In This Issue:
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CHARTER SCHOOL FOUNDER STEVE BARR TO CHALLENGE GARCETTI IN 2017 |
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LAUSD BOARD APPROVES MARSHALL HIGH REPAIRS |
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‘SUMMER TERM’ BEGINS FOR 65,000 LAUSD STUDENTS |
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HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS & THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT: The Rest (but
not necessarily the best) of the Stories from Other Sources |
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EVENTS: Coming up next week... |
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What can YOU do? |
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Featured Links:
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IN ONCE UPON A TIME long go potentially naughty
children were confronted by parents+teachers with dark figures torn from
current events to keep them in line; child alignment being a constant
goal.
The most infamous of these is the “Boogieman”, a reverse
anthropomorphism of Napoleon Bonaparte: The Monster Made More Monstrous…
”be afraid, little children: Be very afraid! …He’s comin’ to getcha!”
Ladies+Gentlemen, Boys+Girls: I give you Steve Barr!
__________
Imagine, if you will, my unreserved joy, at being copied on an e-mail earlier this week:
“Great News: I’m running for Mayor of Los Angeles!”
Together, we’re going to disrupt the political establishment and turn
our city around. We’re going to build a grassroots movement to rally
around and transform all of L.A.’s schools, end the homeless and
affordability crisis, and fight for a city where every family can
thrive.
I’m running because I love our city and I know how much it has to offer.
Over the years, I’ve seen how much we can accomplish when we stand
together and fight for what we know is right. That’s why we’re going to
build a fierce grassroots campaign powered by Angelenos to fight for our
city and our people.”
…sent by no less than Steve Barr. …because this city and the school system hasn’t had disruption enough!
(Steve has, in a moment of super genius/brand I.D., has made his campaign logo his name inside a […wait for it…]: GREEN DOT!)
Barr is, of course, the founder of Green Dot Public Schools – whose employ he left under-a-cloud years ago.
He was Mayor Tony’s ever-present “bestie” in Antonio’s battle to take
over LAUSD under AB1381 (feel free to sprinkle the adjective
“unconstitutional” freely in this passage) – making the Energizer Bunny
look like a slacker! It was Barr who took the appeal of AB 1381 all
the way to the State Supreme Court. Where it lost, 9-0.
Since then Barr’s School Reform/Charter School cred has worm rather
thin. He and Green Dot parted ways. He tried to become a “School
Turnaround King” in New Orleans.
Nada. Zero. Zilch. …but he always looks good doing it.
1. LA Weekly Profile: “THE SECRET OF HIS SUCCESS”| L.A. Weekly | http://bit.ly/298knUb
2.
3. New Yorker Profile: INSTIGATOR: A crusaders plan to remake failing schools. http://bit.ly/d0O15Y
4. The View from New Orleans: STEVE BARR– WHO DITCHED HIS NEW ORLEANS
SCHOOL RENOVATION COMMITMENT– WANTS TO BECOME MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES |
deutsch29 http://bit.ly/29mLC3a
A mutual acquaintance of Steve’s+mine …and a good friend of LAKids writes:
Jun 28, 2016: BARR JUST CAME OUT WITH HIS PLATFORM:
1. No children under 5 yr. old will be allowed to poop in their pants
2. All parents must wear their underwear on the outside of their pants
3. Schools should be funded by the amount of noise they generate
4. The mayor should give up on city streets and just build parking lots on school campuses
5. Students should not be taught to read nor write but just to give press conferences
Unfortunately. Gentle reader, our witty colleague is way-too-right …with bullets #3, 4 and 5 not even being exaggerations.
¡Onward/Adelante! - smf
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
[BURR]: How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a
Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a
Forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence
Impoverished, in squalor
Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?
[LAURENS]: The ten-dollar founding father without a father
Got a lot farther by working a lot harder
By being a lot smarter
By being a self-starter
By fourteen, they placed him in charge of a
Trading charter
[JEFFERSON]: And every day while slaves were being slaughtered and carted
Away across the waves, he struggled and kept his guard up
Inside, he was longing for something to be a part of
The brother was ready to beg, steal, borrow, or barter
[MADISON]: Then a hurricane came, and devastation reigned
Our man saw his future drip, dripping down the drain
Put a pencil to his temple, connected it to his brain
And he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain…
►CA State Constitution: Article IX § 6: “No school or college or any
other part of the Public School System shall be, directly or indirectly,
transferred from the Public School System or placed under the
jurisdiction of any authority other than one included within the Public
School System.”
