The Canter Chronicle

Goodbye!

2009-06-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend,

I am leaving office today after serving the families of Board District 4 for eight years. I feel so blessed to have worked with each of you on behalf of the children of LAUSD and I am proud of the many positive changes this District has undergone in the last few years.

I feel confident that I am leaving Board District 4 in good hands with your newly-elected Board Member Steve Zimmer.

If you or your school need assistance, please contact szimmer@lausd.net.

Thanks for all you do,

Marlene Canter

Board Member Canter's Speech Following Board Tribute

2009-06-26T12:36:00.001-07:00

Things I want to talk about at my last LAUSD board meeting on June 23, 2009.

I feel so blessed….. I have always loved my jobs…. And therefore I have never felt like I worked a day in my life…But today, to be here surrounded by my family…. My mom and dad, my daughter (my son and daughter in law could not be here)…. And my friends and colleagues….I don’t think I have ever felt prouder.

This has been an amazing 8 years for me personally and professionally. I have been inspired, I have been challenged, I have had to fight, I have had to compromise, I have had to be strong when I felt weak and I have been weak when I thought I was strong. I have won some, I have lost some. But underlying all of the eight years has been my lifelong commitment:

to children who only have one chance at an education and who are each unique onto themselves.

to education – which is now considered the civil rights for all children

to my morals and values that guided my decision making and allowed me to look in the mirror every night,

to my family,

to my old friends who have been so patient with me as I became engulfed in the LAUSD life of a board member;

to my new friends who I have been so lucky to meet along this path

to my belief in the power of relationships

to knowing that change is hard and long and often a bumpy road.

But mostly my commitment has been to myself and the promise I made when I got elected…. To make decisions that benefited the children. I always said that I would do the best I could to create change and I know there have been many changes that have been made since I have been here…. I also said that I would at least learn what were the barriers to success…. And I think I have a good understanding of those too

Besides my commitments that guided me…

I have learned so many lessons….life lessons. I have probably grown more in these eight years than I have ever….let me share a few of them:

1. The better relationships you can develop, the more that can get accomplished.

2. We all come from different backgrounds… what I called a melting pot and Monica calls a salad bowl… is really the same… an attempt to find a commonalities amongst our differences, to be able to unite on common ground for a higher purpose, to be able to reflect for the ones that follow that there is more strength in holding hands when you walk across a beam than there is when you walk alone….and I have learned that this lesson has to be renewed and reflected upon each and every day…. And a promise has to be made to each other that we will continue to strive for what is best for all of us…

3. I have learned that no matter what the reform is…. If we don’t have a good teacher in each and every classroom then we are failing our children… no matter what school, what size school, or what kind of school... all children have a teacher in front of them or with them each day… we must find a way to ensure that each one is the best

4. I have also learned that in order to have a successful school… you must have a good leader…. I had breakfast with Elizabeth Abramowitz the other morning…. And she taught me that managers manage all that is around them…. Leaders know what to manage… we have a lot to learn and to share about leadership with each other.

5. I have learned that being a superintendent is a very difficult job…I have been here with three of them… each different… but to each of them… I say thank you for saying yes…and for what you given of yourself to us. To Roy Romer… I loved being in the foxhole with you…you are my mentor and my friend. And to Ray… I may be leaving my job as a board member but I will never be farther than a phone call away… We are so lucky to have you… and I am so glad that our paths have crossed.

6. I have learned that there are so many factions here in Los Angeles that we need to work harder at being unified… the kids need us to be

7. I have also never met a parent that didn’t want their child to be successful… we must find better ways to engage our parents so that they are more knowledgeable about what makes a good school so that they too can help advocate for what we need to create change.

8. I have learned that you cannot replicate a charter school… I admire their tenacity but I am deeply aware that without the ed code or collective bargaining agreements or minimized agreements they have more freedom to work more efficiently and effectively… we must find better ways to foster reform and innovation from within the district or else all people who want to be reformers will go to charters and we will have created the demise of our public schools.

9. I have learned that the way money is allocated to us in the state of California does not work. We cannot be responsible to the county for three year budgets when we only know one year at a time what we are getting. And what we get… is not enough to even cover the mandates…it makes those of us with fiduciary responsibilities put in a position to make decisions that we know are sometimes not the best one.

10. I think the most important thing I have learned is that educating children is really complex… it is easy to beat up LAUSD… it is much harder to fix it… And we need to all work together to make that happen.

It would be impossible to recognize all the people that I have had the honor of working with… some of the smartest people I have ever met in my life…Some still here at LAUSD, some have moved on…some are my advisors…some I talk to everyday… some more infrequently...to all of you who know me and have worked with me…I know you know how much I think of you… How much I thank you for what you do everyday and how much I will miss not working side by side with you…and how much you all mean to me… changing jobs does not mean that we cannot continue to connect…

But… I will not fail to recognize those without whom I could not have done my work… And that thank you and acknowledgement of how much you mean to me and how appreciative I am of your dedication and inspiration and ability to get all the work done… to you… I will name you by name…..

My staffs…from 2001-2009…

If you are here please stand.

Andrew Glazier…..my first chief of staff

Jolene Shiffman Chavira

Amy Held

Marina Lang

Jordan Henry

Virginia Flores

Melissa Milios

Mark Taylor

Paola Santana

Melissa Infusino – my current chief of staff

Samira Estilai – my previous chief of staff

Beverly West – who unfailingly everyday for the entire eight years made sure that we were all taken care of

To all of you… It has been a privilege to share this work with you.

And lastly, to my colleagues… Present and past board members…I will tell you exactly what I told Steve Zimmer the other night when we had a chance to have dinner together.

We have all been given the honor of being an elected official – the only ones – that make policy just for the children of LAUSD… What an amazing responsibility it is….. What an amazing privilege… I know how hard this job is… I know how hard we get pulled in a million directions…but when you put your head on the pillow every night… I ask that you reflect on all that you did that day… And evaluate it in terms of how it helped the kids…

It is the only way that LAUSD will thrive and survive.

Thank you all for being here with me… for all that you said…. For all that you do…

Although this chapter of my life is coming to an end… my work is not complete…I don’t know exactly what I will be doing but you can be assured that my advocacy for having a good teacher in every classroom will continue… But I also have promised myself to add some balance to my life… to remember to enjoy each day… spend time with those I love… To paint beautiful pictures… to see sunsets at the beach… and every once in a while turn on KLCS…and catch up on the hard work that I am leaving behind to all of you.

Mark Twain Middle School Wins Ballroom Dancing "Dance-off"

2009-06-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

Ten students from Mark Twain Middle School participated in a ballroom dancing "dance-off" yesterday at Hamilton High School. They competed against students from Audobon and Mann Middle Schools.

The competition was the culmination of a year-long partnership between the City Attorney's Office, Ballroom Madness and the aforementioned schools. Through a popular after-school program, over one hundred Mark Twain students learned many types of dance including the Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, Swing and the Polka.

