a $100 bill. She told the youngsters to give her only $50 in change.
The gesture, met with cheers and applause, gave a generous boost to Project Lemon-Aid — a fundraising initiative inspired by students and aimed at helping offset budget cuts to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
"A lot of my past teachers have gotten a pink slip and I want to save them," said Emily Newberry, 11, who worked at the lemonade stand at Stanford Street and Montana Avenue.
"The classes will get bigger and it's going to be harder for the teachers to teach," added 8-year-old Weston MacWilliams.
The lemonade stand was one of dozens that were expected to be set up in Santa Monica and Malibu over the weekend.
They hoped to raise funds for the cash-strapped school district, which had to slash $7.1 million from the budget of the upcoming academic year after a local school funding measure was voted down in May.
The cuts include the elimination of 65 teacher and other staff positions; the closing of all elementary school libraries; and the axing of some elementary school music programs. Larger class sizes are also expected.
In an effort to provide "a critical stop-gap," the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation has launched a 60-day fundraising campaign called Save Our Schools.
So far, the campaign has raised more than $200,000, with an additional $100,000 in pledges, according to Linda Greenberg Gross, the foundation's executive director.
Gross acknowledged that it was unlikely that all the funds needed would be raised by the Aug. 15 deadline, but said whatever was collected would go toward partial restoration of positions and programs.
"Every little bit counts," said Gross.
That's why when first-grader Ezra Krieger told his mother that he, Weston and a few other pals wanted to sell lemonade to try to raise funds for teachers, Jennifer Roth Krieger was eager to help them give it a shot.
Last weekend they set up lemonade stands at two separate corners. In just a few hours, the children took in $250.
"We realized that we had really tapped into something," said Krieger, who has three children in Santa Monica schools. "It's an opportunity to teach our kids ... that whatever part you play can go a long way."
So this weekend, Krieger decided to take the initiative districtwide. Word was spread by mouth, over the Internet and through fliers. Scores of parents chipped in to help their children set up lemonade stands throughout the district.
"It's really a grassroots effort among the kids," said Bruce MacWilliams, Weston's father. "We're the ones who are following the kids. They are the ones who are leading."
While most parents praised the children's efforts, some blamed state legislators for a budget crisis that has resulted in cuts to public schools, forcing constituents to come up with ways to foot education bills in the first place.
"I think it's a shame that parents and kids have to do this," Michael Conn, who has two children in Santa Monica schools, said of the Project Lemon-Aid initiative. "It's irresponsible for the state not to watch their finances."
Choir enthusiasts Caitlin Kerwin, 15, and Chloe Abarbanel, 14, who joined other high school friends at a lemonade stand at the corner of Santa Monica's Washington Avenue and Harvard Street, said they were hoping that any money they raised would at the very least help elementary schools' music programs.
"Music is the thing that makes me want to come to school in the morning," said Chloe. "Without the foundation you get in elementary school, you can't reach the highest level."
They were grateful when neighbor Dean Stackel and his 12-year-old son Ben arrived at their stand to donate $20. They didn't want any lemonade, cookies or Rice Krispies treats. They simply wanted to help.
The young fundraisers who dotted the district Saturday were hopeful that such generosity would help them reap a bounty.
By 2 p.m., the stand at Stanford and Montana had taken in $800 — and sold out of lemonade.
smf's REMARKS AT THE RIBBON CUTTING OF RAMONA OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
Background - from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control "Success Story" website |
http://bit.ly/a2VPSk: - The New Ramona Opportunity High School (ROHS) project is a collaboration between the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). MTA’s plan to complete construction of its Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension will encroach upon one acre of the existing ROHS site. The agreement between MTA and LAUSD allows MTA to move forward with its plan to extend the Gold Line by acquiring one acre of the existing ROHS and replacing it with the subject site for construction of a replacement school.
The ROHS serves pregnant teenage mothers, providing education programming for 240 special needs female high school students in grades 7-12 within LAUSD.
The one-acre project is located at the northeast corner of East Third Street and South Alma Avenue.
June 17, 2010 -- "RAMONA" - the unique California story of star-crossed love.
What happens, the great hypothetical asks, when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?
Utter chaos?
Total Destruction?
A tear in the Space-Time continuum?
Nothing?
Look Around you. two giant self-absorbed autonomous and unaccountable bureaucracies - the Metropolitan Transit Agency and the School District - have collided. And this wonderful new school has happened. And I rode here today from my home on the Gold Line.
Teen aged girls, historically ignored Teen Mothers and Mothers-to-Be today have increased Opportunity and A New Chance today - as do their children and children-to-be. And this historically underserved community is now served by rapid transit.
I would like to say that all of this happened without drama - but drama there was. And politics and schoolyard bullying and conflict and both sides picking up their ball and going home.
And in the end there was Compromise - but NOT at the expense of these young women or this community or the missions of public education or public transit.
In the end there was this school for these young ladies - and a great continued future for this school and for the community it serves.
Building schools and investing in its future is the greatest thing any community does; schools and education and opportunity are the greatest gifts we give ourselves.
We will have have built and opened 110 schools in the bond program when schhol opens in Septemeber; I have made speeches at many if not most of them.
Every new school makes my heart sing - this one in a sweeter key because of the mission of this school and the unlikely harmony of the implausible partners -- and the glorious conclusion of the drama.
I have a confession to make: today is my birthday - but this gift is for all of us. This is the continued and continuing gift of Hope - Esperanza - for young women caught up unexpectedly in life -- and for that life itself.
