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LA Unified board appoints a ‘liaison’ for vacant district seat
In a closed session meeting — meaning, it was closed to the public — the LA Unified School Board named Sylvia Rousseau, a professor at USC, as the “liason” to board District 1, starting in March. The board seat has remained unrepresented at school board meetings since Marguerite LaMotte died in December. The appointment is...
By Vanessa Romo | February 18, 2014
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LA Unified Names Ekchian chief labor negotiator
The Los Angeles Unified Board voted 6-0 today to appoint Vivian Ekchian to the newly created position of chief labor negotiator. The district’s chief human resources officer since 2007, she will be responsible for negotiating agreements with all labor unions that hold contracts with the District. She begins her new job immediately. “I congratulate Vivian...
By LA School Report | February 18, 2014
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Community meetings ahead on CA school spending plan
A series of meetings are scheduled to help LA Unified parents and other community members learn about the new Local Control Funding Formula, the state’s new funding stream. A coalition of advocacy groups known as CLASS, as well as LAUSD board members are holding community meetings to help the public understand the changes. Below is...
By Chase Niesner | February 18, 2014
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Ridley-Thomas aide, Alex Johnson, files for open board seat
LA School Report has learned that Alex Johnson, a top aide to Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, has filed papers with the City Clerk’s office, making official what has long been assumed by insiders, that he is running for LA Unified school board in the special election set for June 3. While Johnson has spoken privately with numerous...
By LA School Report | February 18, 2014
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Commentary: When our students are living in a book desert
He was beefy and laconic, rumored to be gang-affiliated. Kids whispered that he stood outside of school in the early mornings selling weed, though we could never catch him at it. He was also brilliant. If you define “intellectual” as a person who takes delight in the process of abstract thinking, Xavier was one of...
By Ellie Herman | February 18, 2014
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‘Apprentice’ contestant Omarosa bidding for LAUSD board seat
Bringing unusual visibility to the upcoming LA Unified school board special election, Omarosa Manigault, a TV personality best known for contentious her role on The Apprentice, has told LA School Report she is entering the race. She filed papers with the City Clerk on Friday to run for the vacant seat in District 1. The...
By LA School Report | February 18, 2014
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Happy Presidents’ Day!
By LA School Report | February 17, 2014
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Defense tries hard to undermine an expert in Vergara trial
Arun Ramanathan, Executive Director of The Education Trust–West, a group that works for high academic achievement, returned to the witness stand today for more questions by the defense, aimed at undermining his credibility, research and right to be considered an expert. As one of the plaintiffs’ key experts in the landmark trial, Vergara vs. California,...
By Mark Harris | February 14, 2014
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LAUSD leads charter school growth in California, and nation
California launched the largest number of charter schools in the nation last year, according to a report released this week by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS). The state saw the start of 104 charter schools, bringing its total to 1,130. Almost 520,000 California students of more than 6 million now attend charters in...
By Doris D Quintanilla | February 14, 2014
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LA Unified’s education policy is upheld in US district court
Via Park LaBrea News-Beverly Press | By Aaron Blevins U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Lew has ruled against two parent groups that sought to challenge the Los Angeles Unified School District’s increased efforts to integrate special education students with their general education peers. According to the district, one element of the Chanda Smith Modified Consent...
By LA School Report | February 14, 2014