Appoint or elect? Take our poll for LAUSD board vacancy

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vote_stylized_ballot_boxShould the LA Unified School board call a special election to fill the vacant seat left by the death of Marguerite Lamotte? Or should the board appoint a school board member?

The six members of the board are divided on how to fill the seat for District 1- which represents a wide swath of South LA.

The board will be grappling with this issue — and many more – on Tuesday, December 17, at its school board meeting  – with coverage here, at LA School Report.

But in the meantime, LA School Report wants to hear from you. So vote in our poll by clicking below:

 

JUST IN: Judge denies request to toss ‘bad teacher’ suit

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students_matterLA Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu today denied a request to dismiss a lawsuit from students, seeking to strike down state regulations that they contend make it difficult for school districts to fire ineffective teachers

In his ruling, Judge Treu said he found “sufficient evidence” to clear the way for a trial, which is schedule to begin next month.

The lawsuit, known colloquially as the “Bad Teacher” lawsuit, has been brought by Students Matter on behalf of nine California students and seeks to strike down five state statutes that they say deprive students of equal access to quality education by protecting ineffective teachers.

Lawyers for the defendants – the state, three school districts and the state’s two major teacher unions — had argued before Judge Treu that he should reject those claims and dismiss the case.

This is the third time that the defendants sought a dismissal without a trial and the second time Judge Treu turned them back. An appeals court rejected the earlier efforts.

A hearing tomorrow morning will now focus on whether the court will adopt this tentative ruling as final or modify it.

Previous Posts: Olson Previews Arguments in Vergara ’Bad Teacher’ Lawsuit; Unions Ask Court to Dismiss ‘Bad Teacher’ Suit; LA Unified Dropped as Defendant in Vergara Lawsuit.

Tree Care Dispute in LA Unified Putting $2.7 Million at Risk

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saturnelementaryAn aerial view of Saturn Elementary School in Mid City reveals a giant asphalt rectangle – about 70,000 square feet – taking up two-thirds of a city block. There’s one tree on the playground, and the only patch of grass runs along the front of the school.

It’s a bleak portrait of an era when playgrounds were intended to be durable above all, and not necessarily pretty or pleasant.

But non-profit groups hoping to convert school playgrounds like these into green spaces are sitting on millions of dollars in state grant money, unable to break ground because they’re at an impasse with LA Unified. And the LA Conservation Corps, the organization with plans to revitalize Saturn, is on the verge of dumping the project and walking away from the free money altogether.

At the heart of the dispute is who will be responsible for the long-term maintenance of the renovations.

The state money comes from revenues raised by Prop. 84, passed in 2006 to develop parks in dense urban areas, community gardens, and to restore wetlands. But it comes with strings attached: Groups awarded funds are required to maintain the project between 10 and 20 years, depending on the size of the grant.

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‘Bad Teacher’ Lawsuit Defendants To Ask Court for a Dismissal

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students_matterLawyers in the Vergara v. California case will be back in Los Angeles Superior Court tomorrow for Judge Rolf Treu to hear arguments from the defendants  to dismiss the case without a trial. Again.

The lawsuit, known colloquially as the “Bad Teacher” lawsuit, has been brought by Students Matter on behalf of nine California students and seeks to strike down five state statutes that they contend deprive students of equal access to quality education by protecting ineffective teachers.

Lawyers for the defendants – the state, three school districts and the state’s two major teacher unions — are arguing that the court should reject those claims and dismiss the case.

The students’ lawyers, meanwhile, plan to argue that they have gathered more evidence over the last year, showing that the statutes cause grave and irreparable harm to students, a rationale to ask the court to deny the dismissal request.

This is the third time that the defendants have sought a dismissal without a trial using the same arguments. Judge Treu and an appeals court rejected the earlier efforts.

If a trial proceeds, it would start on Jan. 27.

Previous Posts: Olson Previews Arguments in Vergara ’Bad Teacher’ Lawsuit; Unions Ask Court to Dismiss ‘Bad Teacher’ Suit; LA Unified Dropped as Defendant in Vergara Lawsuit.

