LA School Report

Brown’s overhaul of California school finances sparks infighting Commentary: Gov. Jerry Brown’s landmark overhaul of public schools’ finances was aimed at their most vexing issue – chronically low academic achievements among poor or “English-learner” students. Not only would more money be spent – billions more, in fact, thanks to a tax increase – but state aid...

A day after the death of the LA Unified school board’s only African American member, Marguerite LaMotte, community leaders with ties to her south Los Angeles district began speaking out about how to fill the vacancy and who should fill it. “Unfortunately in these moments there is no opportunity to wait,” U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass...

If Warren Fletcher is reelected president of the LA Unified teachers union, UTLA, it won’t be easy. At yesterday’s filing deadline, the union announced that eight others – all men — are challenging him for a three-year term that begins next year. The size of the field, which includes one current UTLA officer, Secondary Vice...

LA Unified board member Tamar Galatzan is bringing aboard a new chief of staff, and anyone familiar with how the nation’s second-largest school district works and doesn’t work has the new hire to thank. Barbara Jones is stepping away from a long and distinguished newspaper career, the last 26 years at the LA Daily News,...

Marguerite LaMotte, the long-serving member of the LA Unified school board, died this morning in San Diego, where she was attending a meeting of the California School Boards Association. She was 80. A former teacher and principal, LaMotte was first elected to the board in 2003, before term limits were put in effect, and remained...

Marguerite LaMotte, a member of the LA Unified school board since 2003, died this morning, the district has confirmed. She was 80. LaMotte had been attending a meeting of the California School Boards Association meeting in San Diego. Board President Richard Vladovic and Superintendent John Deasy were also attending. LaMotte was the longest-serving member of...

Don’t let fears stop necessary technology reform in L.A. schools Commentary: The LA Unified School District has been lauded — and scrutinized — for its trailblazing efforts to reform teacher evaluation and include student achievement in hiring and firing decisions. But the $1 billion push to provide every student and teacher with an iPad may be...

With the filing deadline tomorrow, a new candidate has emerged to challenge Warren Fletcher as president of UTLA. Kevin Mottus, who frequently appears at LA Unified school board meetings to warn of adverse health effects of wireless digital devices, is the latest among three challengers to file for running, according to the union’s most recent...