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‘Political Season’ Starting with UTLA Leadership Conference
The local teachers union, UTLA, is holding its annual leadership conference next weekend, starting August 2 at the Westin Hotel near LAX. “The conference is an important way for us to unite as a union, and to provide you with support and resources for the challenges in the coming year,” reads the invite letter. “We...
By Hillel Aron | July 25, 2013
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Unions Send Letter of Concern over Deasy Comments
The unions that represent LAUSD teachers and administrators have sent the School Board a letter raising “a concern” over controversial comments Superintendent John Deasy made to LA School Report in June. Last month, following a decision by the Board to postpone voting on a motion by Tamar Galatzan to allow schools greater autonomy over how...
By Hillel Aron | July 10, 2013
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Teacher Evaluations Still a Work in Progress
Teacher evaluations for the 2012-13 school year were due about a month ago. Even though they included a section for “student achievement,” it’s safe to say that particular section was a work in progress. “There was literally just a few weeks to get it implemented, and we had to implement it according to the courts,”...
By Hillel Aron | June 14, 2013
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Union President Likely Faces 2014 Challengers
Warren Fletcher’s three-year term as UTLA President is heading into its last year, and while the teachers union election is a long way off it seems likely that he will face a challenger or two. One of the potential challengers is a teacher activist from Crenshaw High school. The other is a current UTLA Vice...
By Hillel Aron | June 13, 2013
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Board Likely Approves Call to Re-Hire Teachers
Starting in July, the composition and leadership of LAUSD’s School Board will change substantially. District 6’s Nury Martinez will be out, replaced by Monica Ratliff, and Monica Garcia will step down as Board President, thanks to term limits motion passed by the Board in March. But the shifts in direction for the Board are already...
By Hillel Aron | June 7, 2013
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Watch: UTLA President Appears at Sanchez, Ratliff Events
Last Wednesday, mere hours after Antonio Sanchez conceded to her, School Board member-elect Monica Ratliff showed up at a UTLA House of Representatives meeting to thank all the teachers who volunteered for and donated to her campaign. Though the video above (shot on UTLA spokesperson Suzanne Spurgeon’s iPad) is incomplete, it shows Ratliff specifically thanking Jose...
By Hillel Aron | May 28, 2013
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Brown Soft-Sells School Formula in LA
Governor Jerry Brown continued to promote his Local Control Funding Formula proposal at a Friday morning press conference at East LA’s Humphreys Elementary. Joining him was an All-Star cast that included LA Chamber of Commerce CEO Gary Toebben, United Way CEO Elise Buik, School Board member Bennett Kayser, former State Senator and City Council candidate Gil...
By Hillel Aron | May 17, 2013
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Deasy & Allies Prevail at May Board Meeting
Tuesday’s marathon School Board meeting included an ambitiously long agenda, simmering tensions among Board members, and no less than three different rallies going on outside the LAUSD headquarters on Beaudry Avenue throughout the day. Though the exchanges never quite rose to the level of outright acrimony, there were some dramatic moments as the Board members...
By Hillel Aron | May 15, 2013
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Commentary: “A Dangerous Game for UTLA”
(Published in today’s Los Angeles Times) Ousting Supt. John Deasy, as the union wants, would hurt students. by Jamie Alter Lynton The leadership of the Los Angeles teachers union recently conducted a survey among its members asking if they had confidence in Los Angeles Unified Supt. John Deasy. Although it was highly unusual for...
By Jamie Alter Lynton | April 26, 2013
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Union President Volunteers for Pay Cut
At last week’s monthly meeting of the UTLA House of Representatives, President Warren Fletcher made a surprising announcement: he’s taking a pay cut, effective July 1. “Warren voluntarily took a pay cut to show solidarity with LAUSD teachers who have not had a raise in six years,” said UTLA spokesperson Suzanne Spurgeon in an email...
By Hillel Aron | April 24, 2013