 |
|
4LAKids: Sunday 1•July•2012 Canada Day, eh?
|
 |
|
|
In This Issue:
|
| • |
THE LAUSD BUDGET + an smf rant - The media that bothered to cover the story wrote: |
|
| • |
Prop
39 Co-Locations: STATEMENT FROM SUPERINTENDENT DEASY & THE BOARD OF
ED RE: CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATION V. LAUSD + Court order |
|
| • |
L.A. DISTRICT WEIGHING GRADUATION OF STUDENTS WHO FAILED CLASS |
|
| • |
HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS & THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT: The Rest (but
not necessarily the best) of the Stories from Other Sources |
|
| • |
EVENTS: Coming up next week... |
|
| • |
What can YOU do? |
|
Featured Links:
|
|
|
|
CUE THE MUSIC: “Put a gun up to his head, pulled the trigger, now he’s dead…”
ASSEMBLY BILL 1476 SEC. 53. (as enacted) http://1.usa.gov/LI38e2
Section 46201.4 is added to the Education Code, to read:
46201.4. (a) Notwithstanding Section 46201.2, for the 2012-13 and
2013-14 school years, a school district, county office of education, or
charter school may provide an instructional year of not less than 160
days or the equivalent number of instructional minutes without incurring
the penalties set forth in Sections 41420, 46200, 46200.5, 46201,
46201.5, 46202, and 47612.5.
(b) Implementation of the reduction in the number of instructional
days or instructional minutes authorized pursuant to subdivision (a) by a
school district, county office of education, or charter school that is
subject to collective bargaining pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing
with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code shall
be achieved through the bargaining process.
(c) (1) For the 2012-13 fiscal year, the revenue limit for each
school district, county office of education, and charter school
determined pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 2550) of
Chapter 12 of Part 2 of Division 1 of Title 1, Article 2 (commencing
with Section 42238) of Chapter 7 of Part 24 of Division 3, or Article 2
(commencing with Section 47633) of Chapter 6 of Part 26.8 shall be
reduced by a combined total of two billion seven hundred forty million
three hundred seventy-seven thousand dollars ($2,740,377,000) in
addition to the reduction in revenue limit funding set forth in Sections
2558 and 42238.
(2) To achieve the reduction required pursuant to paragraph (1), the
Superintendent shall adjust the amount of categorical funding allocated
to basic aid school districts in the 2012-13 fiscal year. For purposes
of this subdivision, "basic aid school district" means a school district
that does not receive from the state, for the 2012-13 fiscal year, an
apportionment of state funds pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section
42238.
(d) (1) This section shall become operative on December 15, 2012,
only if the Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012
(Attorney General reference number 12-0009) is not approved by the
voters at the November 6, 2012, statewide general election, or if the
provisions of that act that modify personal income tax rates do not
become operative due to a conflict with another initiative measure that
is approved at the same election and receives a greater number of
affirmative votes. If the Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act
of 2012 (Attorney General reference number 12-0009) is approved by the
voters at the November 6, 2012, statewide general election, and all of
the provisions of that act that modify personal income taxes become
operative, this section shall not become operative and shall be repealed
on January 1, 2013.
(2) If this section becomes operative pursuant to paragraph (1), it
shall become inoperative on July 1, 2015, and, as of January 1, 2016, is
repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or
before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes
inoperative and is repealed.
...And that’s probably not the worst thing that happened public education last week.
WORSE IF NOT WORST: THE 2012-13 LAUSD BUDGET, approved by the board on
Thursday. All balanced, all legal – turned in on time; it made the
deadline.
A budget is plan for the future. There is nothing proactive or visionary
about this budget. It is not just reactive, it is reactionary. It is
crisis management – and bad at that.
Don’t get me wrong, this budget is not the Board of Ed’s fault. But it is their budget. And their doing.
The 2012-13 LAUSD budget is a strategy and plan, replete with line
numbers and credits and debits and cash flow projections to poorly
educate children and deliver less than adequate services, clean
bathrooms less often, pay fewer teachers for working less days – and not
pay them at all for some days they do work. Kids don’t need
librarians, they can check out their own books. Uh, oh – where did all
the books go? We can eliminate the Asbestos Abatement Unit and
outsource the work to private contractors. This skates on the edge of
legality. It puts students and staff at risk every time we open a
ceiling, forget to polish the floor or go into a crawl space. It’s
certainly not ethical and it circumvents the labor code and the union
contract …but who’ll notice? Uh oh, we discussed it at the board
meeting. Are those TV cameras on? Is anyone watching?