 

Nevada teacher in kidnapping once worked for LAUSD

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Melvyn Perry Sprowson Photo: Las Vegas Sun

Melvyn Perry Sprowson
Photo: Las Vegas Sun

Via LA Times | By Stephen Ceasar

A former Nevada teacher charged with kidnapping a 16-year-old girl was previously an instructor in the Los Angeles Unified School District — which had moved to fire him and sought to have his teaching credentials revoked after allegations of sexual misconduct with students surfaced.

Melvyn Sprowson, 45, appeared in a Las Vegas court this week on charges of kidnapping, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and obstruction after authorities found a missing teenager living at his home. He is being held in lieu of $650,000 bail.

Authorities allege that Sprowson, who had developed a relationship with the girl online and through text messages, took her from her parents’ house without their consent. He and the teenager allegedly lived together for two months, authorities said.

Read the full story here.

Morning Read: Kayser favors appointing LaMotte successor

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LAUSD board should appoint successor to Marguerite LaMotte
Commentary: It is with a very heavy heart that I must assert that the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education should appoint an interim board member to fill the now vacant seat of Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, and do so swiftly. LA Daily News

Vote delayed to January on L.A. Unified’s iPad program
L.A. Unified officials have delayed Tuesday’s scheduled vote on the next phase of a $1-billion effort to provide iPads to every student, teacher and school administrator. The vote had already been delayed a week with the cancellation of all meetings after the death Dec. 5 of board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte.  LA Times

Dell unveils its first Chromebook, designed specifically for education
Dell has finally made its entry into the Chromebook market official, as it follows in the footsteps of many other PC OEMs who are looking around to shore up flagging Windows machine sales. Dell’s aims with Chromebooks and Chrome OS are pretty specifically targeted, however, as Dell is creating its Chromebook 11 specifically for schools and students. Tech Crunch

Brown considers new restrictions on LCFF money
The Brown administration appears to be still struggling with how much flexibility to give schools with spending new state funds aimed at the educationally disadvantaged. Documents released Wednesday by consultants working on regulations governing the Local Control Funding Formula include language that would require districts to demonstrate the new money is going to increase or improve services to low-income students, English learners and foster youth. SI&A Cabinet Report

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In Replacing LaMotte on LAUSD Board, Zimmer is Key

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TwowaysignThe 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 special election to fill the seat, the board, which rarely reaches unanimity on anything, seems to be leaning toward an election, by three votes to two.

For the moment, at least three members appear to favor a special election.

Board President Richard Vladovic leans toward an election, according to someone who has discussed the issue with him. Monica Garcia told LA School Report today, “The best way to honor Ms. LaMotte is to assure the community that there’s a fair process. There should be an election.” And Tamar Galatzan said, in a statement, “I think it is vitally important for every community to have the right to be represented by the elected official of their choosing.”

Meanwhile, Bennett Kayser’s office confirmed that he favors the board making an appointment to fill the position, and today he wrote a commentary in the Daily News arguing for that.  A source friendly with Monica Ratliff said she also favors picking a replacement.

That leaves Zimmer, whose vote for an appointment would result in a 3-3 deadlock. He declined to comment. Continue reading →

Commentary: 10 Steps (Give or Take) to Avoid Teacher Burnout

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10 StepsRecently, a reader commented on one of my posts, asking me to offer some concrete goals and steps to avoid burnout.

First of all, thank you for asking my advice. I am no expert on burnout except that I personally experienced it. For truly professional advice, I highly recommend a book by Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter, “The Truth About Burnout: How Organizations Cause Personal Stress and What to Do About It.” It’s filled with concrete steps for individuals and organizations.

But since you asked, I’m going to give my personal, unscientific recommendation. I call this piece “10 Steps to Avoid Teacher Burnout” because that’s what I wish I had had. Ten easy steps: do one a week, and by March you’re back in action, frisky and clear-eyed and filled with purpose. Amazing! Next stop: rock-hard abs!