As fellow students and parents cheered on from the stands, the students performed a series of dances while being judged by a panel of dance and entertainment professionals. After a fabulous set of performances, the Mark Twain students were awarded the first place trophy!

UCLA/LAUSD Launch TIE-INS Program

2009-05-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

As part of our continuing efforts to bring innovative partnerships and additional resources to Board District 4 schools, we are excited to announce a new initiative in partnership with UCLA: Together In Education In Neighborhood Schools (TIE-INS).

TIE-INS will provide a link between three schools in the University HS complex and the UCLA campus. The partnership will substantially increase UCLA's presence and support of Nora Sterry Elementary, Emerson Middle and University High. UCLA will support high achievement at these schools starting at Nora Sterry in the 2009-2010 school year, and at Emerson and University in the 2010-2011 school year.

The TIE-INS partnership will also enable a limited number of children of UCLA employees who live outside the attendance area to attend these three public schools which are near the UCLA campus.

For more information about TIE-INS and Nora Sterry Elementary School, visit www.TIE-INS.gseis.ucla.edu.

Calling All Teachers, Parents, and Principals!

2009-05-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am looking for parents, teachers, and principals who can to speak at our May 26 Board meeting in support of improving the teacher dismissal system. We cannot stand by and continue to depend on a state system that is broken and sends unfit people back to the classroom.

Have you read the recent LA Times Investigation entitled "Failure Gets a Pass" that details how challenging it is to fire ineffective and abusive teachers from the District? After the LA Times articles were released there has been an outpouring of support and even more demands for immediate action from every corner. As a result I have decided to bring my the motion back to the Board table for the May 26 Board Meeting.

Since last fall, I have been meeting with internal and external representatives trying to change the way we remove ineffective teachers. On April 28 I brought forward two motions that would ask Sacramento to seek changes in state law to permit a tenured teacher to be dismissed for poor teaching or egregious behavior and would internally change our system for making sure principals signed off on teachers before they become tenured. Those motions melded into a task force that will study the issue – but I am bringing the issue back.

This motion is not a statement about teachers, I was a teacher and helped support teachers my whole working life. They do important work everyday. This motion is about fixing a system that currently puts people who harm children, commit crimes, harass co-workers back into classrooms with our kids.

If you would like to come to the Board of Education to speak in favor of my motion, please call my office at (213) 241-6387.

I am looking for parents, teachers, or principals who have experienced an ineffective teacher and can to speak to why the system needs to be changed.

If you would like to come to the Board of Education to speak in favor of my motions, please call my office at (213) 241-6387.

2009-02-11T16:12:00.001-08:00

In an effort to educate students and to reach out to community members about the benefits of recycling, Revere Middle School's PRIDE Booster Club will be hosting the

First Annual E-Waste Collection Event for the Palisades/Brentwood Community
Saturday, March 7, 2009, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Clear your garage of those old computers, TVs, LCDs and more!
The drop-off site will be at Paul Revere Middle School

For additional information, please visit
www.ca-recycle.com/revere
www.ca-recycle.com/revere/revere_flyer.htm

Superintendent Cortines announces that there will be no mid-year teacher layoffs

2009-01-23T10:38:00.000-08:00

Superintendent Cortines issued the following press release today announcing that there will be no mid-year teacher layoffs:

Superintendent Cortines Announces No Mid-Year Teacher Layoffs

Even after the Governor’s plea to solve the budget crisis during his State of the State Address last week, the State has not made progress in finalizing its budget for the remainder of this year. Unlike our elected officials in Sacramento, we do not have the luxury of halting our decisions without suffering dire consequences. Our fiscal timeline requires that our decisions match our instructional calendar, especially for those of our schools that have started the second semester and schools that are about to start the second semester in February. Additionally, to date, over 2,000 certificated employees have indicated their interest in early retirement by participating in the District survey. A decision to offer the early retirement incentive will be made in the near future. Furthermore, all classified employees who are eligible for early retirement will be surveyed during the first week of February.

It is our responsibility to make the best decisions for our students based on the information that is available to us. Due to the lack of clear information from Sacramento, the need for stability at schools in the second semester, and the high level of interest in a retirement incentive program, there will be no mid-year teacher layoffs. Based on these factors, I do not feel that it would be appropriate to negatively impact our students and teachers without definitive information from the State.

Last week, the Los Angeles Board of Education granted me the authority to do mid-year teacher layoffs as a precautionary measure for a State budget scenario with no flexibility provided to school districts. Since we have not received any additional information from the State, we feel that we must make our decisions based on the Governor’s latest proposal that has included more flexibility for school districts to deal with these difficult economic hardships. Based on this anticipated flexibility, we can avoid teacher layoffs and still meet our financial obligations for this school year. To be clear, we will still need to make extremely difficult cuts, but at least we can ensure that the critical connection between our teachers and students will not be disrupted this school year.

As I have mentioned in the past, we will continue to be prudent and balance our budget to ensure we meet our financial obligations for next year as well. This will require us to fundamentally change the way we operate. If the State’s budget proposals remain the same, we will only be able to provide basic core services to our schools. Many important programs and services that we have had in the past will no longer be offered. To guide us in our difficult decision making, we will have a plan to present to the Board of Education and community by the end of February 2009. I want to be clear that this plan will not be comfortable and will result in layoffs at every level of the District in July. Once again, I want to clearly communicate that the priority for cuts will be on central offices, and local districts and finally, the schools.

I will continue to keep you updated on our financial condition as new information becomes available and I welcome your continued comments as we head down this difficult path together. We will all need to work together to reach out to our state representatives to communicate the need for a State budget that reflects the importance of education and services to our children and their families.

Debate with Candidates to Fill the Board District 4 Seat

2009-01-21T17:49:00.000-08:00

On March 3, you will have the opportunity to elect a new board member to represent your child’s school. Please come and hear the candidates speak about their priorities and their ideas for improving your child’s school.

School Board Member Marlene Canter
and The League of Women Voters of Los Angeles
present

a CANDIDATE FORUM
with LAUSD District 4 School Board Candidates:

Mike Stryer
Teacher, Fairfax High School

And

Steve Zimmer
Teacher, Marshall High School

------------------

February 9, 2009
Woodland Hills Academy
20800 Burbank Blvd
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
7:00 – 8:30 pm

February 11, 2009
University High School
11800 Texas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90025
7:00 – 8:30 pm

This meeting is neither sponsored by nor is it in anyway connected with the
Los Angeles Unified School District.

Budget Update

2009-01-14T17:15:00.000-08:00

At yesterday’s Board Meeting, Superintendent Ray Cortines and Chief Financial Officer Megan Reilly provided the Board and the public with a budget update. Because of the State’s deteriorating fiscal condition, Superintendent Cortines and Ms. Reilly anticipate that the District will have to cut at least $250 million for the current school year. This is on top of $427 million the District has already cut from this year’s budget.