I don’t know if the boardmembers listen when the speakers speak; I don’t
know if they read what I write. But a magna cum laude graduate from
Wilson High School spoke to them Thursday and told them only one
bathroom at that school with 2333 students is open every day. Even if
our student meant two bathrooms, one for boys, one for girls, that’s a
student-to-bathroom-ratio of 1,666:1. That is a public health violation,
an Ed Code violation and a building code violation.
• “Restroom stalls shall be sufficient to accommodate the maximum
planned enrollment and shall be located on campus to allow for
supervision.” Ed Code, Title 5 Division 1, Chapter 13, Subchapter 1 | http://1.usa.gov/MKO1xI
• “Schools should be provided with toilet facilities on each floor
having classrooms. | "Title 24, Part 5, 2010 California Plumbing Code" |http://bit.ly/MKNITz
Wilson is in your board district, Monica. Are you going to file the Williams Complaint or am I?
For the record: There are people who think “furlough days” are days you
get sent home for a little R+R; a little couch time with Oprah and the
gals on The View. They are not. They are days employees work for free.
The 2012-13 LAUSD Budget is based on some gloomy assumptions and touched
with magical lack-of-realism. The budget document itself admits it
hasn’t updated assumptions since the May Revise [pp10: "There have been
no detailed state updates since the May revise." http://scr.bi/N2pEOb]
and an awful lot has changed since then. The Big Bad Wishful Thought:
If only the voters approve Jerry Brown’s Tax Increase, and if only the
magical assumptions in the State Budget come true – which was final only
hours before the LAUSD budget was approved. I can guarantee you that
not one of the seven boardmembers had a chance (let alone the
inclination) to read the final state budget as signed by the governor.
And the Governor’s tax increase is drawing a lot o’ fire … and not just from the no-new-taxes bunch http://t.co/rELqaP9Y
No part of the LAUSD budget was discussed at the board meeting. Straight
up or down vote. No debate. There wasn’t even a copy on hand for the
public.
No line item, category, expense, or income projection was questioned, explained or put up on the big screen.
• No one questioned the costs for Academic Growth Over Time Assessments,
• …or allowances for replacing and housing an entire school staff for half a year because two teachers misbehave,
• …or settlements for inappropriate conduct by previous superintendents
and subsequent settlements for publicly disclosing confidential
settlements,
• …or costs of investigating charges of inappropriate behavior by
school staff when that’s the job of the Commission of Teacher
Credentialing and law enforcement … IF we had only informed them in a
timely manner. School Districts report, the CTC and law enforcement
investigate. It’s called a separation of powers.
Yes, the Beyond the Bell Afterschool program was “saved”. But it was
saved by the very folk that endangered it; avoiding discussion of their
action. 45% of Adult Ed was “saved”, and 80% of Early Childhood Ed
locations will remain open. If you were an Adult Ed student in the 55%
eliminated, were you saved? If your child was to go to one of the 20%
OF ECE centers closed, was that program “saved”? But all of the slots
were kept they protest. We educate children in neighborhood schools,
not widgets that fit conveniently into LAUSD’s slots.
The budget was for $6.3 billion with a B and “It all looks fine to me”?
That’s a little too much trust for a trustee. That thumping sound you
heard was the rubber stamp hitting the page. These are members of the
Board of Education, not DMV clerks! …and I apologize to DMV clerks
everywhere for the unjust and unfair comparison. Thank you. Next.
Is this a way to run a state?
Is this the way to run a school district?
Is this a way to educate our children?
No, no and no.
That’s why Dr. Vladovic voted No.
The other six will have to explain their Yes votes.
“What would you have them do?” a reporter asked me Thursday evening.
I would have them do better.
CIVICS 101: THE JUDICIAL BRANCH. THERE WAS LOTS OF ACTIVITY IN THE
COURTS LAST WEEK …besides the Supremes! This is the logical outcome of
the legislative and executive branches in D.C., Sacramento and locally
not being sufficiently engaged in public education. And of there not
being enough money and a fight over the little there is. And maybe a bit
of excess greed.
• Prop 39 Co-Locations: CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATION V. LAUSD [following]
• JUDGE ORDERS ASPIRE BACK FOR LOCAL PERMISSION OF ‘STATEWIDE BENEFIT’ CHARTER SCHOOLS + smf’s 2¢ http://bit.ly/OPhZqa
• CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT SIDES WITH CHARTER SCHOOL AND DISTRICT IN CONVERSION DISPUTE: from CCSA | http://bit.ly/NccL05
• JUDGE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO OVERTURN LAUSD'S 'LAST HIRED, FIRST FIRED' EXEMPTION | http://bit.ly/OJa65q
Are those TV cameras on? Is anyone watching?
“Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy….?”
¡Onward/Adelante! - smf
THE LAUSD BUDGET + an smf rant - The media that bothered to cover the story wrote:
►LAUSD BOARD APPROVES $6.3B BUDGET; AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM SAVED
By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer, LA Daily News (from the Contra Costa Times) http://bit.ly/MFXxlL
5:56:36 PM PDT :: After scrounging up $6.7 million to preserve free
after-school care, the Los Angeles Unified board on Thursday approved a
$6.3 billion budget that shortens the 2012-13 school year, eliminates
thousands of jobs and reshapes some of the district's most iconic
programs.
The board's 6-1 vote, with South Bay representative Richard Vladovic
dissenting, capped an 11th-hour scramble to salvage the Beyond the Bell
after-school program. It operates from 3-6 p.m. weekdays at every
elementary and middle school in the district.
About $4 million will come from money the district had set aside to put a
parcel tax on the 2013 ballot - although district officials are still
considering that plan - and the balance from an unexpected surplus in
preschool revenue in the state budget that Gov. Jerry Brown signed on
Wednesday.
Prior to the vote, Superintendent John Deasy discussed highlights of the
district's "dramatically tight budget" and what was saved - and lost -
in closing a $169 million deficit. He also noted that the budget is
based on the assumption that voters will pass a state sales and income
tax increase on the November ballot and that even deeper cuts will
result if it fails.
"We are good until Election Day - everything depends on passage of
that," he said. "We simply have to get that (tax hike) passed so we can
have a school year."
As it is, the school year that begins Aug. 14 will be two weeks shorter
than usual, thanks to agreements by LAUSD's unions to take 10 unpaid
days. There also will be about 5,000 fewer teachers, classified workers
and skilled tradesmen on the district's payroll, the result of declining
enrollment and state budget cuts.
And as bad as the district's financial picture is, officials said, it could have been much worse.
After projections in February showed LAUSD with a $557 million deficit,
officials proposed eliminating adult and early-childhood education
programs, along with elementary arts programs, expanding class sizes and
laying off thousands of teachers and support staff.
An infusion of unexpected revenue from the state helped narrow the
shortfall, allowing the district to keep class sizes at existing levels
and retain librarians, nurses and high school counselors.
On the school board's orders, Deasy saved the Adult Ed Division,
although its budget will be about $47 million instead of the $200
million allocated this year. The focus will be on credit-recovery and
English-language classes, with limited job-training and older-adult
courses offered on a fee basis.
The district will offer early-childhood classes to the same number of
students, but will save money by operating fewer centers. There also are
cuts to the program that teaches English to preschool students.
That left the Beyond the Bell Division, which had a $7.3 million budget
to operate after-school drop-in centers, and other popular
extracurricular activities.
Early on, the district saved Academic Decathlon and the Honor Marching
Band, but said it must close two outdoor classrooms and dissolve the
Jazz Band and district orchestra. And after a concerted lobbying effort
by parents, employees and board members, Deasy found the money for the
after-school programs.
The six-hour meeting was the last of the school year. The board will
reconvene on Monday, when it will elect its president - a titular post
that has been filled for the last four years by Monica Garcia.
Her tenure at the head of the horseshoe-shaped dias prompted a move by
board members Vladovic, Bennett Kayser and Marguerite LaMotte - who
frequently join together as a minority voting bloc on controversial
issues - to rotate the position on an annual basis. It failed 4-3.
The meeting was also briefly disrupted by a demonstration by a few dozen
students from Roosevelt High, who were protesting the presence of
Planned Parenthood on campus. District police had to clear the meeting
room.
The board also heard from Mark Bryant, the partner of Scot Graham, the
former facilities employee who leveled sexual harassment allegations
against former Superintendent Ramon Cortines. A proposed settlement with
Graham fell apart when the district prematurely released details of the
deal.
Bryant called on the district to investigate complaints in a timely
manner and protect the privacy of those who file complaints against
authority figures.
►LA UNIFIED OKS $6.3B BUDGET WITH LAYOFFS, CUTS
The Associated Press from the Sacramento Bee | http://bit.ly/L89a9L
Thursday, Jun. 28, 2012 - 8:38 pm :: LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles
Unified school board has approved a $6.3 billion budget for 2012-13 that
calls for thousands of employee layoffs, a shortened school year and
cuts to adult education and preschool programs.
