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Protests expected as board takes up LaMotte vacancy
UPDATE | 10:50AM At a press conference, US Representative Maxine Waters softened her position of favoring an appointment and asked the school board to delay today’s vote. As the LA Unified school board gears up for today’s meeting, only one thing is certain: it will be controversial. The highest profile issue on the agenda is...
By LA School Report | December 17, 2013
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A full plate for the LA Unified board — LaMotte seat, fixes, iPads
The LA Unified school board is back together tomorrow, with a long agenda highlighted by several high-stakes and, very likely, contentious issues. Foremost is the discussion and probable vote on how to fill the vacant District 1 seat. Marguerite LaMotte’s death on Dec. 4 has left the board with the options of filling the seat...
By Michael Janofsky | December 16, 2013
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In Replacing LaMotte on LAUSD Board, Zimmer is Key
The LA Unified school board will likely decide next week how to fill the seat vacated by the sudden death of Marguerite LaMotte, according to the board meeting agenda posted today. For now, the vote that could determine which way appears to be Steve Zimmer‘s. With a choice of appointing a replacement or calling a...
By Vanessa Romo | December 11, 2013
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LaMotte Funeral Scheduled for Dec. 21, Closed to Public
A funeral service For LA Unified School Board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte will be held Dec. 21 at St. Brigid Catholic Church, 5214 S. Western Ave., according to UTLA, the teachers union. The service will be restricted to family and friends only. Visitation hours will be be open to the public, from noon to 5 p.m. on...
By LA School Report | December 10, 2013
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Charter Schools Association Pushing Election for LaMotte Seat
The California Charter Schools Association, or CCSA, has become the latest group pushing LA Unified leadership to hold an election to fill the seat left open by the sudden death of board member Marguerite LaMotte. As the school board continues to weigh the options of appointing a replacement or staging a special election — stakeholders around...
By Vanessa Romo | December 10, 2013
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Filling LaMotte Seat by Election or Appointment? Board is Decider
If history is any guide, a school board election is in the offing. As officials at the LA Unified school board scramble to work out options with the city and county on how best to fill the school board seat left vacant last week by the sudden death of longtime member Marguerite LaMotte, they are...
By Jamie Alter Lynton | December 9, 2013
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Black Leaders Speak Out on How to Fill LaMotte’s Board Seat
A day after the death of the LA Unified school board’s only African American member, Marguerite LaMotte, community leaders with ties to her south Los Angeles district began speaking out about how to fill the vacancy and who should fill it. “Unfortunately in these moments there is no opportunity to wait,” U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass...
By Vanessa Romo | December 6, 2013
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Kayser Abstention Dooms Effort to Spread Out Title 1 Money*
LA Unified School board member Tamar Galatzan had hoped to sway her colleagues to change the way the district distributes Title 1 funds for low-income students. But her motion, co-sponsored by Monica Ratliff, failed to get majority support at yesterday’s board meeting. The vote was split, 3-3, with Galatzan, Ratliff and Steve Zimmer, all of...
By Vanessa Romo | November 13, 2013
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Anger, Frustration Evident as LAUSD Officials Meet Community
One parent wanted more counselors. Another wanted more security personnel. A student came forward with a friend and said, “You’re spending all that money on iPads. We’d prefer you spend it on nurses and librarians and can you please fix the bathrooms.” This was Tuesday night, in the auditorium of Burroughs Middle School in Hancock...
By Michael Janofsky | October 17, 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