Unfortunately, we have very little clear information about what the impact of the State’s budget deficit will be on LAUSD. There have been five different proposals from the Governor, State Legislature and the independent Legislative Analyst Office attempting to close the State budget deficit. But, there has been no agreement. As the State continues to deliberate, the deficit continues to grow and our options to address any mid-year cuts driven by the State become fewer.

Because we do not have a clear picture from Sacramento the District has instituted spending and hiring freezes, and, yesterday, the Board voted to give the Superintendent the authority to send mid-year layoff notices to non-permanent teachers should the state budget crisis become so severe that this action would be necessary. I want to be clear that even though the Board voted to give this authority, the Superintendent will come back to the Board before enacting a mid-year layoff to share with the Board and public his plan for responding to the mid-year budget cuts we will have to make.

I’ve heard from many of you about the lack of logic in laying off our newest teachers. I agree. It is illogical to layoff non-permanent teachers at mid-year. It’s a blanket move that discounts other important factors like performance, the cohesion of a school site team, and the impact on students. But, as I said, with each day of delay, our options are more and more limited, and this action may be one of the few options – given legal and contractual obligations – available to LAUSD should the state budget crisis become so severe that we have to reduce the number of people we employ in the middle of the school year.

The bottom line right now is that no one is receiving layoff notices. We simply do not have enough information about what the State budget crisis will require of us. Superintendent Cortines will come back to the Board once we have more complete budget information from the State and he will share his plan, which will include above all, a focus on streamlining central and local district offices and reducing administrative and non-school positions.

In the meantime, please consider contacting your state representatives to let them know how they can help your child and your school by passing a budget that is fair to education. You can find your local legislator by going to http://www.legislature.ca.gov/.

For more info on the budget, watch "Superintendent Cortines: On the Record" featuring LAUSD Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines, Chief Operating Officer David Holmquist, and Chief Financial Officer Megan Reilly. The three will discuss and examine the LAUSD budget outlook and the potential cuts that face LAUSD in the next few years.

The special report will air on KLCS on the following dates and times:
Wednesday, Jan 14 at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan 15 at 4:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan 16 at 6:30 a.m.
Sunday, Jan 18 at 8 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan 20 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, Jan 22 at 10 a.m.

Venice High School Pool Update

2009-01-14T17:14:00.000-08:00

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks recently announced that the Venice High School pool will soon reopen. The pool is maintained and operated by the City of Los Angeles under a joint-use agreement with LAUSD.

Staff has been hard at work over the past few months repairing the facility. Currently lifeguards are brushing and vacuuming the pool, the water temperature is rising, and keys are being provided to the lifeguard on duty.

The pool will be ready to reopen on Monday, January 19, 2009.

Thank you to all the community members who have contacted my office to express how much this facility means to them, their children, and the Venice community.

New LAUSD Report Card to Measure Schools’ Success, Progress and Areas for Improvement

2009-01-14T16:55:00.000-08:00

This week, LAUSD parents and guardians began receiving a new kind of report card in the mail - a school-level report card on the performance of their children's schools.

The Report Card is meant to be a public, easy to read, annual summary of school performance that goes beyond test scores and emphasizes both performance and progress. Many of the measures on the report card have long been available, but never in one place.

The Report Card measures include:

School graduation rate

Completion of required college-ready courses, such as the A-G course sequence required by the Cal State and University of California systems

Progress of English learner students becoming fluent in English

Percentage of students proficient and improving on California Standards Tests

Student and staff attendance

Future versions of the report card will include measures of students' and staff’s feelings about their safety on campus and student and parent satisfaction with their school.

We are grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and the California Community Foundation for funding the Report Card effort. Their contribution helps the District to deliver on its promise to provide transparency about school performance. This transparency is an important step towards joint accountability for student outcomes and achievement that includes the Central District, Local Districts, school administrators, teachers, parents, students and the community.

To access the Report Card online go to www.lausd.net/ReportCard. There you will also find instructional videos on how to use the Report Card. The Report Card is a living document that will be adapted over time to improve its usefulness. If you have suggestions for improvement please let us know. And, if you have questions about the measures on the Report Card please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Venice High School Pool

2008-11-20T11:54:00.000-08:00

Staff from the District's Joint Use program and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks recently held a community meeting to update the public about the status of the Venice High School pool.

The pool has been closed since the end of September after leaks were discovered and is currently undergoing a series of inspections.

The Department of Recreation and Parks will be updating their website weekly, or as information comes in, in an effort to keep the Venice community informed about the status of the facility.

You can visit http://www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/facility/venicePool.htm for more information.

My re-election decision

2008-11-06T10:12:00.000-08:00

Last week, I announced that after a great deal of thought and reflection, I had decided not to seek reelection to the LAUSD Board of Education. This was an incredibly tough decision for me. Over my seven plus years as a Board Member, I’ve been able to make many important changes for our schools, from making our schools healthier places for students to working to bring families back to their neighborhood public schools. There is still much work to do, and I am committed to serving Board District 4 and the entire LAUSD family until my final day as a Board Member. And, come July 1, I plan to continue my life-long focus on education as I seek new challenges and opportunities to improve the lives of children.

I wanted to share the statement I released regarding my decision (pasted below). And, I wanted to personally thank you for your continued interest in what’s going on in Board District 4. Please continue to check back here often because as I said we’ve got plenty of work to do to keep moving LAUSD forward!

Marlene

BOARD MEMBER MARLENE CANTER’S
STATEMENT REGARDING HER RE-ELECTION

Los Angeles – LAUSD Board Member Marlene Canter issued the following statement today regarding her decision about the upcoming Board of Education election:

"After much thought and reflection, I have decided not to seek reelection to the LAUSD Board of Education.

"It has been a very difficult decision because as a Board Member, I have been able to lead important changes in a wide range of areas. I'm very proud of the accomplishments we've been able to achieve together, and which have set the stage for larger gains by LAUSD in the years ahead:

Forming the iDesign Schools Division with its focus on outside partnerships and school site innovation and district innovation;
Bringing Westside and Valley families back to LAUSD neighborhood schools;
Leading the nation in implementing a series of fundamental changes to school nutrition;
Setting new standards and approving more charters than any other school district in the country;
Helping direct district-wide efforts to build desperately needed facilities, while changing the culture of how the District does business;
Implementing instructional changes that have helped our elementary schools to improve at a rate much faster than the State average;
Leading the charge to recruit the best and brightest employees and bringing focus to the need for relevant and high quality professional development; and
Setting the path for LAUSD’s sustainability efforts including putting cleaner school buses on our streets.

"While this experience has been immensely rewarding, it is time for me to seek new challenges and avenues to improve the lives of children. I have spent my entire adult life doing just this -- as a teacher, co-founder and co-CEO of a teacher training company, and as a Board Member. And I will continue to do so in my last eight months on the Board and in the new opportunities and challenges that await me in July and beyond.