The budget proposal passed Thursday night with a 6-1 vote.
District Superintendent John Deasy said at the board approval meeting
that program cuts and layoffs would have been worst if employees had not
agreed to take 10 furlough days, which will result in five fewer days
of classroom instruction.
The district had to cut $169 million due to a loss of state funding.
Deasy calls the budget "dramatically tight" but noted that some programs
and furloughs could be restored if voters pass the tax initiatives on
the November ballot that will raise more money for education.
About 4,000 employees are slated to lose their jobs.
NEW LAUSD BUDGET CUTS SCHOOL YEAR: The LAUSD Board signed off on a
spending plan that officials say will eliminate thousands of jobs while
saving others
By Gordon Tokumatsu and Bill French, KNBC |http://bit.ly/OJ67G4
Thursday, Jun 28, 2012 | Updated 8:27 PM PDT :: With deficits in the
tens of millions of dollars, Los Angeles Unified School District board
members signed off on a $6.3 billion budget Thursday that eliminates
thousands of jobs and shaves as many as 10 days off the next school
year. Gordon Tokumatsu reports from Downtown Los Angeles for the NBC4
News at 5 p.m. on June 28, 2012.
With deficits in the hundreds of millions of dollars, Los Angeles
Unified School District board members signed off on a $6.03 billion
budget Thursday that eliminates thousands of jobs and shaves as many as
10 days off the next school year.
•• smf: Sloppy math alert: Tens or hundreds of millions. $6.3 or 6.03 billion? The difference is 300 million v. 3 million.
The board voted 6 to 1 to approve the budget that closes a $390 million
deficit the district faced heading into the new school year; LAUSD has
faced a cumulative $2.7 billion deficit since 2008-09, due in large part
to reduced state funding, according to a statement released by the
district Thursday night.
"The budget is dramatically tight," Superintendent of Education John
Deasy told board members. "You can always advocate for additional things
once the school year opens up."
Adult education programs will be hit with 3,200 layoffs and a new
payment structure may require some older students to pay fees, which
members anticipate will save about $84 million.
"I want to express the sadness of approving a budget that has less
dollars and does the best we can to serve children well in a difficult
time, but does not really honor the promise of what we have said we want
for our children," board president Mónica García said in the statement.
The district renegotiated union contracts, resulting in shorter school
years, and about 1,400 layoff notices will be issued to teachers and
support staff. That figure is smaller than originally anticipated.
The statement cited district figures stating the agreements saved more than 6,200 jobs.
"We are basically good until election day," said Deasy, reflecting on
the importance of a voter tax initiative backed by Gov. Jerry Brown that
will be on the November ballot.
There was some positive news amid the cuts: class sizes will remain the
same, librarian and nurse jobs will be spared, and arts and music
programs will survive. Thirteen continuation schools slated for closure
will now stay open.
After-school programs for the 50,000 children districtwide whose parents
work later hours will continue to have a place to go, at least until
November.
►LAUSD APPROVES $6 BILLION BUDGET FOR 2012-13 WITH $169 MILLION IN CUTS
By Tami Abdollah, KPCC Pass/Fail : http://bit.ly/LJkCZf
June 28, 2012 :: The L.A. Unified Board of Education today
overwhelmingly approved a $6 billion budget for 2012-13 with $169
million in cuts that manages to saves outdoor education, Academic
Decathlon and the after school program, despite hefty cuts to adult
education and the layoffs of thousands of educators.
The 6-1 vote, with board member Richard Vladovic voting no, was made
reluctantly by board members after about an hour of discussion.
Superintendent John Deasy emphasized in a brief presentation that many
of the savings were "for one year" and stressed that whether voters
approve Gov. Jerry Brown's initiative to raise taxes will "determine the
future of most of this."
If the governor's tax initiative fails, L.A. Unified estimates it will
have to cut an additional $264 million in 2012-13. Public schools across
the state would suffer a nearly $6 billion cut under Brown's budget.
But Deasy said there was no time to discuss "'what if after November,'
it’s what must be. We simply have to get that passed so we can have a
school year."
The final budget came after months of a changing budget picture that
brought hordes of angry protesters, parents and teachers to L.A.
Unified's Downtown headquarters.
The district initially unveiled a proposed budget in February that
addressed a $557 million estimated shortfall. That figure was later
revised down to $390 million after the state Legislature restored
transportation funds to schools and the district had higher than
expected revenues from the lottery and lower benefits costs.
More than 11,700 educators received preliminary pink slips in March as
the district worked to determine what its budget picture would look
like. Talks included wholesale eliminations of programs such as adult
education and early education.