The thing is, “10 steps” is an illusion. Teacher burnout is enormously complex and probably different in every case. I think a huge problem in education these days is the belief that we can come up with simple 10-step solutions, or rubrics, or accountability systems for anything. We are human beings trying to pass on all that we know to the next generation. There are no easy answers, only messy human answers.

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Morning Read: Can Common Core Help ‘Appalling’ PISA Scores

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Can American students get smart?
Commentary: The latest international test scores of 15-year-olds are in, and the results are appalling. The Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, found that the United States — the most affluent country in the world — failed to rank in the top 20 in any category. LA Times

LAUSD board member LaMotte honored by tolling of school bells
Los Angeles Unified school board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who died last Thursday at the age of 80, was honored Tuesday morning by the tolling of bells at schools throughout the district. LA Daily News

California teacher firing fix could go directly to voters
An education advocacy group known for supporting charter schools is pushing a ballot initiative that would streamline the process for firing abusive teachers, after bills on the subject failed in back-to-back years. Sacramento Bee

Budget deal could offer school districts relief from sequestration
School districts would get some relief from the across-the-board cuts known as sequestration under an agreement announced Tuesday by a bipartisan pair of House and Senate negotiators. EdWeek

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LaMotte Funeral Scheduled for Dec. 21, Closed to Public

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Marguerite LaMotte

Marguerite LaMotte

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 Dec.19 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec 20 at Angelus Funeral Home, 3875 S. Crenshaw Blvd., according to the website.

The district is planning a memorial service for Jan. 18, but details are still being finalized.

LaMotte, a member of the board since 2003, died on Dec. 5. She was 80.

At School, Melendez Talks Computers, Garcetti Jobs Agenda

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Thelma Melendez today at the UCLA Community School

Thelma Melendez today at the UCLA Community School

Since becoming Mayor Eric Garcetti’s top education advisor four months ago, Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana has made few public appearances but, today, for the first time, the 30-year educator took center stage alongside LA Unified officials.

She was one of several speakers at the UCLA Community School in the Robert F. Kennedy Complex, kicking-off “An Hour of Code,” a national event designed to encourage students from kindergarten through grade 12 to learn more about computer programming.

“The work that’s being done here is completely in line with the Mayor’s vision,” Melendez told LA School Report.

Melendez says her top priority as the Director of Education and Workforce Development is to carry out Garcetti’s plan of creating 10,000 jobs for the city’s youth.

“We find that many of our students don’t have the opportunity to have that first job, and that’s a shame because sometimes those opportunities lead to careers.”

No other mayor has taken on such an ambitious project “so he’s really upping the ante,” she said. “It’s all part of our ‘From Cradle to Gainful Employment Plan.’ ”

The city is still working on finding new partners to create those jobs and internships. “We have to be really creative,” she said of an effort made more challenging by recent severe budget cuts to the school district and city services.

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For 4th Straight Year, LA Unified Has the Most Charter Students

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National Alliance of Charter SchoolsFor the fourth straight year, LA Unified has the most students in charter schools of any school district in the country, according to a new report from the National Alliance for Pubic Charter Schools. With 120,000 students enrolled, the district also ranks as the seventh fastest growing charter school community in the nation.

Last year, LA Unified added 22,000 public charter school students, a growth rate of 23 percent. Charter school students now make up 18 percent of the district’s student population, according to the report.

A National Alliance spokeswoman said LA Unifed has had the largest number of charter school students since the group began counting total enrollment, in 2009. New York City, which has the district with the second largest number of charter school students, has just over 58,000 charter students, or 6 percent of its student population.

The New Orleans Public School System has the highest percentage of students in charters, 79, of any school district.

For the report, the National Alliance examined school districts with more than 10,000 public school students and gathered enrollment data from state department of education databases.

Previous Posts: Diverse Charter Schools Spread; LA Unified Schools Top Lists of California’s Best Charters; By the Numbers: Charter School Waitlist Exceeds 15,000

Charter Schools Association Pushing Election for LaMotte Seat

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MapBoardDistrict1The 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 the city are making their positions clear.

