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UTLA Denounces, Solicits Outside Contributions*
On Tuesday, the Coalition for School Reform announced an eye-popping $1 million contribution from Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City — whom LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa described in a press release as “the most important voice in education reform today.” UTLA denounced the Bloomberg contribution in a press release sent out Tuesday night, calling it...
By Alexander Russo | February 13, 2013
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Morning Read: Mayoral Front-Runners Duck “Trigger” Question
Los Angeles Unified School District Approves Historic Parent Trigger, L.A. Mayoral Candidates Weigh in or Stay Mum Garcetti and Greuel have been hesitant to say exactly where they stand on the Parent Trigger issue, even though it has been supported by such Democratic political stars as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Newark Mayor Corey Booker....
By Samantha Oltman | February 13, 2013
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Villaraigosa’s Big Education Day
He may never have won direct control over LAUSD and he may or may not ever get a Cabinet appointment. He may have only a few more weeks before his replacement is picked. But outgoing LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa still enjoys some big days on the education reform front. Today included news that Villaraigosa had...
By LA School Report | February 12, 2013
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Update: UTLA-PACE Spends, Bloomberg Donates
New independent expenditure (IE) numbers posted late yesterday on the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission website show a spike in spending on behalf of supported candidates, including $138,000 spent by UTLA-PACE, the political arm of United Teachers Los Angeles, the first such spending that’s been posted. In the meantime, the Coalition for School Reform has...
By Samantha Oltman | February 12, 2013
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Coalition TV Ad Attacks Zimmer over Robert Kennedy School
The Coalition for School Reform has unveiled a somewhat curious new 30-second TV ad for District 4 School Board challenger Kate Anderson. Titled “Talking Benches,” most of it is devoted to blasting incumbent Steve Zimmer. “Zimmer voted to fire 5,000 teachers,” says an incredulous narrator, “and cut basics like art and PE, while supporting the costliest building project in America...
By Hillel Aron | February 11, 2013
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Morning Read: Behind the Spending in the Board Race
Outside Groups Trying to Influence L.A. School Board Races Outside groups are mounting campaigns to influence the outcome of three races for seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education. LA Times See also: LA School Report L.A. Schools Need Technology, but Can We Afford It? On Tuesday, the Los Angeles School Board will consider...
By Samantha Oltman | February 11, 2013
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Coalition Launches Pro-Garcia TV Ad
On Wednesday, the Coalition for School Reform launched a campaign ad in support of School Board President Monica Garcia, the District 2 candidate who is one of UTLA’s top targets in the March 5 election. The announcement says that the ad will begin airing immediately. This is the Coalition’s second TV ad. No word yet on...
By Alexander Russo | February 7, 2013
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Reform Coalition Launches TV Ads
LA School Report has learned that the Coalition for School Reform will begin airing television advertisements for each of its slate of three candidates starting later this week. Here is the first ad, for Antonio Sanchez: Producing TV spots and buying airtime is very expensive. That’s one reason there hasn’t been a substantial TV campaign...
By Hillel Aron | February 5, 2013
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UTLA Focus: Defend Zimmer, Defeat Garcia
As KPCC reported on Friday, United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) has endorsed Eric Garcetti for Mayor but has no plans to spend any money to campaign for him. “We’re focusing our money on the School Board races,” UTLA secondary Vice President Gregg Solkovits explained to LA School Report. But UTLA won’t be focusing equally on...
By Hillel Aron | February 5, 2013
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Reform Coalition Reports $1.2 Million Raised
The Coalition for School Reform reported over $1.2 million raised during the first 19 days of the year, according to campaign disclosure statements obtained from the City Ethics Commission (download document here). The Coalition is, which is supporting School Board candidates Monica Garcia, Kate Anderson and Antonio Sanchez, was also major force in the 2011 School...
By Hillel Aron | January 29, 2013