But savings such as concessions from unions — teachers, administrators
and the classified workers union all agreed to take 10 furlough days,
effectively shortening the school year by a week — resulted in the lower
$169 million cut the board approved today.
Still, under this budget, 3,295 educators will lose their jobs, more
than half of those under the adult education program, which is being hit
with a $84 million cut, according to district numbers. Cafeteria
support will see an $18 million cut, and the school readiness language
development program will receive a $9 million cut.
That included trimming $84 million from the Adult Education Division and
$9 million from school-readiness classes for young English learners.
Board member Steve Zimmer said this budget avoided "catastrophic" cuts
that would have completely changed "public education as we know it in
the city of Los Angeles."
But UTLA Secretary David Lyell told members he was concerned about lack
of cuts to the central office, which were estimated at $23.6 million in
May and ultimately ended as a $4.5 million cut.
"All year long, we've heard about how UTLA members need to sacrifice,
and we have," Lyell said. "I've been getting calls from members, there
are a few areas of concern where the district isn't sacrificing."
Lyell also questioned increases of tens of millions of dollars in
budgeting for general supplies expenditures and instructional materials.
Over the last month district officials have scrambled to find $7 million
to prevent the elimination of the after-school care program Beyond the
Bell, which serves about 50,000 students from the hours of 3 p.m. to 6
p.m. Deasy said today that those funds will come from the $3.9 million
that would have been set aside to put the parcel tax on the ballot and
other restored funds from the state for early education.
Deasy asked board members to remove the tax from the ballot in order to
focus support around the governor's tax initiative in November, which he
said is critical for the district's budget.
"We are basically good until election day," he told board members. "And
after election day every single solitary assumption in this budget
depends on the passage of that" initiative.
Parents and advocates praised the district's effort to save the after
school program. Jose Sigala, who heads up the After School Action
Coalition, told board members the program provides children with a "safe
place to play and learn, but also provides a lot of working families
with a sense of relief, where there is a place they can count on to
watch their kids in a safe environment."
Board member Tamar Galatzan, who is a mother of two boys who attend
LAUSD schools said she uses the after school program and knows how
important it is. She said working to save that program illustrated to
her how complex the budget process and system can be.
For example, though some parents found the program so valuable they were
willing to pay, the district could not institute a sliding fee schedule
under current state law. Charging for the program would have changed
its status from drop-in program to child-care program, which would have
required staffing and other specific requirements in place. Though
schools could apply for state waivers, those would have to be sought and
granted individually.
Galatzan said she would be working next year to change state law to
allow districts to charge a sliding fee for after-school drop-in
programs, to prevent them from being categorized as child care, so that
L.A. Unified can keep them open.
"So many of these things in this budget, we're trying to be creative,"
Galatzan said. "...But frequently there are these barriers that we
didn't construct that are put in our way
_______________
►The story you didn’t read in Friday’s LA Times: L.A. SCHOOL BOARD OKS FINAL BUDGET, INCLUDING SHORTENED SCHOOL YEAR
--Stephen Ceasar, LA Times LA NOW (Online Only) | http://lat.ms/OIHdX6
________________
•●smf: Thursday at 2:42 AM I tweeted: Today's #LAUSDbudget (will be)
lost in news cycle shadow of Supreme Court #Obamacare/Holder
Contempt/Banking Scandals ¡Don't let the kids get lost!
Witchhunters take notice. The Obamacare story took all the ink in the
Times, along with the Holder contempt charges, a rehash+update of the
2-year old Chris Brown/Rhianna story and coverage of a MTA meeting where
Mayor Tony repeated his appeal for good-idea legacy-enhancing federal
transportation funding that ain’t gonna happen.
Yesterday The Board of Ed passed a budget permanently firing 5000 (not
3000 – but who’s counting?) employees, shortening the school year and
reducing adult education by more than half, etc., etc., etc.), A budget
that puts the bottom line and test scores and the ®eform, Inc. agenda
of assessing and blaming teachers over the safety and welfare and (lets
face it) education of children.
Fiscal bankruptcy was avoided, moral and ethical bankruptcy embraced.
Yes, the Beyond the Bell afterschool program was “saved” …but the
superintendent’s acceptance of this was sourly presented as being the
potential budget buster that District may never recover from if the
Governor’s initiative doesn’t pass in November.
Not that the Board of Ed has endorsed the Governor’s Initiative. The
print edition of today’s Times did not cover any of this; not one column
inch was dedicated to LAUSD. Not the board meeting. Not the UTLA
lawsuit filing . Not the verdict in California Charter School
Association v. LAUSD lawsuit that may well mark the end of the District.
