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$7 Billion for Repairs, But LA Unified to Start With Much Less
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...
By LA School Report | October 10, 2013
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Brown Facing Pressure to Veto ‘Flawed’ Teacher Dismissal Bill
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...
By Vanessa Romo | October 9, 2013
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iPad Problems not Unexpected, says Oversight Panel Chairman
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...
By Michael Janofsky | October 9, 2013
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Vladovic Apologizes, Escapes Further Board Action — For Now
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...
By Hillel Aron | October 8, 2013
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Complaints Against Vladovic Are Available for Viewing
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...
By LA School Report | October 8, 2013
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School Board Expected to Approve Marquez on Bond Panel
When the LA Unified board meets in open session today, only one agenda item is listed for discussion: Abigail Marquez as Mayor Eric Garcetti’s nominee to the 15-member district Bond Oversight Committee. If approved, which is expected, she would replace former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s representative on the board, Joan Sullivan, who also served as deputy mayor of...
By Vanessa Romo | October 8, 2013
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Board to Review Vladovic Charges in Closed Session
The LA Unified board is expected to review findings of an investigation into harassment charges against Board President Richard Vladovic when it meets today in closed session, according to people familiar with the meeting agenda. The agenda makes no explicit mention of the investigation, which was concluded two weeks ago. While board members were individually briefed on the case...
By Hillel Aron | October 8, 2013
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Vladovic Denies Sexual Harassment, Other Claims
Via the Los Angeles Times | By Howard Blume Through a spokesman, Los Angeles school board President Richard Vladovic denied Monday that he was guilty of sexual harassment, verbal harassment or retaliation against two unidentified employees. The accusations are contained in redacted documents released Monday night by the L.A. Unified School District in response to public records requests...
By LA School Report | October 8, 2013
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California Releases Updated School Quality Snapshot Tool
The California Department of Education’s School Quality Snapshot tool, a searchable database providing essential information on the performance of individual school sties across the state, has been updated with the latest possible information. Since the program was unveiled last October, more than 115,000 “snapshots” of local schools have been downloaded by Californians interested in learning...
By Chase Niesner | October 7, 2013
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LA Unified Unearths Suspected Misconduct in Search of Old Files
Via Los Angeles Daily News | By Barbara Jones A review of 40 years’ worth of Los Angeles Unified personnel files that cost $400,000 over the past 20 months led to the resignations of two teachers and the recommendation that two more be fired for misconduct, according to district officials. Two additional teachers remain under...
By LA School Report | October 7, 2013