School board District 1, which LaMotte had represented since 2003, includes parts of south LA, Leimert Park and Baldwin Hills. It stretches as far west as Palms, north to Hancock Park, and south to Gardena. As of this year, there are about 40 charter schools operating in the district, serving more than 12,000 students. Only District 2, represented by Monica Garcia, has more charter schools.

CCSA Spokeswoman Sierra Jenkins says the CCSA plans to circulate a petition next week, among parents of charter school students “to encourage the board to hold a special election.”

A former teacher and principal, LaMotte was a strong ally for teachers and other district employees, which won her lasting support from UTLA, the teachers union, as well as SEIU, a public employees union. For most of her tenure on the board, she staunchly opposed charter schools, though she did soften her views in recent years.

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Morning Read: UTLA Members Rally for ‘Jailed’ Colleagues

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Protests against LAUSD’s ‘teacher jails’ held
Calling for an end to what they say is harassment, hundreds of United Teachers Los Angeles members rallied at district offices across the city late Monday afternoon to support educators removed from classrooms and housed in so-called teacher jails while allegations of misconduct are investigated. LA Daily News

California schools fear losing millions for low-income students
Major California school districts fear they will be shortchanged millions of dollars in funding for their low-income students under new state rules requiring them to verify family incomes every year. At stake, for instance, is $200 million in L.A. Unified and $6 million in San Diego. LA Times

Elect, don’t appoint, to replace Marguerite LaMotte

Editorial: The Los Angeles Unified school board has barely had time to mourn the loss of Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte; now it must decide how best to fill her seat. LaMotte, a school board member since 2003, died last week at an education conference in San Diego. LA Times

LA Schools want 100k more iPads
The Los Angeles Unified School District wants to triple its supply of iPads, even while a citizen’s oversight committee wants to hit the brakes. Superintendent John Deasy’s administration released a request this week, asking for about 100,00 more iPads for students and staff. KPCC 

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Teachers Union Holding Vigils for 260 ‘Housed’ Members

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Housed TeachersWhile American Federation of Teachers affiliates are holding a “National Day of Action” today, UTLA is planning four vigils in support of “housed” LA Unified teachers, those caught between allegations of misconduct and final rulings on their employment status.

Currently 260 such teachers are caught in so-called “teacher jails,” the consequence of what UTLA President Warren Fletcher describes as a “broken” teacher dismissal process. He blames Superintendent John Deasy.

“In recent years, since Deasy became superintendent, we have lots of people who just languish for weeks and months without any idea of what they’re accused of,” Fletcher told LA School Report. “It’s kafka-esque, it really is.”

Housed teachers aren’t actually in jail. They are paid to sit in district holding facilities during school hours and can return home at the end of the day.

Fletcher said he was hopeful a board resolution passed in April would address concerns that teachers are held in limbo for too long without adequate information on allegations against them. Sponsored by Tamar Galatzan, Monica Garcia, and Bennett Kayser, the resolution sought to require the district to notify teachers of the reason for their reassignment unless otherwise directed by law enforcement. It also resolved to create a separate team of professionally trained investigators to look into issues of misconduct.

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Filling LaMotte Seat by Election or Appointment? Board is Decider

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LaMotteIf 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 weighing elements of timing, tradition and of course, politics.

The law relating to vacancies on the school board, written into the LA City Charter, clearly lays out two options for the school board: appoint a replacement or call a special election.

And while appointing someone may seem simpler, cheaper and faster, doing so has big liabilities.

Politics
For one, it’s dangerous politically. The seat for school board district 1, which encompasses a wide swath of south LA, extending from Hancock Park to Gardena, has been held continuously by a black woman since 1979. That was the first year board members were no longer elected at-large, a change brought about in part because the black community argued it was under-represented electorally. So having the school board hand-pick an appointee raises red flags in the black community, which is already voicing concerns.

Tradition
For another, there’s a long tradition of vacancies being filled by election, not appointment. City council seats — which are frequently vacated by members seeking higher office — have uniformly been filled by special election. The last long term appointment was in 1966.

