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Point/Counterpoint: Did LAUSD make the right call on closure?
Our two reporters here at LA School Report, Craig Clough and Mike Szymanski, both have kids in school. What they don’t have is a shared opinion about LA Unified’s decision on Tuesday to close down schools in response to an emailed threat of violence that proved to be empty. So here, in a reasoned conversation,...
By LA School Report | December 18, 2015
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LAUSD board votes to shut 2 Valley schools because of gas leak
Citing an “abundance of caution” for children the second time this week, the LA Unified school board voted today to move two Valley schools to another location until June because of toxic fumes from a leaking gas storage facility. The unanimous vote by the seven-member board cleared the way to move 1,870 students in the...
By Mike Szymanski | December 17, 2015
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AmeriCorps saved from federal cuts, keeps 309 mentors in LAUSD
Congressional agreement on a omnibus spending package will include $1.1 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers service programs, including AmeriCorps. That will save the proposed cutting of 20,000 AmeriCorps positions that provide help to schools in unprivileged communities. City Year, which has 309 AmeriCorps members in Los Angeles, says that Christmas came early...
By Mike Szymanski | December 17, 2015
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JUST IN: LAUSD opens door to ‘acting/interim’ superintendent
The LA Unified school board is meeting later today in open and closed sessions, and one of the items on the agenda appears to suggest that the members may appoint a temporary superintendent until they decide on a permanent successor to Ramon Cortines. The closed session agenda includes “Unrepresented Employee: Superintendent or Acting/Interim Superintendent of...
By LA School Report | December 17, 2015
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JUST IN: LA police say Esquith could face one juvenile crime charge
The Los Angeles police department is moving toward charging celebrated teacher Rafe Esquith with one count of inappropriate touching of a juvenile, LA School Report has learned. The single charge could come within a few weeks after being reviewed by the city attorney and U.S. district attorney’s offices, said LAPD Captain Julian Melendez, head of the...
By Mike Szymanski | December 17, 2015
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LAUSD board meeting to discuss gas leak, new superintendent
The LA Unified school board is drawing closer to the end of the search for a new with another closed door meeting scheduled for tomorrow, just after a special open session to discuss the on-going gas leak affecting two nearby schools in the Valley. The board is considering a move to declare emergency conditions at Porter Ranch Community...
By Mike Szymanski | December 16, 2015
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Rep. Sherman: Parts of email suggested threat was not credible
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Los Angeles) issued a statement today that released more details from the email threat that closed all of LA Unified schools yesterday. He also explained why authorities in Los Angeles and New York ultimately reached the same conclusion, that the threat was not credible. The full wording of the email has not yet...
By Craig Clough | December 16, 2015
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BREAKING: LAUSD says schools safe, to reopen Wednesday morning
LA Unified school board President Steve Zimmer announced tonight that 1,531 school sites in the district have been declared safe and will be reopened tomorrow. LA School Report will have a full report shortly.
By LA School Report | December 15, 2015
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A long day across LAUSD as tension and investigators visit schools
Walter Reed Middle School in Studio City, has “zero periods,” when students with electives go to classes before school begins. When teachers arrived at the school early today to prepare for their regular class time, they were greeted by their colleagues saying, “Leave the school, we’re on Level 1 alert. This is serious!” Minutes before...
By Mike Szymanski | December 15, 2015
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LAUSD explores building 2 schools in Valley, holding off charters
*UPDATED LA Unified is exploring building two new schools in the western San Fernando Valley on the sites of two campuses that have been vacant for decades at a potential cost of tens of millions. The move comes as the district has no current plans for any new schools and would need to spend an...
By Craig Clough | December 10, 2015