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Parents rally at LAUSD headquarters for more charter schools
For Ivey Steinberg, the last straw occurred when her son, Jack, who uses a wheelchair, was left on the second floor during a fire drill at a public school. She needed to find a school that treated her son like all the others, and she found WISH (Westside Innovative School House) Charter. Then, she helped create...
By Mike Szymanski | December 8, 2015
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1 minute later, LAUSD board resumes private talks on superintendent
* UPDATED The LA Unified school board continued its search for a new superintendent early this morning, moving into another closed session after a one minute open meeting that might have been the shortest in district history. Joining the seven board members in the private session were Hank Gmitro and Darline Robles of the search...
By Mike Szymanski | December 8, 2015
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Playa Vista parents accuse LAUSD of betrayal with new expansion plan
Parents and students at Playa Vista Elementary staged a protest today over an unexpected change in the district’s Westside expansion efforts that directly affect Playa students. Some families held a “sit out” and kept their kids out of school. The LA Unified school board is scheduled to vote tomorrow on an expansion plan for Playa that also involves...
By Craig Clough | December 7, 2015
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Cortines, Zimmer reaffirm safety plans at LA Unified schools
In the wake of the mass shooting yesterday in San Bernardino, both LAUSD school superintendent Ramon Cortines and school board president Steve Zimmer today reaffirmed the district’s commitment to safety at local schools. In a statement, Cortines emphasized, “Every building and school within this District has a safety plan in place.” Zimmer pointed out that extra support...
By Mike Szymanski | December 3, 2015
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Schmerelson revises anti-Broad measure — but unanimity uncertain
Scott Schmerelson has revised his LA Unified board resolution that attacks an outside group’s plan to expand the number of charter schools in the district. A majority of the seven board members has expressed opposition to the plan. But a shift in mission from the group — Great Public Schools Now, supported by the Broad Foundation and...
By Michael Janofsky | December 3, 2015
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LA Unified board schedules start of interviews for next superintendent
The LA Unified school board said today it will begin the first round of interviews of candidates for superintendent at 8:30 Sunday morning. It’s the start of the endgame for the seven board members, who are seeking to find a successor to Ramon Cortines before he steps down at the end of the year. In...
By Mike Szymanski | December 2, 2015
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LIVESTREAM coverage of today’s LA Unified school board meeting
The LA Unified school board is holding a special meeting at 9 a.m. today to fine-tune the one-page list of “Desired Characteristics” for the superintendent that they hope to hire by the end of the year. The open session will have representatives of the search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates reviewing the Leadership Profile Report. Then, the...
By LA School Report | December 1, 2015
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School board plans to hammer out more superintendent criteria
The LA Unified school board is holding a special meeting tomorrow to fine-tune the one-page list of “Desired Characteristics” for the superintendent that they hope to hire by the end of the year. The open session section is planned for 9 a.m. and will have representatives of the search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates reviewing...
By Mike Szymanski | November 30, 2015
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Zimmer, other LA Unified board members offer their thanks
Several members of the LA Unified board are using their websites to reflect on what they’re thankful for with the long Thanksgiving weekend just ahead. Board President Steve Zimmer focused on education in his newsletter. He writes: “The recent attacks on liberty and peace in Paris, Mali, and across the Middle East shake our hearts and our spirit. Here at home, the...
By Mike Szymanski | November 25, 2015
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LA Unified losing $100s of millions in mandates unpaid by state, U.S.
A major contributor to LA Unified’s pending fiscal crisis is unfunded federal and state mandates that have deprived the district of hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years. The exact number is difficult to calculate because the total not only reflects the amount the district seeks in reimbursement but what percentage the governments return to...
By Michael Janofsky | November 24, 2015