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LA Unified survey finds cafeteria equipment more than 3 decades old
Some of LAUSD’s cafeteria freezers are more than three decades old. Some of the stoves in the kitchens don’t work anymore. The board has approved spending up to $856,635 to survey 477 public school cafeterias to see what needs to be upgraded, fixed or replaced. “Many of our kitchens are aged and have walk-in refrigerators...
By Mike Szymanski | January 25, 2016
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LAUSD closing in on wireless access for all schools — and more
A plan to improve Information Technology at LA Unified is close to getting every school wireless internet access and providing every student access to a computer. It’s a slower, more methodical strategy than the approach taken by former Superintendent John Deasy, which led to the botched $1.3 billion iPad program, an FBI investigation, his resignation and an abrupt end to the...
By Mike Szymanski | January 25, 2016
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Search firm president commends LA Unified on choice of King
While superintendent searches for large school districts typically end with outsiders getting the job, the president of the firm working with LA Unified said the insider chosen, Michelle King, a district veteran of 30 years, was a commendable match. “We spent more time than usual to come up with a profile of the characteristics that the...
By Mike Szymanski | January 22, 2016
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LA Unifed wooing parents of soon-to-close valley private school
In its latest effort to offset declining enrollment, LA Unified is wooing parents of children attending a private school in Woodland Hills that is shutting down after this academic year. The operators of Pinecrest Schools have notified parents that they intend to close the group’s last five campuses, a decision that creates a chance for...
By LA School Report | January 22, 2016
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Expulsions dropping across LA Unified with focused efforts to help
The number of expulsions in LA Unified has decreased drastically over the past two years, with numbers far lower than neighboring school districts. Expulsions have decreased by 31 percent, to 77 in the last school year from 111 in 2012-2013, according to a report presented this week to a district board committee. That compares with...
By Mike Szymanski | January 22, 2016
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LAUSD could recoup $139 million by curbing chronic absences
What’s the easiest way for LAUSD to save millions of dollars to help stave off a budget crisis? Keep students in school. More than 80,000 students are chronically absent at LA Unified, and that results in an annual loss of $139 million in revenue, Debra Duardo, executive director of Student Health and Human Services at...
By Mike Szymanski | January 21, 2016
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King says response to LAUSD financial issues underway for board
Los Angeles Unified’s new superintendent, Michelle King, said today the district is working on a response to a review panel‘s examination of district finances, and ideas would go before the school board next month. “It’s a huge concern of mine,” King said today, during a 2 1/2 minute interview with LA School Report. “I have work...
By Mike Szymanski | January 20, 2016
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LAUSD going all charter? No, says Ratliff, just looking for information
Declaring that she has no intention of turning LA Unified into an all-charter school district, board member Mónica Ratliff chaired a board committee meeting yesterday that examined just what it is that makes charters different from traditional schools. For one thing, as she learned from a presentation to the committee, charter school teachers don’t have...
By Mike Szymanski | January 20, 2016
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LAUSD charter investigations increase but funding doesn’t
Investigating and analyzing charter schools is becoming a greater burden for LA Unified, and the district isn’t getting any more money to do the work, according to a report presented today. “Charter-related work consumes the most amount of investigative resources due to the time-sensitive nature of the work and the monthly deadlines for board action on...
By Mike Szymanski | January 19, 2016
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A closed campus sparks LAUSD debate over enrollment decline
If members of the LA Unified school board agree on anything, it’s the financial threat posed by declining enrollment. The latest evidence: a 7-0 vote last week to oppose the Great Public Schools Now charter expansion plan. But what to do about enrollment, which is falling about three percent a year, is another matter, the difficulties...
By Craig Clough | January 19, 2016