In This Issue:  | | • | Ramon C. Cortines: LAUSD BUDGET IS BY NECESSITY LEAN, MEAN | | | • | L.a. SCHOOL DISTRICT REPLACES FIRST PRINCIPAL OF NEW DOWNTOWN ARTS CAMPUS | | | • | It CAN happen here: STATE FUNDING FORMULA PROTECTS WYOMIING SCHOOLS FROM RECESSION | | | • | SUPERVISORS QUESTION CLOSING OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS + Ed Politics 101: LACOE – who knew? | | | • | 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: | | | | Superintendent Cortines wrote an Op-Ed this week: LAUSD BUDGET IS BY NECESSITY LEAN, MEAN
4LAKids isn't about to argue 'lean', lean we get: Fat free. Thin. Spare, sparse.
'Mean' offers a semantic challenge.
Quick definitions (mean) from OneLook.com
1. noun: an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n
2. verb: have a specified degree of importance ("My ex-husband means nothing to me")
3. verb: destine or designate for a certain purpose ("These flowers were meant for you")
4. verb: denote or connote ("`maison' means `house' in French")
5. verb: mean or intend to express or convey ("You never understand what I mean!")
6. verb: have in mind as a purpose ("I mean no harm")
7. verb: have as a logical consequence ("The water shortage means that we have to stop taking long showers")
8. verb: intend to refer to ("Yes, I meant you when I complained about people who gossip!")
9. adjective: excellent ("Famous for a mean backhand")
10. adjective: used of persons or behavior; characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity ("A mean person")
11. adjective: characterized by malice ("In a mean mood")
12. adjective: having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality ("Taking a mean advantage")
13. adjective: marked by poverty befitting a beggar ("A mean hut")
14. adjective: used of sums of money; so small in amount as to deserve contempt
15. name: A surname (very rare: popularity rank in the U.S.: #25319)
We can safely toss out all the verbs and meanings #9 and 15; #9 sadly so - excellence is a goal more desirous and realistic than "100% graduation".
#'s 11, 13 and 14 are probably the superintendent's meaning of 'mean'. Unfortunately LAUSD as it is currently directed seems pointed unwaveringly towards definitions 11 and 12.
In these mean times we have need of parsimony, but no need or place for malice or heartlessness - the appearance of vindictiveness or ignoble lack of honor. Even the unreformed Scrooge's name, affixed to the most miserly tightwad in literature, "was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to".
Which brings us to the question of the 'necessity' of the admitted meanness. Readers, it ain't necessarily necessary.
WEDNESDAY EVENING/BASTILLE DAY: I am sitting in the welcome shade of the lunch shelter of the Visual and Performing Arts High School downtown. The cathedral next door rings the three quarter hour with three-fourths of the Westminster Chimes:
"Oh Lord our God
Thy children call
Grant us Thy peace..."
Do the Catholics know their carillon plays an Episcopal chime?
"...And bless us all."
Angry parents and school staff and students are to meet in :15 to discuss the summary dismissal and transfer of their principal. Summary and arbitrary and heartless are words around the table, not mine.. They don't look all that angry. Numb and shocked - "I can't believe this is happening!" are words most used.
Inside the cafeteria there is a blue masking tape graffito on the wall: "Sometimes when I am sad, I eat."
There is pan dulce and cupcakes and cookies for us to eat.
The meeting is very well attended for a mid summer vacation gathering at 6PM downtown during a heatwave, 80 or 90 folks, maybe 100 if you count the restless students who come and go, forming their own conspiracies. Most are adults, divided between staff and parents - a smattering of students. What have you heard? what do you know? Howard Blume the Times reporter is there and catches some flak for being the messenger: his story in the Times the day before was how the unhappy news was broken.
The meeting begins as a meeting of a PTA in formation, the administrative of how much the dues should be, who will be the president until we can have the election, collecting names of volunteers for committees. Under it all the subtext question/the Elephant in the Room.: What is going on? Why is it going on? We love Ms. Blake!