Timeline
But calling a special election takes consensus, too. The last time a special election was called by the school board was when Jose Huizer vacated his seat after being elected to city council in 2005.

Screen shot 2013-12-08 at 11.49.34 PMThat year, the school board fast-tracked a special election in late November by giving notice and approving a motion (seconded by LaMotte) to hold a stand-alone primary the following March and consolidating with a statewide election for a run-off in June 2006.

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National Teachers Unions Facing a Moment of Truth

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Photo by AP

Photo by AP

Via Politico Pro | By Stephanie Simon

It’s designed to be an impressive show of force: Thousands of unionized teachers plan to rally Monday in cities from New York to San Francisco to “reclaim the promise of public education.”

Behind the scenes, however, teachers unions are facing tumultuous times. Long among the wealthiest and most powerful interest groups in American politics, the unions are grappling with financial, legal and public-relations challenges as they fight to retain their clout and build alliances with a public increasingly skeptical of big labor.

“I do think it’s a moment of truth,” said Lance Alldrin, a veteran high-school teacher in Corning, Calif., who has split from his longtime union after serving for a decade as the local president.

Read the full story here.

 

Morning Read: Fighting Underway over New State Funding

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Brown’s overhaul of California school finances sparks infighting
Commentary: Gov. Jerry Brown’s landmark overhaul of public schools’ finances was aimed at their most vexing issue – chronically low academic achievements among poor or “English-learner” students. Not only would more money be spent – billions more, in fact, thanks to a tax increase – but state aid would be “weighted” toward districts with large numbers of targeted kids. Sacramento Bee

Some sober words for school boards amid predictions of plenty
For the first time since the Great Recession, school districts are getting more money this year from the state; some – big beneficiaries of the new Local Control Funding Formula – are getting a lot. EdSource

Black college students face persistent hurdles, report finds
More black students in California are earning bachelor’s degrees than they were a decade ago, but enrollment in the state’s public universities is stagnant and many are turning to costly for-profit schools, according to a new report. LA Times

Schools and guns remain at issue, a year after Sandy Hook

As the nation turns later this week to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the mass killing at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School, clashes over school safety and Second Amendment rights are becoming increasingly common. What once seemed an easy policy decision has become more complicated and politically-charged. SI&A Cabinet Report

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Black Leaders Speak Out on How to Fill LaMotte’s Board Seat

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US Representatives Maxine Waters and Karen Bass

US Representatives Maxine Waters and Karen Bass

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 told LA School Report. “The best way to serve the district will be an election to fill the seat — called with enough time for a proper process.”

Her colleague, Representative Maxine Waters, says it’s vitally important for the board that her seat continues to be represented by an African-American.

“It is absolutely necessary,” Waters told LA School Report. “Representation for African-Americans on that board is extremely important. Our dropout rates are still too high… we need someone who knows this community and has worked with these people to speak for these children.”

While a list of possible candidates is emerging (see below), neither Bass nor Waters would speculate with names.

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Fletcher Facing 8 in Bid for LA Teacher Union Presidency

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UTLA President Warren Fletcher

UTLA President Warren Fletcher

If Warren Fletcher is reelected president of the LA Unified teachers union, UTLA, it won’t be easy.

At yesterday’s filing deadline, the union announced that eight others – all men — are challenging him for a three-year term that begins next year.

The size of the field, which includes one current UTLA officer, Secondary Vice President Greg Solkovits, and one who also ran for president in 2011, Leonard Segal, suggests an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with Fletcher’s policies, leadership style or both.

The other candidates are David R. Garcia, Alex Caputo-Pearl, Kevin Mottus, Saul Lankster, Marcos Ortega and Bill Gaffney. Fletcher defeated seven other candidates and prevailed in a runoff when he won in 2011, succeeding A.J. Duffy.

“The upcoming UTLA election is about the fundamental direction of the union,” said Mike Stryer, a former union chapter chairman and now a Teach Plus vice president. “Teachers are essentially being asked whether the union should be driven primarily by bread and butter issues, broader social justice issues, or professionalization of teaching.”

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