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LAUSD considers charging for the release of public records
LA Unified receives fewer public records requests per year than other governmental agencies or school districts of similar size, but district staff is now suggesting that the board consider pushing for legislation that would set a fee for complying with some of the requests. The recommendation came from Christine Wood, the assistant general counsel and...
By Mike Szymanski | January 27, 2016
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Search firm president commends LA Unified on choice of King
While superintendent searches for large school districts typically end with outsiders getting the job, the president of the firm working with LA Unified said the insider chosen, Michelle King, a district veteran of 30 years, was a commendable match. “We spent more time than usual to come up with a profile of the characteristics that the...
By Mike Szymanski | January 22, 2016
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LAUSD kicks off new effort to help ‘hormones with arms and legs’
With middle school principals’ sharing their best practices and dire needs, an LA Unified board committee yesterday set off on a new initiative to improve the academic and social skills of students one principal described as “hormones with arms and legs.” The discussion in the Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Equity Committee came two days after...
By Mike Szymanski | January 15, 2016
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A student representative returns to LA Unified school board
At the first LA Unified school board meeting of the year on Tuesday, Leon Popa found himself sitting through a long, grueling ordeal. “Leon Popa has now spent more time at this meeting than he did all day at school,” said school board President Steve Zimmer. And that was only halfway through a meeting that...
By Mike Szymanski | January 14, 2016
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LAUSD approves most charters even as it condemns Broad charter plan
The LA Unified school board this week awarded, renewed or revised requests from 10 charter schools, and two applications for new schools were rejected. Some of the approvals came with specific warnings by board members to shape up. The charter approvals came at the same meeting that the board unanimously condemned the Eli Broad-affiliated group,...
By Mike Szymanski | January 14, 2016
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King, Adams believed to be finalists for LA Unified superintendent
* UPDATED LA Unified’s selection of a new superintendent could end as early as this afternoon with the board announcing a successor to Ramon Cortines after a months-long search. The finalists are believed to be Michelle King, the current interim, and Kelvin Adams, superintendent of public schools in St. Louis. A special board meeting has been...
By Mike Szymanski | January 11, 2016
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‘Difficult conversation’ on charters finally comes to LAUSD board
After three revisions, a resolution aimed at curtailing future charter school expansion in LA Unified is finally coming before the school board for a vote on Tuesday. While the measure is largely symbolic in that it cannot change policy regarding charter growth — that is a state matter — it’s a way to open a “difficult conversation...
By Mike Szymanski | January 8, 2016
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10 reasons why we’re (pretty) sure LAUSD gets it done Monday
It’s time, right? We’ve known for ages that Ramon Cortines was stepping down as LA Unified superintendent. The process to replace him has been going on for months, and the end appears in sight. So, here are 10 reasons why we might know the new boss on Monday, when the board is scheduled to meet again....
By LA School Report | January 8, 2016
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LA Unified search goes into next week, but end is close
After meeting five hours today to discuss candidates for the next LAUSD superintendent, the school board adjourned until next Monday with no decision made. The school board members began a closed session at 9 a.m. and returned at 2:15 p.m. to say they will resume the search discussions on Monday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m., with...
By Mike Szymanski | January 5, 2016
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Playa Vista dispute reflects classism as major issue facing LAUSD
The school board vote was simple, but the matter is far more complex, drawing a focus to an issue many within LA Unified find uncomfortable to talk about: classism. The issues involved in the Playa Vista Elementary School dispute are a microcosm of complexities within the second largest school district in the country. They involve...
By Mike Szymanski | January 5, 2016