A previously agendized conversation about test scores and CAHSEE results drags on, perhaps drawn out by the few wishing to avoid the New Business on the agenda. There is restless anticipation; only those who want to talk about test scores are talking; no one is listening about test scores. "In conclusion" drags on....
Finally the moment. The room comes alive. People stand to speak. Indignation is righteous. Students and Parents and Staff frustrations are heard and shared and debated. Is it a diabolical plot? ...or a power play? ... or a Beaudry takeover? That there’s a conspiracy is a given; who the conspirators are and what their agenda is is debated. Mayor Tony and Eli Broad and Monica Garcia are unpopular candidates for plotter-in chief, Supt Cortines and new Local District 4 Sue Dale Vigil are runners up.
"Principal Blake is an amazing leader, created a community culture; her door was always open. She respected parents and teachers and faculty and students. She taught a class"
There are tears from students. And anger. And "Us" " v. Them".
And "they" are not there, not a voice. Not a memo, not a word of explanation. If someone thinks this will blow over, they are wrong. This will blow up.
So the parents and the staff and the students organized. They will write letters and circulate petitions, issue demands and make noise. Not the joyful noise an arts school should make, but an angry noise. There is resentment and wrath and confusion. There is no communication and no connection between 'us' and 'them'. No transparency, no accountability. No adherence to the governing memorandum of understanding that the school operates under.
There was another organizing meeting Friday morning; the campaign is going viral. No word from the school district. No communication yet..
¡Onward/Adelante! - smf
Ramon C. Cortines: LAUSD BUDGET IS BY NECESSITY LEAN, MEAN
Op-Ed by Ramon C. Cortines in the LA Daily News
7/13/2010 - THE exodus continues out of 333 S. Beaudry Ave., the central headquarters of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Every time I get on the elevator I see employees carrying boxes and other personal belongings. Some speak and manage a half-hearted smile. Some avert their eyes. Others even glare coldly. Their grim faces and slumped shoulders personify a tsunami of budget cuts.
LAUSD's budget was reduced by another 19 percent at Beaudry Avenue and 50 percent at local district offices for 2010-2011. Including these cuts, total budgets will have been reduced by 48 percent for the central office and by 72 percent for the regional offices since the 2006-2007 school year. Overall, the district's work force has shrunk by more than 14,000 employees - off and on school campuses since the 2007-2008 school year. Remember, LAUSD has more than one million K-12 and adult students, and nearly 900 schools. I assure you, LAUSD is not top heavy.
The district has been faced with a huge budget gap for the third consecutive year thanks to the politically paralyzed priorities of Sacramento. Consequently, I have proposed budget cuts to the LAUSD Board of Education that betray my principles as an educator and sacrifice reforms that help children learn. Among them: a shorter school year, larger classes and older textbooks.
Challenges, yes, but we will never lower our expectations for our students, teachers, administrators or support staff. We remain just as committed to our primary mission: excellent education for every student with results that include a diploma and cap and gown.
Lean has become mean with too many students per teacher. Lean has become mean with fewer days of instruction. Lean has become mean as students are told no summer school unless they flunked a core academic subject needed to graduate. No arts and music instruction unless you're lucky enough to be among the students, two out of three, whose classes didn't get cut. No, the library isn't open today at elementary schools. No soap in the restrooms - well, maybe it's not that bad. But everything will be cleaned less often.
These budget cuts mean much more work for less pay. Educators and many non-instructional employees took at least five furlough days during the school year that just ended, and are scheduled to take seven furlough days next school year. Yet they remain responsible for the same level of academic success. A smaller paycheck is no reward for a hard job made more difficult.
In addition to taking furloughs, more than 1,300 employees - most of them administrators and support staff at Beaudry - will take a 15 percent pay cut when their work schedule is reduced from 12 months to 10 months on July 1. But by necessity, most will continue to work year-round despite 40 days off without pay. Who will do the work when they are off? Who will manage, supervise, guide, plan or respond to crises? Who will answer the telephones?
On July 1, the LAUSD budget was balanced as required by law. But students will suffer.