"The knowledge that we accomplish nothing by ourselves is one of the many lessons that I will take with me from my time as a Board Member. Whether it has been forging better relationships with Sacramento or creating new partnerships with education non-profits and community groups, collaborating with outside change agents has been essential. I will continue to focus on working with those who are bringing unique and meaningful improvements to education."

# # #

I am also including links to a few news stories about my announcement:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/10/lausds-marlene.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-board31-2008oct31,0,1855717.story

http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_10851883?IADID=Search-www.dailybreeze.com-www.dailybreeze.com

Local District 3 Parent Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) Town Hall Meeting

2008-11-05T14:47:00.000-08:00

The Local District 3 Parent Community Advisory Council will be hosting a town hall meeting to discuss current issues, meet district staff and inform parents on how to make a positive impact on their child's education.

Thursday, November 13
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Webster Middle School
11330 W. Graham Pl.
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Southwest Valley Middle School Night

2008-10-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

Board Members Marlene Canter and Tamar Galatzan will be co-hosting an information night featuring Southwest Valley middle schools.

Wednesday, October 29th
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Woodland Hills Academy
20800 Burbank Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Featuring presentations by the following middle schools:

Columbus - Hale - Hesby Span - Mulholland - Northridge - Portola - Woodland Hills Academy -

In addition, the LAUSD Magnet Office will be on hand once again to inform parents about their middle school options thorugh the CHOICES program and to answer questions about the November 14th application release.

Board Member Canter to Host Middle School Night

2008-10-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all the families who joined me at the Middle School Night event last night at Emerson Middle School. It was very heartening to see so many parents exploring their public school options.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Because the transition between elementary and middle school can be daunting for students (and their parents!), Board Member Marlene Canter would like to invite you participate in the yearly Middle School Night event.

Join us in conversation with principals, counselors, parents and students to learn about the programs offered at your child's neighborhood middle school and other middle school options.

Tuesday, October 21st

6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Emerson Middle School

1650 Selby Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Featuring presentations by the following middle schools:

Emerson - Marina del Rey - Mark Twain - Paul Revere -

Webster - Westside Leadership - Wright

In addition, the LAUSD Magnet Office will be on hand to inform parents about thier middle school options thorugh the CHOICES program and to answer questions about the November 14th application release.

12th Annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival

2008-08-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

The 12th Annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival will be taking place September 12th to the 19th at the historic Egyptian theater.

Over the past 11 years, the film festival's youth program has hosted thousands of elementary to high school age students in an effort to expose them to different cultures and enhance their knowledge about the world around them through film.

This year Diego Luna, the renowned Mexican actor and filmmaker will present five exceptional films and guide students in an open discussion where they will have a dialogue about their reactions to the film.

If you have any questions, or would like to have your students participate, please contact youthprogram@latinofilm.org

LAUSD TO CO-HOST CALIFORNIA CONTRUCTION EXPO 2008

2008-08-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Unified School District is partnering with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Associated General Contractors of California, Los Angeles World Airports and the Port of Los Angeles to host the third annual California Construction Expo 2008.

Representatives throughout the construction industry will gather for a full-day of activities to foster business relationships, attend workshops to explore innovation and best practices, and experience new tools and equipment during this year's California Construction Expo focusing on "green building."

In its effort to cultivate a skilled labor force for public sector construction jobs, California Construction Expo will provide free admission to individuals seeking a career in construction. Labor Trade Unions and worker support organizations will be on hand to facilitate access and guidance to construction apprenticeship training.

Workshops will be held throughout the morning on topics from project management of green buildings to how to work with public agencies. The Expo will also feature a workshop for students looking to start a career in construction after graduation.

This event provides construction industry professionals and others an opportunity to do business with public agencies. The Expo is an important part of the District’s effort to attract the contractor capacity necessary to complete its $20.3 billion New School Construction and Modernization Program. To register for the California Construction Expo 2008 or for more information, visit www.CalConExpo.com.

WHEN: Thursday, August 21, 2008
7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center
West Hall B
1201 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Brentwood Science Magnet Raising Funds for Music & Arts Education

2008-07-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Parents at Brentwood Science Magnet have organized an online auction to raise funds to support vital programs at the school including music and arts education.

Please visit www.bsmauction.cmarket.com to check out the auction and support a good cause!

The auction closes on July 28.

Board of Education Approves LMU Family of Schools Partnership

2008-07-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday June 8, the Board of Education approved a landmark agreement outlining the partnership terms for the Loyola Marymount Family of Schools in Westchester.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a one-year initial agreement with Loyola Marymount University to begin partnering with five Westchester schools on reform efforts. The agreement will focus on planning and transition in the first phase of a multi-phased initiative. During this upcoming school year, LMU will work with teachers, parents, community members and other stakeholders to transition schools into local decision-making models and to develop the human capital necessary for further phases of the work.

Part of the District's iDesign Schools initiative (formerly known as the Innovation Division), the LMU Family of Schools is a partnership designed to empower parents, increase community engagement, improve student achievement and graduation rates. Joining the iDesign Division grants schools increased flexibility and exemption from District policies in exchange for greater accountability.

The schools partnering with LMU include Westchester High School, Orville Wright Middle School’s community and magnet programs and Cowan, Kentwood and Westport Heights Elementary Schools.

The partnership with LMU will connect our parents and teachers with LMU’s expertise and enable us to accelerate achievement for our students. I want to thank Loyola Marymount University and the community for helping to build a model network of support for the schools in the Westchester area.

Physical Education IS a Priority!

2008-07-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

At Tuesday's Board meeting, with a huge turnout, we unanimously adopted a PE motion that I authored and introduced with Board Members Tamar Galatzan and Julie Korenstein. This motion is the fourth in a series of student health related motions I have authored, the first being banning the sale of soda in our schools, then the sale of junk food and thirdly improving the nutritional quality of foods served in our cafeterias.

With the PE motion, my aim was to raise awareness about the ongoing problem of childhood obesity, and to send a message to my colleagues, the LAUSD leadership and the community, that physical education IS a priority. Both non-compliance with state law and large class sizes – upwards of 80 students in some cases – are unacceptable to me. My immediate intent with this motion is to ensure that students receive the PE program that the law requires and eventually to reduce PE class sizes. In light of the recent budget cuts, I wanted to have as perfect knowledge as possible about the cost impacts of such an action, which is why I asked the Superintendent to bring a cost analysis of the class size reductions back to the Board in September.

Thanks to all the supporters - parents, students, teachers, health advocates who came out to support this motion! Your efforts helped us win this important vote!

