Teachers to hold early morning candlelight vigil and afternoon rally on day of school choice vote

Actions directed to hold school board accountable for decisions.

February 19, 2010 – On Tuesday, February 23, at 5:30 a.m., teachers will hold a candlelight vigil in the morning and rally after school, in front of the LAUSD school board, to remind school board members to vote for customized local school choice plans created collaboratively by parents, teachers and administrators.

The LAUSD school board will be making a critical choice: to vote for customized school plans created collaboratively by teachers, parents, and administrators or to give away 36 District schools to outside operators.

In an advisory vote held on February 9, parents, students, staff and community members across the board overwhelmingly chose the school plans developed by local parents, teachers and administrators over proposals by outside groups.  The recommendations of the Superintendent’s Panel, which are based on an assessment of the plans’ academic merits, also heavily favored the teacher/parent plans. On Thursday the Superintendent recommended the teacher/parent designed plans for more than three quarters of the 36 schools up for bid under the Public School Choice Resolution. Unfortunately, the Superintendent also disregarded the parent mandates by recommending plans submitted by some outside operators.

“This vote will be meaningful only if the School Board chooses to respect the opinions of the parents and students they claim to serve,” said A.J. Duffy, president of UTLA.  “If they don’t, then this democratic process will indeed be meaningless.  Teachers and health and human services professionals will be present to hold the school board accountable for their votes.”  

What; Candlelight vigil - 5:30 a.m   AND  Rally – after school
When: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Where:  333 S. Beaudry, Los Angeles  (outside LAUSD headquarters)
Los Angeles, 90017

Contact Marla Eby, Director of Communications at 213-368-6247 for additional details.
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