CHARTER SCHOOL FOUNDER STEVE BARR TO CHALLENGE GARCETTI IN 2017
By Peter Jamison and Howard Blume | LA Times | http://lat.ms/29aXksP
June 27, 2016 :: Charter school founder Steve Barr on Monday filed
papers to run for Los Angeles mayor, launching a long-shot candidacy
that could reshape the dynamics of incumbent Mayor Eric Garcetti’s
reelection bid by drawing voters’ attention to the city’s struggling
school system.
Barr, a Silver Lake resident and darling of education-reform advocates
who has not previously held elected office, said he has grown impatient
with what he sees as Garcetti’s passivity in the face of a worsening
public education crisis. He said Garcetti is “a really nice guy” who
lacks “a sense of urgency” about solving the city’s problems, foremost
among them the shortcomings of the nation’s second-largest school
system.
“The school district – and I’m saying this as a big fan of the school
district, as a parent in the school district – in some ways is a little
bit like an alcoholic who hasn’t bottomed out yet,” Barr said. “It’s
getting better, but we can’t afford as a city to just let this thing
linger out there, because it’s not just affecting them anymore. It’s
affecting our city and it has for a long time.”
Barr’s entry into the 2017 race comes amid a historic push by local
activists to expand charter schools as an answer to problems in the Los
Angeles Unified School District, and is likely to revive debate around a
recurrent theme in L.A. government: the relationship between LAUSD and
City Hall. L.A.’s mayor, unlike those in Chicago or New York City, has
no formal authority over the school district.
That hasn’t stopped school quality from periodically dominating city
politics. Former Mayor Richard Riordan campaigned aggressively for
favored Board of Education candidates, incurring the enmity of the local
teachers’ union. Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa fueled his winning
2005 campaign against incumbent James Hahn with promises to reform
public education. (That goal eluded Villaraigosa once he was in office,
as his bid to take over the school district was defeated in court.)
In taking on Garcetti, Barr faces long odds against an incumbent who has
built a broad base of political support and an impressive fundraising
machine – and who has made no major missteps during his first three
years in office.
Jaime Regalado, an emeritus professor of political science at Cal State
L.A., said he thought nothing short of a serious scandal – or perhaps an
abrupt exit by Garcetti to accept an appointment in a Hillary Clinton
White House – would create “any chance at all” for Barr’s success.
Others cautioned against underestimating Barr’s appeal to an
unpredictable electorate in a city where public school quality still
tops most polls as an issue of voter concern.
“He’s running as an outsider at a time when voters are powerfully
suspicious of the political establishment, and he’s running on an issue
that’s close to the hearts of most Angelenos,” said Dan Schnur, director
of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC. “It will be an
uphill fight for him, but this is something that Garcetti and his team
would be smart to take very seriously.”
Garcetti campaign manager Bill Carrick said that though the mayor has
not followed in Villaraigosa’s footsteps by trying to gain new formal
powers over the schools, he has implemented a number of programs
benefiting students. He pointed to Garcetti’s expansion of a summer jobs
program and his recently announced commitment to help fund a free year
of community college for every LAUSD student.
“Mayor Garcetti’s focus is on getting things done and on doing things
that are going to make a difference in the lives of young people across
L.A. and that are real and tangible,” Carrick said.
He also cautioned against viewing a mayor’s duties wholly through the
prism of education policy, noting that unrelated challenges such as
transportation are also among city officials’ top priorities.
“It’s one thing to be somebody who is focused on education as their
issue as an education advocate,” Carrick said. “It’s another thing to be
the mayor of a city where you have got a lot of issues.”
The only other challenger to Garcetti with political or public policy
experience who has entered the race is Mitchell Schwartz, a veteran
political consultant who directed President Obama’s 2008 campaign in
California and was communications director at the U.S. Department of
State under former President Bill Clinton.
Barr, 56, founded Green Dot Public Schools, a nonprofit chain of charter
schools that began operation in L.A. He oversaw the company’s
contentious takeover of Locke High School, marking the first time one of
L.A. Unified’s schools was turned over to a charter group. Barr stepped
down from Green Dot’s day-to-day leadership in 2009, but has remained
active in education policy at both the state and national level.
