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School board blocks appointee critical of iPads
What is normally a routine, no-questions-asked formality for the LA Unified School Board hit a snag today. Board Member Tamar Galatzan opposed the reappointment of Stuart Magruder, an outspoken critic of the use of bond money for iPads, from the School Construction Bond Oversight Committee (BOC). The board effectively blocked Magruder’s reappointment by removing him...
By Vanessa Romo | May 20, 2014
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Tamar Galatzan: Plotting a course for LAUSD’s future
Via LA Daily News | By Tamar Galatzan, LA Unified’s board member for District 3 It’s budget time again in Los Angeles Unified, a process that for the last five years meant agonizing decisions to cut programs, scale back services and lay off employees because of the crippling financial crisis. This year, thankfully, the board...
By LA School Report | May 6, 2014
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JUST IN: Board Member Galatzan announces bid for third term
LA Unified school board member Tamar Galatzan, a strong supporter of Superintendent John Deasy and his efforts to reform public education, said today she plans to run for another term next year. “I plan to seek a third term in order to continue the work I’ve been doing since voters in Board District 3 first chose...
By Vanessa Romo | April 24, 2014
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Abandoned LA Unified schools coming back to life — but how?
After more than 30 years, the West Valley may be closer to having four more schools. What kind of schools remains to be seen. Community members are invited tomorrow night to a meeting at Woodlake Elementary School to learn more about the the future of the elementary schools — Oso, Collins, Highlander and Platt Ranch...
By Vanessa Romo | April 2, 2014
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Typical LA Unified school board meeting: pique and confusion
Today’s LA Unified school board meeting may have been brief, but it was just as acrimonious and confusing as some of the longer ones. While problems contributing to the appearance of dysfunction usually focus on content or process. This one focused on both. The big issue was over Bennett Kayser’s resolution to expand Title I...
By Vanessa Romo | January 21, 2014
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LA Unified board OKs more iPads, caretaker for vacancy
The LA Unified School Board made two major decisions today that will go a long way toward shaping the months ahead. The six members green-lighted Phase 2 of the iPad plan, ensuring enough tablets for standardized testing in the Spring, and they approved the appointment of a non-voting representative to serve District 1 until later...
By Vanessa Romo | January 14, 2014
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Delay on iPads shows deep division on LA Unified board
It’s the other delay yesterday that portends long-term consequences for LA Unified students. In the latest sign of the deep divide on the district school board, the members voted to hold off the next phase of the iPad program, rather than approve a carefully crafted compromise that the board had hammered out, and passed, at...
By Michael Janofsky | December 18, 2013
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LA Unified board delays action on LaMotte vacancy to January
The LA Unified school board today postponed until next month any consideration of how to fill the board seat left vacant by the death of Marguerite LaMotte, bowing to a wave of pleas from speakers asking the board to wait until after her funeral. A 3-3 vote on a motion to allow discussion to begin...
By Michael Janofsky | December 17, 2013
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BREAKING NEWS: Board postpones vote on LaMotte seat
The LA Unified school board voted today to delay a decision on how to fill the board seat held by the late Marguerite LaMotte until Jan.7 to allow her family to hold a funeral service and interment. A 3-3 vote to consider the options effectively killed the motion to take up the matter four votes...
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