Here are the highlights of the motion:

- Educate us (new Board members, Superintendent, leadership) on the importance of physical activity to both health and student achievement
- Remind us of the CA Ed Code mandates regarding physical education
- Establish new transparencies around our physical education program implementation at our school site by including such data in our District and School Accountability Report Cards
- Adopt the CA Dept of Education’s standards for PE (Physical Education Model Content Standards for California Public Schools K-12
- Ensure that the physical education facilities are designed, developed, and constructed according to the California Department of Education Guide to School Site Analysis and Development
- Call for an annual report on compliance with this motion and the state law
- Ask the Superintendent to bring us a plan for decreasing class size in PE which in some of secondary schools are as large as 80 students a class

LAUSD BOOKS OF SUMMER PROGRAM

2008-07-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

As summer vacation begins for most LA Unified students, it is important that parents continue to encourage students to read.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is once again launching the Books of Summer Reading Program in an effort to keep students' minds engaged in learning.

Students who read a minimum of four approved books over the summer and write a report for each can enter into the Books of Summer contest. Students at every grade level are invited to participate and every participant will receive a prize.

For more information visit the LAUSD Books of Summer website to get the reading lists, entry forms and other important information including deadlines. http://booksofsummer.lausd.net.

Congratulations Class of 2008!

2008-07-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

The Board of Education celebrated the graduating Class of 2008 this morning during the Board's annual meeting. Several students from throughout the District were invited to speak before the Board to share their experiences as LAUSD students.

We all know that the District faces many challenges, but it was refreshing to take the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of a small sample of this year's more than 20,000 LAUSD graduates. Each student reflected on their experience and expressed their gratitude to the teachers and staff members who have supported them throughout their academic years and made a difference in their lives.

During the meeting I had the pleasure of meeting Kelvin Batiste, a recent graduate of Hollywood High School's Performing Arts Magnet program. Kelvin will be attending college in the fall and hopes to study theater/acting. Kelvin was thankful for the opportunity of being able to attend a program focusing on his passion - the performing arts - and for having a great mentor, Mr. Kenneth Martinez.

Follow the link below to watch video of the students addressing the Board: http://audio2.lausd.k12.ca.us/Inspirational_Speakers/gradstudents2008.mov

LAUSD Teachers of the Year

2008-07-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

Ten LA Unified teachers have recently been named LAUSD Teachers of the Year for the 2008-2009 school year.

I would like to congratulate Ms. Shari Siegler from the Westchester-Emerson Community Adult School in Board District 4 for being one of the teachers receiving this honor.

Ms. Siegler has been a teacher for 31 years and has been teaching English at Westchester-Emerson Community Adult School for the last 22 years.

We know that the quality of the teacher in the classroom has the single biggest impact on student performance and I commend Ms. Siegler for her commitment and dedication to her students.

The other nine honorees include Margaret (Peg) Cagle from Lawrence Middle School and Gifted Magnet in Chatsworth, Kathie Yonemura from Hesby Oaks in Encino, Jose Navarrao from Sylmar High School, Karile Baltrusaitis from Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, Darryl Newhouse from Foshay Learning Center in Los Angeles, Christine Blackwell from 232nd Place Elementary in Carson, Zitlalpilli Luna from Glenn Hammond Curtis Middle School, Tracey Washington from Gardena Early Education Center, and Efrain Nava from Dana Middle School in San Pedro.

These 10 teachers will now compete against other outstanding educators for the L.A. County Teachers of the Year Award. Best of luck!

Delivering a Quality Education in Schools of Every Size

2008-06-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

When it comes to education reform, what change will have the biggest impact on student achievement? This question was before the School Board on Tuesday as we discussed a resolution to transform large LAUSD schools in to schools of approximately 500 students.

I feel very strongly that the size of a school is far less important than the quality of the teachers and the principal at that school. I also feel that any large scale transformation requires a thorough, thoughtful analysis. Before I could commit to breaking down all of our large schools into smaller schools, I needed to know: Are schools of 500 too small to offer students everything we want and need to provide? What is the right number that achieves both a sense of personalization and improved student outcomes? How much will the changes cost and what do we forgo by using our resources to make schools smaller? How do we ensure that schools have the right conditions – from quality teaching staff and a strong principal to rigorous curriculum – for increased student achievement in a smaller setting and in every setting?

Tuesday’s debate was long and in the end, I was pleased that the authors of the resolution listened to my concerns and accepted amendments from Board Member Galatzan and me to do the requisite analysis and planning before declaring unequivocally that LAUSD will be transformed into a district of small schools by 2020. I look forward to receiving the Superintendent’s analysis in December and hearing his recommendations for making large schools smaller, where it makes sense.

I also look forward to the pilot phase, which will begin no later than 2010, focus on high priority schools and large middle schools, and which will be guided by the results of the Superintendent’s analysis. I know from my business career that you always start small, learn from your mistakes, and then scale up if the results warrant it.

2008-09 Budget Update

2008-06-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, in the face of the Governor’s unconscionable cuts to education, my colleagues and I had the unwelcome task of cutting approximately $400 million from the budget for the coming school year. I know that the Superintendent and his team went to great lengths to propose cuts that would be least harmful to students, but the sheer magnitude of the cuts means that everyone will feel the impact. My vote to approve the budget cuts reflected my fiduciary responsibility to deliver a balanced budget, and in no way endorses the Governor’s lack of value for public education. I urge all of us to continue ringing the bell in Sacramento and sending the message that public education needs investment, not cuts.

To read more about the Board’s actions, click here.

Marlene

Budget Town Hall Meeting

2008-05-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

As you probably already know, the District is facing budget cuts of at least $460-million as a result of the Governor's budget proposal.

The Superintendent presented his budget proposal to the Board of Education this afternoon. The Board will hold several meetings to discuss the Superintendent's budget, ultimately voting on the budget on June 10, 2008.

I will be hosting a town hall meeting to discuss the District's budget on Wednesday, May 21, 6:30 p.m. at Emerson Middle School, 1650 Selby Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

I will be joined by Megan Reilly, the District's Chief Financial Officer, Ronni Ephraim, Deputy Superintendent of Professional Learning, and Jose Cole-Gutierrez, Executive Director of the Charter Schools Office.

Big Sunday Volunteers Beautify Nora Sterry Elementary

2008-05-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

Nora Sterry Elementary School held its first Big Sunday event this past Sunday May 4.

The event was made possible by hundreds of volunteers who brought out their paint rollers and hard working attitudes to prime and paint the exterior walls at the school to prepare them for new murals representing the school's mission.

Beethoven Elementary School Celebrates New Playground!

2008-05-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the generosity of the Anne & Kirk Douglas Award, the students at Beethoven Elementary School are enjoying a new play structure on their main yard.

Yesterday the school held a ribbon cutting celebration to inaugurate the new playground and to honor Mr. & Mrs. Douglas. The celebration also served to recognize Beethoven's tremendous academic gains which recently culminated in the California Distinguished School designation.

Before the play structure installation, the yard consisted of dated playground equipment and a bleak stretch of asphalt. Over the past 10 years, a partnership of the Friends of Beethoven booster club, school staff and community organizations and foundations have successfully beautified the front side of Beethoven Elementary. They are now moving forward in phases to transform the "Big Yard."

