Feb. 23, 2010: LAUSD School Board chooses most local parent / teacher plans

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Against all odds, the LAUSD School Board voted to accept parent / teacher plans for 29 out of 36 schools under the Public School Choice resolution. At two new sites – Esteban Torres HS and Barack Obama Global Preparatory Academy -- the school board overturned the recommendations of Superintendent Cortines to split those campuses between in-District and charter schools, awarding them entirely to teacher/parent led teams.

Final tally on all 36 schools: - 29 to local school plans - 3 to PLAS (Carver, Griffith Joyner, Central ES #18) - 4 to charters (Central ES #15 to Camino Nuevo; Gratts PC to Para Los Niños; South ES #4 to Aspire; and one of three South MS #2ABC schools to Magnolia) (See full list of what group each school was awarded to) Summary of the Vote This afternoon, the school board accepted the initial recommendations of the Superintendent with the following exceptions: 1. Esteban Torres HS – By a 6-1 vote (Flores Aguilar dissenting), gave it to all five pilots, instead of three pilots and two charters (Green Dot and Alliance) 2. Barack Obama Global Preparation Academy MS – By a 4-3 vote (Martinez, Lamotte, Vladovic, Zimmer), gave it all our plan, instead of two thirds to us and one third to a charter (ICEF) 3. Griffith Joyner ES – Given to (Mayor’s) Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (PLAS), instead of school plan. 4. San Pedro HS – Removal of “with reservations” from acceptance of plan (Link to the Superintendent's initial recommendations presented to the board - These do not include the exceptions stated above)

UTLA is proud of the strong, academically sound plans submitted by teachers, parents, and administrators at all school choice sites. However, in some cases, the Board decided to give schools to outside operators, despite recommendations made by the Superintendent’s own review panels, despite charters’ track records of underserving special needs and English Language Learning students, and despite the fact that in the advisory votes conducted at every school choice school, parents, staff, and students overwhelmingly supported the local school plan. UTLA contends that LAUSD could have implemented school reform with better results without this extremely costly, stressful, and un-collaborative process.

“We are pleased that the school board has recognized the hard work of teachers and parents as well as the academic merit of the local plans.” said A.J. Duffy, UTLA President. “Given an uneven playing field which clearly favored charter schools (with factors such as an extremely short time frame), everyone put in an amazing effort and should be proud of their work on behalf of their students, their schools, and their community.”

UTLA will continue to pursue its lawsuit, asserting that LAUSD is not complying with the State Education Code, which requires a majority permanent teacher approval before a school can be converted to a charter. “True reform cannot begin by breaking the law,” said Duffy.

Teachers started the day with a 5:30 am candlelight vigil at the School Board Beaudry building, followed by marching and chanting and ending the day with a rally.

Thanks to all who contributed by writing plans, helping and supporting your colleagues, and joining marches and rallies. Our success today would not have been possible without your participation. We must continue to fight to have the school district set aside its history of top down mandates and instead implement reform in an inclusive, collaborative and democratic process.

We must continue to fight to have the school district set aside its history of top down mandates and instead implement reform in an inclusive, collaborative and democratic process.