Proving perhaps that both public education and The Los Angeles Times
are irrelevant in today’s Los Angeles.
________________
June 28, 2012 | 6:59 pm :: The Los Angeles Board of Education
approved its final $6-billion budget Thursday, bridging a
multimillion-dollar shortfall in the state’s largest school district by
shortening the school year and laying off about 3,000 employees.
In February, the board was tasked with closing an estimated $557-million
shortfall. Through a series of negotiations with labor unions, which
include unpaid days, a victory in arbitration with the teachers union
and additional state funds, the district was able to whittle away at the
massive deficit.
The approved budget nonetheless includes about $169 million in cuts, but
salvages some programs previously facing elimination, including adult
education, preschool, after-school and arts programs.
Richard Vladovic cast the only dissenting vote on the seven-member board.
Much of the restorations are contingent on the November election.
That ballot will include two funding initiatives for public education,
including one backed by Gov. Jerry Brown. If it's approved, some funds
may be used to restore the full academic year, said Supt. John Deasy.
If voters turn down a tax increase, L.A. Unified budget woes would
worsen considerably, Deasy said. Should it fail, the district would be
facing about $264 million more in cuts.
“I just want you to tell me it will be OK,” board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte said to Deasy before the vote.
Deasy said he could not do so, stressing that the November initiative is necessary to stave off more drastic cuts.
The budget scales back the district’s adult education programs, which
previously faced elimination, by shrinking enrollment to about a third
of current levels. Preschool programs will continue at reduced levels
and the number of elementary school arts educators, nurses and
librarians, as well as overall class sizes, will be maintained at
current levels.
The district this month reached an agreement with teacher unions that
prevented thousands of layoffs in exchange for 10 unpaid days, which
would shorten the school year by a week.
Under that agreement, teachers will lose pay for five instructional days
plus four holidays and one training day, equivalent to about a 5%
salary cut.
More than 9,000 teachers had faced being laid off as of June 30. Under
the budget, 3,200 teachers and support staff will be fired.
The district’s Beyond the Bell after-school program, which serves about
40,000 students, was set to be eliminated as recently as Wednesday.
Instead, Deasy presented the board with the option of maneuvering funds
that had been set aside for placing a parcel tax on the November ballot
and using surplus state funds for preschool. That would amount to about
$6.7 million.
Should the board move to place the parcel tax on a future ballot, that money would have to be found elsewhere, Deasy said.
Board Member Bennett Kayser, who was elected last year, said before his
vote that during his campaign he was often asked if he would ever vote
for a budget that includes teacher layoffs.
“I said that it would be the last possible idea for a solution before I
would vote for it,” he told the audience. “And -- it has come to that.
So I vote yes.”
Prop 39 Co-Locations: STATEMENT FROM SUPERINTENDENT
DEASY & THE BOARD OF ED RE: CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATION V.
LAUSD + Court order
LAUSD News Statement
For Immediate Release June 28, 2012
Contact: Tom Waldman 11/12-239
STATEMENT FROM LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY AND THE LAUSD BOARD OF
EDUCATION REGARDING A LAWSUIT: CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATION V.
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
This week’s decision by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Terry A.
Green in the California Charter School Association v. Los Angeles
Unified case is a devastating blow to public school students in the Los
Angeles Unified School District. The ruling would force the District to
abandon its proven method for equitably allocating classroom space under
Proposition 39, which assures both charter students and students
attending District-operated schools, attend classes of equal size.
The board is deeply concerned that the ruling could result in children
across the District being barred from attending their neighborhood
school, which is in direct contradiction to the promise of public
education.
Under the order, students attending District-operated neighborhood
schools may be displaced to other locations, through involuntary busing
and other means, in order to provide additional space to charter
schools. Further, the District may be forced to eliminate space for
essential programs, including Special Education and English Learner.
The consequences would be devastating to our families, especially at a
time of severe budget cuts.
Making matters worse, this year classes begin August 14th, as part of
the Early Start Calendar. To prepare for such a massive change in a
shortened amount of time would be both catastrophic and chaotic.
The District is currently exploring all avenues available to eliminate or mitigate the consequences of Judge Green’s order.