Measure E, the limited parcel tax that failed to get the necessary two-thirds vote in June, would have slowed some of the hemorrhaging resulting from the State's abysmal finances. There is hope in Sacramento if the Assembly Democrats' budget proposal passes. Washington, D.C. could save as many as 3,000 jobs if Congress passes the Harkin bill. That's another big if.
And, forget about the extras.
Only the generosity of Southern California's professional sports community and foundations has saved football, basketball and other competitive athletics for our students. I'm now asking Los Angeles' professional arts community to save music and art instruction for our boys and girls.
As adults, when times are bad, we tighten our belts and hope things will get better next year or the year after.
Students can't wait for unemployment to drop, the housing market to rebound, or Washington, D.C. to bail out the banks or automobile industry. What will they remember from third grade or sixth grade or ninth grade? Will they remember that they got out of school a week early because LAUSD didn't have the money to pay its teachers?
Given current realities, the 2010-2011 budget I recommended and the Board of Education recently approved is lean. Sadly, I also believe it is mean.
Ramon C. Cortines is superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
L.a. SCHOOL DISTRICT REPLACES FIRST PRINCIPAL OF NEW DOWNTOWN ARTS CAMPUS
By Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times
OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THAT SUZANNE BLAKE, WHO LED CENTRAL LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL #9 DURING ITS INAUGURAL YEAR, WOULD BE TRANSFERRED AND REPLACED BY AN ADMINISTRATOR FROM FRANKLIN HIGH.
July 13, 2010 - The rocky voyage of the city's flagship arts campus took a new turn Monday with the removal of the downtown high school's first and only principal.
Suzanne Blake learned that she would be transferred from the still-unnamed Central Los Angeles High School #9 in a brief morning meeting with the new regional school-district administrator.
The new leader of the year-old, $232-million school is Luis Lopez, a principal for the last five years at Franklin High in Highland Park.
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The decision to replace Blake, a former middle school principal, was made by Dale Vigil, the top administrator in that area. Vigil rejoined the Los Angeles Unified School District in late June after more than four years as superintendent in the Bay Area.
"Suzanne did an admirable job of getting the school up and running, but at this point I feel the school needs the leadership of a seasoned high school administrator," Vigil said.
Blake's first year had included a disastrous first visit from an accreditation team. L.A. schools Supt. Ramon C. Cortines persuaded reviewers to return, and, on the second try, the school earned the maximum three-year accreditation for a new campus.
Also during the year, the leadership of the teachers union called for Blake's dismissal, saying that she ran the school in an authoritarian manner rather than in collaboration with teachers. Three teachers among the staff of 43 have transferred out.
The school, which has a steel tower, a large auditorium and spacious dance studios, became the subject of scrutiny before it even opened. School board members squabbled over who should attend, the district couldn't find a principal and philanthropist Eli Broad, an early backer, withdrew support.
But Blake, 54, won supporters among the staff and arts community and appeared set to stay at the Grand Avenue campus.
Theater instructor William Goldyn talked recently of Blake's "incredible" support. Blake "got on her hands and knees" to paint sets, doing whatever was needed to help, he said.
"She's a great leader," said Assistant Principal Yvett Landeros. "Things are going spectacularly in terms of a new school. To make a change just doesn't make sense."
Blake and Lopez had emerged last year as finalists for principal after a national search resulted in two high-profile, experienced arts school leaders turning down the job.
In early July, Vigil decided to re-interview both Blake and Lopez, then choose which one should head the school.
During the school year, school board President Monica Garcia complained internally about both the accreditation snag and the school's inability to recruit more students from low-income neighborhoods near the campus: 70% of students are supposed to live in the area; the figure was closer to 60% in the inaugural year.
"I did what every board member would do and raise hell — excuse me — express concern," Garcia said. "Because this is a very important school. This school was built and designed for the kids of this neighborhood."
Cortines personally oversaw last year's hiring of Blake and Executive Director Rex Patton. Amid some tension between the two, Cortines said he recently decided to assign Patton elsewhere. As recently as late June, Cortines indicated that Blake could stay on. But the final decision on assignments in that region belonged to Vigil, he added.