Since its inception in 1997, the Anne & Kirk Douglas Award has provided more than $8 million to over 400 projects.

You've heard we're offering space to Charter schools, here's why...

2008-04-07T16:31:00.000-07:00

This entry is intended to give you some background about why the District has made these offers and what we are doing to protect the instructional programs currently operating at our schools.

The Los Angeles Unified School District has offered space on its campuses to charter schools. As you may know, charter schools are publicly funded schools that are freed from many of the regulations governing traditional public schools in exchange for greater accountability for student achievement.

In 2000, voters approved Proposition 39, a statewide ballot measure that lowered the threshold for passing local bonds. That measure also included language that requires school districts to identify and allocate space on their campuses to charter schools serving a minimum of 80 students within the districts¹ boundaries. Charter schools must submit a formal application each year to request space under Proposition 39.

While the District has endeavored to make space available for charter schools since 2000, the California Charter Schools Association and two charter operators filed suit against the District alleging that the District violated state law by not providing adequate facilities for charter school students. In February, after many months of negotiation, the Board of Education approved a proposal to settle the lawsuit.

The District agreed to offer classroom space to all charter schools that apply, as Proposition 39 requires. The settlement protects traditional public schools by outlining the criteria for placing charter schools on District campuses. Specifically, the District does not need to offer space to a charter school where doing so would:

-Require a District school to covert to or remain on a multi-track calendar
-Require District students to involuntarily ride a bus restrict a District school from maintaining full-day kindergarten
-Require a District school to force teachers to travel from classroom to classroom (unless the space offered to charter schools recognizes that charter school teachers
might have to travel as well)
-Restrict the ability of the District to maintain certain programs (i.e. parent centers, learning centers, school based health clinics, special education rooms, computer and science labs, multimedia and technology rooms, textbook rooms, and early education and adult programs.)

In addition, according to the settlement, ³Each District and charter school shall be able to utilize space on secondary schools necessary to implement and operate small learning communities, including space for teacher planning and meetings and administration for small learning communities.²

This year the District received a record 55 Proposition 39 applications for approximately 17,000 seats, three times the number requested last year. In recent months, the District has been working to identify space on all public school campuses to accommodate this seat need. Last week, with input from local district administrators, the Superintendent approved a list of charter school matches. Charter schools that received offers will have until May 1,
2008 to make a decision.

In the event a charter is interested in an offer, the Facilities Division will coordinate with Local District staff and the corresponding District principal to schedule a visit to the District campus in order for schools to become familiar with each other and their programs. Specific discussions related to use of shared space, campus modifications, and general co-locations issues will occur after the charter officially accepts the offer. Campus modifications can include fencing to separate the schools, creating new entrances, and the addition of sanitary buildings paid for by local bond measures which specifically earmark funds to assist the district to implement Proposition 39.

Most co-location configurations were determined when site reviews occurred at campuses prior to the extension of offers with the input of the principal and Local District staff. While in most cases, this is a new change for our campuses, I hope that our schools view this as an opportunity to share best practices, create instructional partnerships and learn from one another.

This process has been incredibly taxing on all of us, from parents, community members, principals, local district staff to Superintendent Brewer. While I understand our obligation to provide space for public charter school students, I strongly encouraged the Superintendent to consider the instructional priorities at each District school and work to ensure that locating a charter school on the District campus does not disrupt those priorities.

I understand that the addition of charter schools on District campuses may be of concern to you, but I want to reiterate that the District is mandated by state law to provide space to charter schools. As we move forward, I want to assure you that the safety of all students is one of my main priorities and that the District is doing all that it can to ensure the academic success and safety of both our traditional and charter school students.

Education Budget Crisis

2008-04-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

This past January, Governor Schwarzenegger announced a projected $14.5 billion deficit in the state budget for 2008-2009. As a result, the Governor has proposed $4.8 billion in cuts to K-12 education funding. That figure translates into a staggering loss of $460 million in revenue for LAUSD in the upcoming school year, and the cuts could worsen after the Governor's May budget revise.

Needless to say these proposed cuts could have a disastrous impact on the District's ability to provide a quality education to our students. The proposed cuts are equivalent to LAUSD closing 22 high schools, or shutting down all District schools and offices for nearly two weeks.

The proposed budget cuts are unacceptable and would have a tremendous impact in the classroom. The cuts come at a particularly bad time when the District is seeing improvements in academic achievement and is embarking on some key reform initiatives.

In recent months, the Superintendent and his cabinet have been working to develop budget recommendations to propose to the Board of Education. Superintendent Brewer will present his budget recommendations to the Board after the Governor presents his May budget revise.

For more information about the budget impact on LAUSD, please visit ttp://www.lastudentscount.org/

Congratulations!

2008-04-01T17:56:00.000-07:00

I would like to congratulate Venice High School teacher Diane Pollock for being selected the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Vocational Agriculture Teacher of the Year!

Diane has displayed a tremendous commitment to rebuilding and maintaining the Venice High School Garden Program, educating both high school students and the surrounding community.

Students Chime In on the School Meal Program

2008-03-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

I am very pleased to report that on February 20th at Roosevelt High School my office collaborated with the LAUSD Food Services Branch, The Healthy School Food Coalition, California Food Policy Advocates and The Southeast Asian Community Alliance to convene the first ever Student Discussion Group to elicit students' opinions on the school meal program.

Seventeen middle and high school students from several different sites in the District participated to give honest and constructive feedback about their cafeteria experiences. Our Executive Chef, Mark Baida, was on hand and engaged the students in a taste test of a new flavored milk product sweetened with sucrose instead of high-fructose corn syrup.

The students also engaged in several activities including nutrition jeopardy where they competed in teams to answer questions about the taste and texture of the food, entrees they do or don't like, the atmosphere of their cafeterias and what they'd like to change. Students were very constructive in their answers and surprisingly what came out on top is students want sushi! We'll have to follow up with Chef Mark to see if it can happen.

Change of course doesn't happen quickly but this is definitely progress and I am very encouraged that Food Services is engaging students and the community.

The future plan is to conduct these student discussion groups once a month to maintain student involvement in the meal planning process. If you know students who would like to participate in one of these discussion groups please contact Andrea N. Giancoli, the School Nutrition Policy Coordinator in my office at 213 241-5141 to find out how.

Westside Middle School Night

2007-11-28T16:19:00.001-08:00

On Monday, December 3rd, I will be hosting a "Middle School Night" at Webster Middle School. The goal of the event is to address parents' concerns about the transition between elementary and middle school by giving them an opportunity to get to know their local school. Prospective parents will be able to engage in a dialougue with administrators, parents, and students currently attending their neighborhood middle school.

We will also have a presentation from the LAUSD Magnet Office to coincide with the CHOICES application time period. The event will take place from 7:00-8:30p.m.