Barr was raised in Monterey and Cupertino by a single mother who worked
as a cocktail waitress and dental assistant. He spent a year in foster
care, went to a community college and joined the Teamsters when he
worked at United Parcel Service while finishing his degree at UC Santa
Barbara.
It is a background that differs markedly from that of Garcetti, who grew
up in Encino and attended an elite private high school before heading
off to Columbia and, eventually, to Oxford through a Rhodes Scholarship.
Asked about what some see as the foremost accomplishment of Garcetti’s
first term – his role in raising the city-wide minimum wage to $15 –
Barr demurred.
“The difference between him and I is I’ve actually lived on minimum
wage,” Barr said. “I understand it’s a great thing to get the minimum
wage up to $15 an hour. That’s fantastic. It’s not even close to
scratching the surface of what this city needs. And it wasn’t an
incredibly controversial stand when he took it.”
Barr said he doesn’t yet have a full-fledged plan for overhauling the
school district, but that two immediate areas for improvement are the
resources the district as a whole pours into administrative overhead and
the conditions at L.A.’s worst-performing schools.
He said he would prefer to work cooperatively with school district
officials, but would be willing to pursue changes in city or state law
to expand the mayor’s power were he to find his efforts stymied.
“The proposition for them is, ‘We’re going to rally around you, but
you’ve got to change. And mediocrity is no longer an option,’” Barr
said.
The viability of Barr’s campaign could hinge partly on whether he
secures the support of wealthy school-reform advocates in L.A., some of
whom are involved in a plan that could dramatically increase the number
of charter schools operating in the city.
A confidential draft of the plan obtained last year by The Times
described raising $490 million to move half of the school district’s
enrolled students into charters over the next eight years. Reform
advocates later backed away from the plan, but critics still worry about
a massive charter school expansion that could bankrupt the school
district by drawing away students – and the state funding that
accompanies them.
Frank Baxter, a businessman and former U.S. ambassador to Uruguay who
has actively supported charter schools, called Barr “one of the pioneers
in the charter movement in Los Angeles.”
Baxter declined to say whether he would support Barr’s candidacy, though he said Barr had informed him of his decision to run.
Billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad, another prominent backer of local
school-reform initiatives, was traveling outside the country and could
not be reached for comment.
LAUSD BOARD APPROVES MARSHALL HIGH REPAIRS
Written by LA Independent Staff | http://bit.ly/29bjLOZ
July 1, 2016 :: LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Unified School District
Board of Education has unanimously approved nearly $11 million in
repairs for the historic tower and the administration building at John
Marshall High School. The board also approved a $160,000 investment to
modernize the school’s auditorium.
The original project, approved in August 2012, was slated to only repair
the exterior facade of the administration building’s tower. The newly
defined project will include the replacement of the roofing, repairs and
improvements to the historic tower, seismic strengthening and
accessibility upgrades to the entrance of the school.
The tower repairs were initially triggered by deteriorated and failing
building elements. Further studies were conducted after the initial
project was approved in 2012, and additional deficient building
conditions, such as water intrusion, were discovered in both the
administration building and the tower.
“I am overjoyed that the board has voted to fund the repairs to this
historic building,” Principal Patricia Heideman said. “The building is
incredibly important to the community around Marshall and the alumni who
have been so supportive of our students. The beautiful structure is
symbolic of the legacy that Marshall has maintained throughout the years
and is very dear to our community.”
Additionally, the school board approved funding to begin modernizing the
school’s auditorium. That effort was inspired by Heideman and community
members in order to renovate the auditorium to beautify the space and
to increase the auditorium’s sound quality to meet the needs of the
visual and performing arts programs at the school.
“We know that Marshall High School is extremely special to this
community because of its close ties with the Los Feliz family,” said Ref
Rodriguez, who represents District 5 where Marshall High is located on
the school board. “I appreciate the advocacy of the parents, alumni,
neighbors, and community members that support Marshall High, which is
why my office has chosen to financially support the renovation of the
school’s historic auditorium.”
Heideman said she welcomes the repair to the auditorium.
“We are grateful that the board and Dr. Rodriguez, in particular,
recognize and are willing to support the desperately needed improvements
to the auditorium to make it more functional. On behalf of the John
Marshall High School community, I offer my sincere gratitude to the
LAUSD.”