Thank you Los Angeles - voters and taxpayers and educators and transit workers, riders and students, politicians, parents and community members. Occasionally we glimpse the angels all around us.
HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS & THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT: The Rest of the Stories from Other Sources
# ‘PRESENT!’ FOR THIRTEEN YEARS: 10 South Gate Senior High School students have unblemished records.: By Esmeralda B... http://bit.ly/bVxKnL
ARTS FOR LA CAMPAIGN TO SAVE ARTS EDUCATION: LA Times Advertisement 4LAKids redistributes news stories and opinio... http://bit.ly/a0VGmA
LAUSD to UTLA: STOP FAVORING TENURE OVER STUENT’S RIGHTS: By Ken Alpern: ALPERN AT LARGE | l..A. City Watch – an ... http://bit.ly/c2Uplk
SOUTH L.A. SCHOOLS FAILING TO PREVENT DROPOUTS: by Ariel Edwards Levy | Intersections LA ::The South Los Angeles R... http://bit.ly/9WT5ks
SAN DIEGO SUPERINTENDENT FINALISTS ANNOUNCED: One is Dale Vigil, tapped as Local District 4 Supe yesterday: San Di... http://bit.ly/9LXYhk
QUEST FOR BEST COULD KILL GOOD KINDERGARTEN BILL: By John Fensterwald | The Educated Guess June 16th, 2010 || Fo... http://bit.ly/cQx6Hf
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SAYS IT IS SAVING NEARLY 2,500 JOBS: District officials attribute the development to employee ... http://bit.ly/byOHw3
MAYWOOD ACTIVISTS OPPOSE LAUSD EMINENT DOMAIN: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | KPCC Download Audio Feed
TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT HITS LOCAL PREP SPORTS: By Courtney Jones | FOX Sports West & PRIME TICKET June 16, 2010 | Yo... http://bit.ly/bTB2Pm
'Largely symbolic': LAUSD MOVES TO ALTER TEACHER LAYOFFS: By Connie Llanos, Staff Writer | LA Daily News 6/16/201... http://bit.ly/bcPCYb
CARPENTER AVENUE ELEMENTARY A NEW CHARTER SCHOOL: Connie Llanos | L.A. Daily News 6/16/2010 -- Los Angeles Unifie... http://bit.ly/bUnfru
ASSIGNMENT OF LOCAL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS 2010-2010: http://bit.ly/d6oEJL
LAWSUIT CHALLENGES SCHOOL FUNDING SYSTEM: State has week to respond to group's claims: Canan Tasci, Staff Writer |... http://bit.ly/d5Aguo
SYMANTEC CHAIRMAN CALLS FOR PROP 13 REFORM "to provide more money for public schools.": By John Fensterwald | The ... http://bit.ly/9Qrtgy
SELECTIONS FROM CALIFORNIA EDUCATION NEWS ROUNDUP: Grad rate falls 5%, Ed reform meets politics, Bill would keep k... http://bit.ly/d9bHOK
CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERS CHARGED WITH STEALING OVER $200,000 IN PUBLIC FUNDS: The Russian couple faces 38 felony and... http://bit.ly/aXvSpT
STORYBOOK THEATER: Vote for the Arts for Los Angeles Schoolchildren :: Your vote = $ !: by smf for 4LAKids June ... http://bit.ly/bgw5Uc
Letters to the editor: WHY MEASURE E DIDN’T MAKE IT: Letters to the Editor of the LA Times Re "L.A. Unified fails... http://bit.ly/aVRNTK
1,100 STUDENTS LATER, SOME THOUGHTS ON TEACHING: Jane Schwanbeck is leaving after 37 years as a kindergarten teach... http://bit.ly/cJqgzc
VOTERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK: Legislative redistricting and open primary measures have become law. Con... http://bit.ly/cJQOCJ
EVENTS: Coming up next week...
*Dates and times subject to change. ________________________________________
• SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE:
http://www.laschools.org/bond/
Phone: 213-241-5183
____________________________________________________
• LAUSD FACILITIES COMMUNITY OUTREACH CALENDAR:
http://www.laschools.org/happenings/
Phone: 213-241.8700
What can YOU do?
• E-mail, call or write your school board member:
Yolie.Flores.Aguilar@lausd.net • 213-241-6383
Tamar.Galatzan@lausd.net • 213-241-6386
Monica.Garcia@lausd.net • 213-241-6180
Marguerite.LaMotte@lausd.net • 213-241-6382
Nury.Martinez@lausd.net • 213-241-6388
Richard.Vladovic@lausd.net • 213-241-6385
Steve.Zimmer@lausd.net • 213-241-6387
...or your city councilperson, mayor, the governor, member of congress, senator - or the president. Tell them what you really think! • There are 26 mayors and five county supervisors representing jurisdictions within LAUSD, the mayor of LA can be reached at mayor@lacity.org • 213.978.0600
• Call or e-mail Governor Schwarzenegger: 213-897-0322 e-mail: http://www.govmail.ca.gov/
• Open the dialogue. Write a letter to the editor. Circulate these thoughts. Talk to the principal and teachers at your local school.
• Speak with your friends, neighbors and coworkers. Stay on top of education issues. Don't take my word for it!
• Get involved at your neighborhood school. Join your PTA. Serve on a School Site Council. Be there for a child.
• If you are eligible to become a citizen, BECOME ONE.
• If you a a citizen, REGISTER TO VOTE.
• If you are registered, VOTE LIKE THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.
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