The following schools have confirmed their attendance: Emerson, Marina del Rey, Mark Twain, Paul Revere, Webster, Westside Leadership Magnet, Wright.

Webster Middle School is located at 11330 W. Graham Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

LAUSD Board Unanimously Approves Flagship YMCA Project at University High School

2007-11-15T17:42:00.000-08:00

On October 23rd, the Board of Education voted unanimously to execute a joint use-lease agreement and a joint development agreement with the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles.
The agreements will permit the development of a flagship YMCA on the University High School campus for use by the students and surrounding community.

In exchange for a one-dollar-a-year, and more than 60 year lease, the Westside Family YMCA will provide funding for the construction of instructional space to be utilized by University High students. The Westside Family YMCA will also provide programming to promote healthy lifestyles, leadership development and community service, augmenting the academic program of University High.

This project is a win-win for the students of the District, the YMCA, and the University High School community.

Community Events

2007-11-06T15:38:00.000-08:00

Since becoming a board member in 2001, one of my main goals has been to increase resident enrollment in the schools I represent. As new schools are built all over LAUSD, the number of students traveling to Westside and Valley schools has decreased. As a result, many of the schools I represent have fallen below their operating capacities, and I am working to ensure that those seats are filled by neighborhood kids.

I recently had the opportunity to participate in two community events aimed at informing the community about their local schools. The first was a forum hosted by the Del Rey Homeowners & Neighbors Association showcasing the progress of the schools in the Del Rey area. Administrators from Braddock, Playa del Rey, Short, Stoner, Marina del Rey MS and Venice HS were on hand to discuss the academic and extra-curricular offerings at their respective campuses. I joined the principals in a Q&A session to answer questions from community members and prospective parents.

I also recently participated in a Community Meeting hosted by Act for Education. This event showcased Emerson Middle School and University High School.

One of the main take-aways of these two events was the amount of misinformation, rumors, and half truths circulating about our schools. I am thankful that these principals had the opportunity to dispel many of these myths and to showcase the accomplishments of their schools. While I acknowledge that every school has it challenges, it is important for the community to also learn about the positive things going on at their local schools. The staff at these schools are working incredibly hard to make sure your children get a wonderful education. Feel free to call your prospective school and ask for a visit or to speak with a principal, counselor, or dean. When you leave the school, tell your friends about the wonderful things you saw and lets all do our part in changing the face of public education.

Charter School Leaders Breakfast

2007-10-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday morning, I hosted a breakfast for charter school leaders whose schools are located in Board District 4. As the Chair of the new Charters and Innovation Committee, I feel that it is important for me to hear from practitioners to inform my policy decisions.

At the breakfast, the charter leaders shared some of their "best practices" they've implemented to make their schools successful, and they were also able to express challenges they've faced when dealing with the District. I hope to am ameliorate some of their challenges through changes in the charter policy. Some of the concerns expressed by those in attendance included the allocation of District facilities under Proposition 39, the lack of understanding by District staff of charter school autonomy for affiliated schools and the cumbersome application process for conversion charters.

If you as a parent or a community member have other concerns about charter schools and their interaction with the District, please leave a comment below.

New LAUSD Charters and Innovation Committee

2007-10-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce I am chairing our new Charter and Innovation Committee which met for the first time on Oct. 4. The Charter and Innovation Committee will help drive the District’s efforts to quickly and dramatically improve the education of our students. It will also help the District improve our application and renewal policies for charter schools, develop rational policies and procedures for use of facilities and tackle other important issues. I am delighted to be leading this effort because I believe strongly in the need for new partnerships for our students.

The Charter and Innovation Committee is designed to drive school and District transformation. The Committee’s inaugural meeting provided the first opportunity for in-depth discussion of the District’s newly created Innovation Division and the LA Partnership for Schools, one of the first Innovation Division projects. In the coming months, the Committee will meet to vet additional proposals to the District’s new Innovation Division, review charter school petitions, and discuss policy reforms.

Board Member representitives include Board President Monica Garcia and Board Members Yolie Flores Aguilar and Julie Korenstein. To improve communication and coordination with the Charter School community and other external partners, the Committee includes several outside representatives. They are Judy Burton CEO of LA Alliance, Anita Landecker Executive Director of ExED, Tony Ressler of Ares Investments, and Stephen Rochelle the Principal of Wright Middle School.

The Charter and Innovation Committee will meet the first Thursday of every month to consider these issues at 1p.m. in the LAUSD Boardroom at 333 S. Beaudry Avenue, Los Angeles. Agendas are available online at: http://www.lausd.net/.

Payroll System Update 2

2007-10-03T11:05:00.000-07:00

In response to questions about the LAUSD payroll crisis, Superintendent David L. Brewer III issued a letter to District parents and families last week explaining what steps he and his team are taking to correct the LAUSD's payroll issues. Click here to read the letter.

Payroll System Update

2007-09-21T16:54:00.000-07:00

I’ve received numerous emails and phone calls from LAUSD employees, parents and community members expressing their frustration with the District’s payroll system. While a switch to a massive new technology system is hardly ever as smooth as one might hope, the issues with our payroll system have persisted for far too long. My colleagues on the Board and I will not be satisfied until every employee is paid on time and accurately. Last week, we approved an agreement with an Atlanta-based company to provide technical assistance and expertise on the District’s payroll system. The District has also retained Hess & Associates, Inc., the firm responsible for the successful implementation of the City of Los Angeles payroll system, to design and develop systems to validate and improve the accuracy of LAUSD’s payroll.

The Board of Education will meet weekly with Superintendent Brewer and his team to keep abreast of the progress toward fixing the payroll system. I will provide updates on these efforts here on my blog. In the meantime, if you have specific concerns about your paycheck, please contact the Payroll Services’ Call Center at 213.241.6670. These lines are answered by live agents from 7am - 5pm and I’m told that the usual wait-time is a minute or less. Additional resources are also available at the Payroll Services Branch website.

Preserving and Sustaining School Gardens

2007-09-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday September 25th, the Board of Education will be considering the “Preserving and Sustaining School Gardens” motion which I co-authored with Board Members Julie Korenstein and Tamar Galatzan.

In recent years, there has been growing support for school gardens, culminating in the passage of AB1535 which is providing funding for 526 school gardens throughout LAUSD this year. Schools gardens are powerful instructional tools when incorporated into the curriculum. They provide children access to physical activity and fresh, healthy food, and they provide valuable opportunities for community building.

The motion directs the Superintendent to support the preservation of existing school gardens and encourages the use of gardens as outdoor laboratories for instruction. It also asks the Superintendent to promote the use of school garden produce through tastings, and by allowing Associated Student Bodies to sell items grown in school gardens.

Many schools in Board District 4 have very successful school gardens. For example, Webster Middle School does a great job of incorporating their garden into the curriculum – a 6th grade teacher grows papyrus in the garden and incorporates garden activities when students are learning about Egypt!