L.A. DISTRICT WEIGHING GRADUATION OF STUDENTS WHO FAILED CLASS
AFTER THREE SENIORS FAILED A CLASS, MADE IT UP IN A FEW DAYS AND
GRADUATED, TEACHERS CRITICIZE THE TURNAROUND. BUT OFFICIALS SAY THEY
WORKED WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
By Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/KUIaJu
June 29, 2012, 9:02 p.m. :: Los Angeles school officials are examining
whether three students who flunked a required course should have been
allowed to make up the class in a few days at another campus and then
return to graduate with their classmates.
Several teachers criticized the quick turnaround as inappropriate,
saying it made a mockery of academic standards. They also questioned
whether the well-liked students had received favorable treatment.
Local administrators, however, insisted that the students instigated the
transfers themselves and worked within the rules of the system to make
up credits.
The students withdrew from STEM Academy of Hollywood as late as June 13,
a Wednesday, attended the adjacent Alonzo Community Day School the next
day, and checked back into STEM to graduate that Friday.
STEM Academy, with about 320 students, is located on the Helen Bernstein
High School campus in Hollywood. The small school had 93 seniors; 77
graduated.
The three seniors had failed economics or history classes taught by Mark Nemetz.
"I would like to formally protest students who have failed one or more
classes at STEM being allowed to graduate with their class," Nemetz
wrote to fellow staff members in an internal staff online message group.
"This is a disservice to the students and damages the credibility of
STEM."
"Why should next year's seniors make a serious effort next year if they
know they have this option available to them at the end?" wrote teacher
Julio Juarez.
Other teachers expressed similar views in interviews. Nemetz declined to be interviewed.
STEM Principal Josie Scibetta said the students checked out before their departure was called to her attention.
"We were upset that it appeared so easy for them to get credit,"
Scibetta said. Still, "if they come with signed, sealed, official
transcripts from an accredited school, we're obligated to take that. I'm
not saying our system is right, but the kids didn't do anything wrong."
Scibetta also described the grading policies of Nemetz as "rigid" and
said she had concerns about them. The three students had not failed
required classes taught by other teachers, she said.
Alonzo, the alternative school, is intended for students who are at risk
of dropping out. Although it has a traditional school day, it measures
credits only by work completed, not the time the students spend in
class, said Principal Victorio R. Gutierrez.
It's difficult and rare, but not impossible, for a talented student to
complete in two days material that another student might need a year to
master, Gutierrez said. He added that his school's rigor does not
necessarily match that of a regular high school, but his instructors
teach the required material, and students have to produce work and pass
quizzes to demonstrate their knowledge.
Gutierrez said the three students had a window to salvage their
graduation because they could withdraw from STEM and still receive
credit for courses they were passing within the last two weeks of
school.
The three worked hard on campus and at home and fulfilled the course
"contract" without special conditions, Gutierrez said. A district
regional administrator reviewed the students' work after complaints
arose, he said.
Allowing students to make up classes in a couple of days at the end of
the year would be uncommon and possibly inappropriate, said Gerardo
Loera, the Los Angeles Unified School District's executive director of
curriculum and instruction. It's "not even an option we particularly
provide," he said, adding that the episode remains under review.
One of the students, Javier Chacon, 19, knew about Alonzo because his
sisters have attended it, according to district staff. But the first to
enroll was Priscila Vela, 18, who started Monday or Tuesday of
graduation week. Chacon enrolled about a day later, followed by
17-year-old Pietro Ruggiero.
His father, Pedro Ruggiero, who sits on STEM's governing council, said
he was unaware of any issue until 15 minutes before graduation.
"They told me at the last minute — they said the problem they had was
solved," Ruggiero said. "I had no idea what it was.... I didn't know
that the other school existed. Now I'm learning more."
HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS & THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T
FIT: The Rest (but not necessarily the best) of the Stories from Other
Sources
DID JERRY BROWN PULL RANK TO IMPROVE HIS POSITION ON THE BALLOT?: smf: making no pretense at neutrality, please ... http://bit.ly/O7HCju
Prop 39 Co-Locations: STATEMENT FROM SUPERINTENDENT DEASY & THE BOARD OF ED RE: CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCI... http://bit.ly/O7HErE
NEW SES REGS EXPAND PROVIDERS’ ABILITY TO DIRECTLY MARKET SERVICES TO PARENTS: By SI&A Cabinet Report | http://b... http://bit.ly/OPmS2o
JUDGE ORDERS ASPIRE BACK FOR LOCAL PERMISSION OF ‘STATEWIDE BENEFIT’ CHARTER SCHOOLS + smf’s 2¢: By Tom Chorneau... http://bit.ly/OPhZqa
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT SIDES WITH CHARTER SCHOOL AND DISTRICT IN CONVERSION DISPUTE: from CCSA | http://bit... http://bit.ly/NccL05
JUDGE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO OVERTURN LAUSD'S 'LAST HIRED, FIRST FIRED' EXEMPTIONWHAT: By Vanessa Romo, PPCC Pass/... http://bit.ly/OJa65q
THE LAUSD BUDGET: The media that bothered to cover the story wrote:: LAUSD board approves $6.3B budget; afte... http://bit.ly/OJ32Wv
The story you didn’t read in today’s LA Times: L.A. SCHOOL BOARD OKS FINAL BUDGET, INCLUDING SHORTENED SCHOOL YE... http://bit.ly/N2a4QT
Tweet: Supremes uphold #Obamacare
Deasy’s first year: LAUSD SEE’S FEWER DROPOUTS BUT GRADUATION RATE GOES DOWN: By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer, LA... http://bit.ly/OBy1nm
Tweet: Today's #LAUSDbudget lost in news cycle shadow of Supreme Court
#Obamacare/Holder Contempt/Banking Scandals ¡Don't let the kids get
lost!
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM "SAVED! Like Adult Ed + Early Childhood Ed + Health
Ed were "Saved"? Save the children of LAUSD from the savior!
LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT "DISHEARTENED, BUT UNDETERED" AFTER SB 1530 DIES IN COMMITTEE: The law, meant to hasten the... http://bit.ly/QpMDUa
LAUSD AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS WILL BE SAVED; SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY TO FIND $7M: By Barbara Jones, LA Daily New... http://bit.ly/OBmvsh
LATCHKEY KIDS WOULD FEEL LAUSD’S CUT: L A Daily News Editorial |http://bit.ly/OqyuaP 6/26/2012 11:51:02 A... http://bit.ly/NEUkTc
Tweet: FWD: @latams: Assembly passes #cabudget education trailer bill w/
$5B in automatic cuts to K-14 if voters reject Gov's tax hike.
Tweet: FWD: @UTLAnow: Feeling healthy? Stop by Whole Foods Mrkt today
(6/27) at Fairfax/3rd. They're donating 5% of profits to #LAUSD Arts
program.
KENNEDY HIGH BASEBALL COACH ARRESTED + FIRED FOR SMOKING POT WITH STUDENTS ON FIELD TRIP TO DODGER STADIUM: Base... http://bit.ly/QfzXPD
LAUSD TO SPEND UP TO $400K TO REVIEW FILES OF 8,300 EMPLOYEES …with what money?: By Barbara Jones, Staff Write... http://bit.ly/Nzlpa7
UPDATED: A CALL-TO-ACTION FOR YOU FROM BOARDMEMBER KAYSER ABOUT THE IMPENDING ELIMINATION OF BEYOND-THE-BELL YOU... http://bit.ly/M29Blx
Tweet: pp10 of supes final budget: "There have been no detailed state
updates since the May revise." Hogwash. There is a negotiated state
budget!
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:
Tamar.Galatzan@lausd.net • 213-241-6386
Monica.Garcia@lausd.net • 213-241-6180
Bennett.Kayser@lausd.net • 213-241-5555
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 Brown: 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. THEY DO!.
|
|
 |
|
Scott Folsom is a parent leader in LAUSD and is
Parent/Volunteer of the Year for 2010-11 for Los Angeles County. • He is
Past President of Los Angeles Tenth District PTSA and represented PTA
on the LAUSD Construction Bond Citizen's Oversight Committee for ten
years. He is a Health Commissioner, Legislation Team member and a
member of the Board of Managers of the California State PTA. He serves
on numerous school district advisory and policy committees and has
served as a PTA officer and governance council member at three LAUSD
schools. He is the recipient of the UTLA/AFT 2009 "WHO" Gold Award for
his support of education and public schools - an honor he hopes to
someday deserve. • In this forum his opinions are his own and your
opinions and feedback are invited. Quoted and/or cited content copyright
© the original author and/or publisher. All other material copyright ©
4LAKids.
• FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of
which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright
owner. 4LAKids makes such material available in an effort to advance
understanding of education issues vital to parents, teachers, students
and community members in a democracy. We believe this constitutes a
'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section
107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section
107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those
who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included
information for research and educational purposes.
• To SUBSCRIBE e-mail: 4LAKids-subscribe@topica.email-publisher.com - or -TO ADD YOUR OR ANOTHER'S NAME TO THE 4LAKids SUBSCRIPTION LIST E-MAIL smfolsom@aol.com with "SUBSCRIBE" AS THE SUBJECT. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
