LA School Report

LA Unified Superintendent John Deasy applauded Governor Jerry Brown’s decision today to veto AB 375, a controversial teacher dismissal bill which had widespread teacher union support. Deasy, who had supported stronger legislation, told LA School Report that he was not surprised by the veto: “I appreciate the governor, in my opinion, making a wise decision....

Under mounting pressure, Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a controversial bill originally meant to make it easier to dismiss teachers for abusive or inappropriate behavior. In a veto memo, Brown said he “share[s] the authors’ desire to streamline the teacher discipline process, but this bill is an imperfect solution.”

It has been almost five years since local voters approved Measure Q, authorizing LA Unified to sell $7 billion in bonds for school repairs and upgrades. Any idea how much has been raised? Zero. Any idea how much of the $7 billion will be available when bonds are sold and spending starts next year? “A...

LAUSD official fighting to keep sexual-harassment suit alive Attorneys for a Los Angeles Unified facilities executive filed a motion Wednesday to keep alive his lawsuit claiming the district defamed him and invaded his privacy while trying to settle sexual-harassment allegations involving retired Superintendent Ramon Cortines. The documents filed on behalf of Scot Graham, director of...

Governor Jerry Brown is facing rising opposition to a bill designed to make it easier to fire teachers accused of abusing students. Critics say it doesn’t, and that could make it harder for him to justify signing it into law. The deadline for consideration is Sunday. Over the last few weeks, school district superintendents, education groups...

The head of the group that oversees capital expenditures of LA Unified says problems arising in Phase 1 of the district’s new iPad program do not appear serious enough to disrupt Phase 2. “I don’t think the level of problems was greater than what we anticipated,” Stephen English, chairman of the district’s School Construction Bond...

LAUSD President Richard Vladovic issues apology; seeking help A day after Los Angeles Unified released two claims accusing him of harassment, school board President Richard Vladovic admitted Tuesday that he’d violated the district’s “civility policy” and apologized to employees who’d felt intimidated by him. Vladovic also said he’d sought “professional help” for anger issues. “I...

After a tense, four-hour closed meeting with his LA Unified Board colleagues, President Richard Vladovic opened a brief public session admitting that he had violated the district’s code of conduct and apologizing to employees he may have harmed. “I did get upset at people,” he said. “I did tell them things I shouldn’t have told...

The LA Unified School District released redacted copies the two complaints filed against School Board President Richard Vladovic. The first (read it here) involves a former employee of Vladovic’s and details a number of incidents, including sexual harassment and “daily rage outbursts” that occurred between 2000 and 2003. The second complaint (read it here) is...