Lopez's current school, Franklin, has failed to meet federal achievement targets since 1998, well before Lopez arrived. In his first three years, the school averaged modest but steady gains on the state's Academic Performance Index. Last year, Franklin showed a substantial boost in standardized test scores.
Like Blake, Lopez, 44, is a former professional dancer. He performed with two ballet folklorico companies. One of his sons attends the arts high school.
It CAN happen here: STATE FUNDING FORMULA PROTECTS WYOMIING SCHOOLS FROM RECESSION
Schools in Wyoming have been protected from the effects of the down economy because of a state requirement that education funding remain at a set level -- currently $1.477 billion over the next two years. The funding formula is based on district statistics, including enrollment, inflation and facility expenses. "If their local property taxes go down, then the entitlement goes up to make up for the loss in local resources," one official said.
WYOMING STUDENTS ESCAPE DOWN EFFECTS OF DOWN ECONOMY - SO FAR
By BOB MOEN - Associated Press writer
Tuesday, July 13, 2010 – CHEYENNE -- While most government agencies and programs struggle with budget cuts, Wyoming's public schools will face no out-of-the-ordinary changes in state funding during the coming school year.
"Schools are definitely under a different funding system than the cities and counties," said Fred Hansen, finance director of the state Department of Education.
A decline in the taxable value of Wyoming minerals and in sales tax collections because of the down economy have sapped state and local budgets of revenue, forcing some cuts in government workers and programs.
But Wyoming schools are immune for now from those economically driven cuts because they are guaranteed a set amount of money under the state's current formula for school funding.
Districts are slated to get $1.477 billion in state funding over the next two years, Hansen said.
Wyoming funds K-12 education from various sources, including a statewide property tax, federal mineral royalties and motor vehicle registration fees. The money is pooled and then distributed based on a formula that takes into account each school district's characteristics, such as number of students, school personnel, inflation and building costs.
"So each district is guaranteed a specific amount of funding based on their individual characteristics," Hansen said.
Even if local property taxes fall, the district still gets what the state formula determines is needed to cover its education costs, Hansen said.
"If their local property taxes go down, then the entitlement goes up to make up for the loss in local resources," he said.
However, if a district loses students, for instance, it could get less money, which would be the case regardless of the economy because the formula takes student numbers into account, Hansen said.
The state Legislature is currently reviewing the state school funding formula to see if any changes need to be made next year. The so-called recalibration is required every five years. The last review was in 2006.
Depending on any changes to the funding formula and whether overall state revenue is predicted to fall further in coming years, districts could see changes in state support in 2011-12, Hansen said.
However, in the past, the Legislature has supplemented school spending with general fund dollars, he said.
SUPERVISORS QUESTION CLOSING OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS + Ed Politics 101: LACOE – who knew?
by Carla Rivera | LA Times
July 13, 2010 | 5:08 pm - Los Angeles County officials want to know why nearly two dozen alternative schools were closed on short notice last month, uprooting hundreds of students who are on probation and others who cannot attend traditional schools.
The Los Angeles County Office of Education on June 30 shut down 22 community day schools and independent study programs that had been attended by more than 700 students, citing low enrollment and budget constraints.
Education officials said they are working to help students find other options, including returning them to high schools closer to their homes and reopening some programs in county probation offices.
But at its meeting Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors asked Office of Education Supt. Darline P. Robles to report back in 30 days to explain the rationale for closing the schools and to consider ways to reopen them in the fall.
Robles said education officials are working with several local school districts, including Los Angeles Unified, to share the costs of operating the alternative programs.
●● Ed Politics 101: LACOE – who knew?
by smf for 4lakids
* The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) is run by the County Board of Education. LACOE is the largest regional educational entity in the nation. In addition to overseeing/playground supervision of every school district in the county, they run their own schools – including alternative schools, county probation schools and camps, Regional Occupational Centers, juvenile hall schools, The LA County High School for the Arts, etc. The decision to close the schools in this story was ultimately a decision by the County Board of Education.
* Dr. Robles, the County Superintendent, was appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the County Board of Supervisors. There are 58 County Superintendents in California. 53 County Superintendents are elected; 5 are appointed.
