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Update: Vladovic Cleared On One of Two Investigations
The LA Times‘s Howard Blume reports this morning that newly elected School Board President Richard Vladovic has been “cleared of wrongdoing after an internal investigation into whether he acted improperly in connection with sexual misconduct allegations against a teacher at a Wilmington school.” That would be Robert Pimentel, the 57-year-old teacher at De La Torre Elementary...
By Hillel Aron | July 12, 2013
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Vladovic Defeats Galatzan for Board President
In one of the more dramatic meetings in recent memory, the newly installed 2013-2014 LAUSD School Board selected Dr. Richard Vladovic (standing, left) as its next President by a vote of 5 to 2. Newly sworn-in Board member Monica Ratliff joined Steve Zimmer, Marguerite LaMotte, Bennett Kayser and Vladovic himself in the majority. Outgoing Board...
By Hillel Aron | July 2, 2013
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Vladovic or Zimmer Likely Pick for School Board President
There hasn’t been as much chatter as might be expected on the eve of a School Board vote on who will be the next President, but the most likely candidates to replace Board member Monica Garcia are Board members Richard Vladovic or Steve Zimmer. To understand how the race likely narrows down to these two,...
By Hillel Aron | July 1, 2013
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Harassment Allegations Could Hurt Vladovic’s Chances
Today’s blockbuster LA Daily News story about accusations of harassment against School Board member Dr. Richard Vladovic sent shockwaves through LAUSD’s massive headquarters on Beaudry. However, most of those contacted by LA School Report either didn’t know or weren’t willing to provide any details about the allegations or their possible impact on Vladovic’s chances of becoming the...
By Hillel Aron | June 27, 2013
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Preview: Board Presidency Up for Grabs Tuesday
On Tuesday, the School Board will convene for a sort of mini-meeting to swear in current members Monica Garcia, Steve Zimmer and the newly elected Monica Ratliff. It will also vote to elect a new Board President, a position held by Garcia for the last six years. The Board recently voted to limit the jobs...
By Hillel Aron | June 27, 2013
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Deasy Skirmish With Board Members a Long Time Coming
Tensions are still simmering between a group of School Board members and Superintendent John Deasy following comments made by Deasy to LA School Report last week. Three Board members — Bennett Kayser, Steve Zimmer and Dr. Richard Vladovic — sent Deasy a letter asking him to clarify his remarks. The trio — who co-sponsored a resolution to...
By Hillel Aron | June 24, 2013
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Marathon Board Meeting Signals Changes to Come
As anyone following us on Twitter knows all too well, Tuesday’s School Board meeting was a marathon session that lasted well into the night — much of it accompanied by the sound of protesters drumming on the street outside. Among several key decisions the Board arrived at during the lengthy session were votes to award a...
By Hillel Aron | June 19, 2013
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Who Will Be the Next School Board President?
LAUSD watchers began speculating about who the next School Board President might be almost as soon as the results of the March 5th LAUSD primary election were known. The issue gained further immediacy when the School Board voted 4-3 this Tuesday to limit the term of President to two years. Unless the Board votes to waive the...
By Hillel Aron | March 22, 2013
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Deasy in Danger? It Might Depend on Vladovic
Much of the media coverage in the runup to today’s School Board primary election has focused on its possible impact on the fate of Superintendent John Deasy, who is appointed by the seven-member Board. The focus isn’t all that surprising — Deasy is as charismatic as he is divisive. He makes for good copy. Indeed, the...
By Hillel Aron | March 5, 2013
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Update: Most Boards Review Grants Upon Receipt
“In many states, perhaps all but I don’t know one way or the other, boards of education have to approve the receipt of all grants. However, I am not aware of boards being required to approve grant applications,” says Donald McAdams, Center for Reform of School Systems (and 1990-2002 Houston school board member). “If a superintendent was...
By Alexander Russo | December 19, 2012