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New Item on Board Agenda: ‘Separation’ from Deasy
If John Deasy is, indeed, stepping down as superintendent of the LA Unified School District, the district appears to be moving to protect itself against a lawsuit. When reached by phone, Deasy would only tell LA School Report that he has “not submitted a letter of resignation” and that he can’t talk before he meets...
By LA School Report | October 28, 2013
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LA Unified Board Finally Gives Deasy His Common Core Budget
The LAUSD School Board today finally approved a $113 million budget for transitioning to the Common Core curriculum. The 6-1 vote marked the end of a tumultuous and seemingly directionless process that led to the resignation of Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Jaime Aquino, an LA Times editorial calling the Board “dysfunctional,” and finally to Mayor Eric Garcetti wading in to Board...
By Hillel Aron | September 17, 2013
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Analysis: Aquino’s Resignation Turns a Spotlight onto Deasy
Jaime Aquino‘s surprise announcement Friday that he’ll resign from Superintendent John Deasy‘s staff at the end of the year has sent shockwaves throughout LA Unified. Tomorrow, the district school board will take up the matter in closed session. It’s unclear what they’ll discus – but his impending departure has exposed the district and its fractured...
By Hillel Aron | September 16, 2013
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Deciphering the Kayser Letter (updated)
Reporters were left scrambling late Friday afternoon when they received copies of a letter sent by School Board member Bennett Kayser to Superintendent John Deasy, asking Deasy to develop a “succession plan” for the superintendent and other senior staff. The letter was littered with typos: The date at the top read “7/19/23.” The word “therefore”...
By Hillel Aron | July 22, 2013
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Zimmer to Celebrate Re-Election at Hollywood High*
After an against-all-odds re-election against challenger Kate Anderson in the District 4 primary earlier this year, School Board member Steve Zimmer is celebrating at Hollywood High School on Wednesday afternoon. “This was a very significant re-election because of the national involvement,” said a spokesperson from Zimmer’s office. “We want to celebrate the teachers, students, parents...
By Brianna Sacks | June 26, 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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People: Behind the Scenes with David Tokofsky
Jowled and affable, David Tokofsky is the kind of guy who can’t get in the door of Camilo’s California Bistro before being recognized and greeted by other patrons and distributing handshakes to the waitstaff. Officially, the 53 year-old Eagle Rock resident is a part-time consultant for the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA), the school...
By Ruth Welte | June 13, 2013
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School Board Gives Final Approval to 24th St. Plan
Tuesday’s Board meeting began with a moment of silence for the victims and survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing and the memory of teacher and activist Sal Castro. During the following hours came several key decisions including the unanimous passage of Board member Tamar Galatzan’s resolution to streamline teacher misconduct investigations and the unanimous renewal for...
By Hillel Aron | April 16, 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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LA School Report Expands Campaign Coverage
A new section of LA School Report launches today, devoted to the three hotly contested Los Angeles School Board races. Election 2013, features in-depth information about each of the ten candidates, including questionnaires, biographies, endorsements, and the latest news on campaign contributions and spending. The enhanced coverage provides readers with easy access to information as the March...
By LA School Report | February 19, 2013