* LA County is unique in California in that the County Board of Ed is appointed by the Board of Supervisors rather than elected – as they are in the other 57 counties. The County Board of Education also serves at the pleasure of the supervisors.
HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS & THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT: The Rest of the Stories from Other Sources
LOCAL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT MARTIN GALINDO TO LEAVE SOUTHEAST REGION: Veteran Educator Will Become Superintenden... http://bit.ly/90qnvR
ON EDUCATING NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS: OP-ED RESPONSES & Letters to the editor of The L.A. Times Blowback: THE BILING... http://bit.ly/bunGjW
URGENT FINANCING FOR SCHOOLS OR “THROWING MORE MONEY” AT THEM?: Themes in the News for the week of July 12-16, 201... http://bit.ly/apCu0L
YES TO COMMON CORE PLUS 8th GRADE ALGEBRA: By John Fensterwald in The Educated Guess July 16th, 2010 -- Staring ... http://bit.ly/bRemkl
3 FROM THE DAILY NEWS ON THE SHORTER SCHOOL YEAR: Many campuses shorten calendar because of budget crisis + Schoo... http://bit.ly/bU32oj
HOUSE PANEL VOTES FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF RACE TO THE TOP: By Alyson Klein | Politics K-12 Blog in Ed Week July 15, 2... http://bit.ly/9Tcd0O
PARENTS GIVEN MORE CLOUT IN SCHOOL CHOICES: New rules make it easier to transfer students and trigger reforms +2¢ ... http://bit.ly/bPYgnc
THE ABCs OF WASTEFUL SPENDING + smf's 2¢ …and a bit of the record, resurrected.: Editorial From the L.A. Daily New... http://bit.ly/aeKCRM
STATE FUNDING FORMULA PROTECTS WYOMIING SCHOOLS FROM RECESSION: Schools in Wyoming have been protected from the ef... http://bit.ly/a2YGhf
UNAWARE OF POSSIBILITIES, MANY HIGH SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS DO NOT PLAN TO PURSUE HEALTHCARE AND SCIENCE JOBS: PRESS R... http://bit.ly/ayW2zi
PRICE TAG FOR SCHOOLS COMPLEX AT FORMER AMBASSADOR HOTEL SITE NOW TOPS $578 MILLION: It is the Los Angeles Unified... http://bit.ly/bCtz1
Second Lawsuit | GRASSROOTS COALITION SUES CALIFORNIA OVER SCHOOL FUNDING: Says State Violating Fundamental Right ... http://bit.ly/b2cgia
DISPUTE PUTS SCHOOL OPENINGS IN JEOPARDY + smf’s 2¢: By Connie Llanos, Staff Writer | LA Daily News 7/14/2010 -- ... http://bit.ly/dABbsa
Action Alert: TAKE ACTION TODAY TO FEED HUNGRY CHILDREN: Legislation Alert July 13, 2010 You don’t have to ... http://bit.ly/bm4sXb
TELL THE WHOLE SAD STORY OF FREMONT HIGH: Why do its students struggle? Why the revolving door for teachers? A for... http://bit.ly/aSLFxk
OBAMA’S SCHOOL AID SHOWDOWN: The president is wrongly threatening to veto a school-aid package unless cuts to his ... http://bit.ly/aAYrd2
Obituary: ALFONSO B. PEREZ DIES AT 91; pioneered special education in L.A. schools: Perez also guided his alma mat...
THE PROBLEM WITH GIVING SCHOOLS $1.8 BILLION NORE? $1.8 BILLION: Posted by Kevin Yamamura in Sac Bee CapitolAlert ... http://bit.ly/c1veiO
3 about bilingual ed/3 sobre la educación bilingüe: A SKILL, NOT A WEAKNESS: Knowing more than one language is an ... http://bit.ly/aTA2rC
3 about bilingual ed/3 sobre la educación bilingüe: ENGLISH IMMERSION - QUALITY COUNTS: English learners must be t... http://bit.ly/a2aDWJ
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! • Find your state legislator based on your home address. Just go to: http://bit.ly/dqFdq2 • 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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