The construction is scheduled to begin next spring.
‘SUMMER TERM’ BEGINS FOR 65,000 LAUSD STUDENTS
M. Terry / San Fernando Valley Sun | http://bit.ly/29do9il
Thursday, June 30, 2016 7:28 am :: Summer classes have begun at 71 Los
Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) high schools and — for the
first time in several years — the district is offering elective and
enrichment courses, as well as classes in core academic subjects for
students needing to make up credits.
Approximately 65,000 students are enrolled in more than 2,500 classes
during the most robust summer session since the recession. In addition
to the high school classes, the district is offering a summer “bridge”
program at more than 120 elementary and middle schools, where students
are receiving supplemental instruction in English and math.
“We are very pleased that we are able to extend summer learning
opportunities to so many students,” said District Superintendent
Michelle King. “By offering a slate of electives, credit-recovery
courses and academic supports, we are reinforcing our commitment to
personalizing the educational experience and helping our students
succeed.”
Summer classes will run for 24 days, with two periods of 2 1/2 hours
each that will start at 9 a.m. and noon. That’s an hour later than
previous years; officials hope the extra time will improve student
attendance and punctuality.
The district is also providing counselors to act as “case managers” in
supporting students and helping them overcome hurdles that might
otherwise derail their progress toward graduation.
In addition, the program is being rebranded as “summer term” so that
students will come to see the classes as simply an extension of the
regular school year.
“LAUSD is shifting mindsets toward increased excellence with the concept
of ‘summer term’ rather than ‘summer school,’ as we prepare students to
consider ongoing learning,” said Dr. Frances Gipson, chief academic
officer.
“Our educators have engaged in ‘mastery learning’ professional
development to calibrate and reach high expectations,” she continued.
“These expectations are supported by counselors being present this
summer, alongside teacher leaders, who will guide professional learning
to support the differentiated needs of students — much like a coach.
And, we are proud to bring back enrichment and ‘bridge’ programs for
students.”
This year’s summer term stands in sharp contrast to those during the
recession, when the district served just 5,000 students at 16 high
schools.
With an allocation of $2 million for this summer, the district will
offer credit-recovery courses in English, math, science, social science,
world languages, physical education and health.
In addition, electives are being offered at Hollywood and Los Angeles
High schools, Foshay and International Studies Learning centers, and
Cleveland Charter High School. Courses include graphic design,
photography, stage design, computer science and beginning dance.
Summer term is administered through the district’s Beyond the Bell Branch. For a complete list of schools, see btb.lausd.net.
“We’re back on track to being able to offer more than just
credit-recovery courses,” said Alvaro Cortes, executive director of
Beyond the Bell. “It’s great that we finally have the ability to add
expanded programming for our students.”
HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS & THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T
FIT: The Rest (but not necessarily the best) of the Stories from Other
Sources
tronc: CAN TECH ENTREPRENEUR MICHAEL FERRO &
LOCAL BILLIONAIRE PATRICK SOON-SHIONG SAVE THE L.A. TIMES? | LA Weekly |
http://bit.ly/29fSeN0
ED REFORM BATTLE IN LOS ANGELES: CONFLICT ESCALATES AS CHARTER SCHOOLS THRIVE: Education Next |
https://t.co/u5lnIoQJl6
EVENTS: Coming up next week...
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES – Wednesday, July 6, 2016 - 11:00am
*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:
Scott.Schmerelson@lausd.net • 213-241-8333
Monica.Garcia@lausd.net • 213-241-6180
Ref.Rodriguez@lausd.net • 213-241-5555
George.McKenna@lausd.net • 213-241-6382
Monica.Ratliff@lausd.net • 213-241-6388
Richard.Vladovic@lausd.net • 213-241-6385
Steve.Zimmer@lausd.net • 213-241-6387
...or the Superintendent:
superintendent@lausd.net • 213-241-7000
...or your city councilperson, mayor, county supervisor, state
legislator, 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. Volunteer in the classroom.
Join your PTA. Serve on a School Site Council. Be there for a child -
and ultimately: For all children.
• If you are eligible to become a citizen, BECOME ONE.
• If you a a citizen, REGISTER TO VOTE at http://registertovote.ca.gov/
• If you are registered, VOTE LIKE THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT. THEY DO!
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