Richland Avenue Elementary has formed a great partnership with Urban Farming to donate the produce grown in their beautiful garden to the Westside Food Bank in Santa Monica. Last week I participated in an event when they also partnered with volunteers from the William Morris Agency to make improvements to the garden. The fourth grade class also participated in the event by building compost pillars!

Middle School Essay Contest

2007-09-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

My colleage, Board President Monica Garcia, is co-sponsoring an essay contest with the LA County Bar Association for LAUSD 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. The Future Lawyers Essay Contest is asking middle schoolers "What would you do as a lawyer to improve your community?"

While the website states that the deadline is September 22, I was happy to learn that it has been extended to October 1. For more information on submission and essay requirements, please go here.

A New LA Times Blog on Education

2007-09-18T16:42:00.000-07:00

The LA Times has launched a new blog called The Homeroom to take over school related news. As you may remember, the LA Times had both a column and a blog called School Me! which covered school news. School Me! ended several months ago and The Homeroom is taking its place. This time though, three bloggers are covering the news desk. Two of them are full time teachers through Teach For America and one is a high school student at South Pasadena HS. So far, with only two posts in, the insights are great and I look forward to reading it daily. I hope you do too.

Think Before You Drink

2007-09-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

How many teaspoons of sugar did you guess were in one 20 ounce regular soft drink? I have to say when I first looked into limiting sugar filled beverages from our campuses, I was astounded to learn there are a whopping 16 teaspoons of sugar in just one 20 ounce regular soft drink. That's 250 calories, all of them empty and simply devoid of nutrition.

Perhaps this will help put it into perspective. If you were to drink one regular (meaning non-diet) soft drink a day in addition to your regular diet, you could gain upwards of 26 pounds in just one year. And we wonder why we have an obesity epidemic in this country.

This is what lead me to author "The Healthy Beverage Motion" in 2002, which essentially prohibited the sale of sugar filled drinks our students were consuming on a regular basis at school. Now our vending machines are filled with water, 100% fruit juices and Gatorade type beverages (for athletic purposes).

So before you reach for that regular cola or "fruit" flavored drink, remember how much sugar is in there and you might want to "rethink your drink."

Teacher Shopping Day!!

2007-09-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

If LA Shares isn't already one of your favorite non-profits, look no further for a reason!

LAUSD teachers will have the opportunity to shop for items including: calculators, paper, pens, desk top accessories, staplers, tape, stationary supplies, books, envelopes, chalkboards, labels,

file folders, scissors, plus many more valuable supplies. All items are FREE OF CHARGE and were donated by various corporations throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Monday, September 17, 2007
3:30 PM-6:00 PM (please arrive by 3:15 PM)

Location: L.A. SHARES Griffith Park Facility
3224 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Free Parking is located just west of the building
Light food and refreshments will be served

Please RSVP to: freeshoppingday@gmail.com For more information please call L.A. SHARES at 213-485-1097

Daily News Op-Ed

2007-09-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

The Daily News ran an op-ed this weekend by David Lehrer and Joe Hicks about the "Healthy Families, Healthy Students" motion. It's a fascinating perspective and I encourage you all to read it.

Read Board Vote Not Aimed at Students

2007 API Results Released

2007-09-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Unified School District continues to make academic gains according to figures released last Friday by the California Department of Education. The District increased 9 points on the Academic Performance Index (API).

Board District 4 schools continue to be models of academic excellence. The following schools deserve recognition:

Highest Performing Schools:

- Wonderland Elementary, 964 API
- Revere Middle School, 817 API
- Palisades High School, 781 API

Highest API Gains:

- West Hollywood Elementary, +68 points
- Le Conte Middle School, +33 points
- Fairfax High School, +26 points

I’d also like to congratulate Taft High School for exiting Program Improvement status this year!

And finally, I’d like to thank the school staff, faculty, administrators, parents and students who all work hard to achieve academic excellence. Keep up the good work!

Visit www.cde.ca.gov to view Academic Performance Index (API) results.

Assembly & Senate Appropriations Committees pass LAUSD Facilities legislation

2007-08-31T14:34:00.001-07:00

The Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees approved AB1014 (Bass) & SB121 (Romero) yesterday during their final official hearings of the year.

AB1014 (Bass) would revise the formula the State uses to allocate funding for construction and modernization of school facilities. The current formula used by the State overcorrects for small decreases in enrollment causing LAUSD to lose eligibility for state matching funds because it is experiencing declining enrollment in some areas of the District. The bill would authorize school districts to use an alternative enrollment projection formula that more accurately reflects the facilities needs of its students.

SB 121 (Romero) would amend current law to eliminate or reduce the requirement that schools districts receiving Operational Grants have at least 40% of their total enrollment on multi-track year-round schedules. To date, LAUSD’s new construction program has completed 67 new schools, allowing many campuses to return to a traditional calendar. If the law is not amended, LAUSD could lose up to $78 million per year once it falls below the 40% requirement.

The passage of these bills is crucial for the completion of the District’s mission of reducing overcrowding, returning all campuses to a traditional calendar, and providing a neighborhood school for all its students.

Both bills will now go to the floor of each House for a vote.

Healthy Families, Healthy Students?

2007-08-31T09:53:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, the Board of Education waded into a hefty discussion on health care. On its face, the resolution titled "Healthy Families, Healthy Students" and authored by several of my colleagues on the Board, was about ensuring that students have at least 20 minutes to eat lunch. In fact, it was really an effort to increase the hours that some 2,000 cafeteria workers from 3 ½ hours to 4 hours in order to make them eligible for health benefits. Board Member Tamar Galatzan and I voted against the resolution, which passed 5-2 and will cost the District $35 million annually. The truth is that the increase in hours will have no effect on the amount of time students have to eat lunch. What’s more, we already have plans – that we can afford – in place that move us to ensuring students have at least 20 minutes to eat their lunch.

The Board of Education recently adopted extended and multiple lunch periods as a strategy to increase students’ access to the cafeteria. We also began implementing the results of a Labor Organization Study which will increase 269 3 ½ -hour cafeteria worker positions to both five and six-hour positions. These and other operational changes will do more to increase the likelihood that our students have enough time to eat than a blanket increase in hours that disregards the individual needs of schools.

I absolutely understand my colleagues’ desire to provide health care to all our employees and I attempted to introduce an amendment that would have directed our negotiations team to work with the unions to provide scaled benefits for these part-time employees. Sadly, the Board voted down this amendment, leaving the Superintendent to present to the Board on September 4 an additional $35 million in cuts for this school year. Both the LA Times and the LA Daily News reported on this issue and the LA Times editorial board seems to agree that this was an irresponsible action.

Welcome!

2007-08-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the new Canter Chronicle! I am incredibly excited to launch a blog to keep my constituents updated on issues facing the local schools, as well as events and updates that affect you and our students.

Come back here often as I will be updating the Canter Chronicle several times a week.