AALA calls for more APs, NBA All-Star returns to his LAUSD school
LA School Report | August 27, 2015
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LA Unified added 70 assistant principals to its ranks this year along with officially combining the roles of assistant principal and “instructional specialist” into one. Still with 1,564 APs now on the payroll, leaders of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) say many more are needed.
AALA, the union which represents district administrators, posted an article in its weekly newsletter pointing out what it says is a low level of assistant principals working in the district.
“It is important to note that there are some elementary and middle schools in the District that are operating with a sole administrator and there are numerous secondary sites with less than the standard five-member administrative team. There was a time when it was unthinkable to run a school with fewer than five administrators,” AALA said.
The article also points out that principals have similar workload issues regardless if they have an AP or not. District leaders have been receptive to adding more APs over the last few years, but no official timetable has ever been set, AALA said, adding that “we continue to press for a systemic approach to examining administrative norms and a reasonable implementation timeline.”
Russell Westbrook returns
NBA All-Star and former UCLA Bruin Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma Thunder returned last week to his former school, 75th Street Elementary Community School, dedicating a new wing of the school’s library and donating 1,400 books to help fill it up.
“Russell’s Reading Room” also features murals of his playing days at UCLA, and Westbrook dedicated the room while reading to 25 students.
“This will be a place for students to fall in love with books, strengthen their reading skills and build their vocabulary,” Miguel Campa, the school’s principal, said in a statement. “Putting books in children’s hands opens the world to them, provides opportunities to ensure equity and empowers with the four essential 21st Century skills: creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication. We believe that with a book in your hands, your imagination can take off.”
Cortines praises Legislature for SB 725
LA Unified Superintendent Ramon Cortines came out in full support of Gov. Jerry Brown and the California Legislature for passing Senate Bill 725, which allows close to 5,000 high school seniors across the state to graduate without passing a now-cancelled high school exit exam. Nearly 500 of them were LA Unified seniors.
“I am pleased that the governor and the Legislature acted quickly to resolve what has been a significant problem for almost 500 of our students,” Cortines said in a statement. “These are students who have met all graduation requirements with the exception of the California High School Exit Exam, and they have been in limbo through no fault of their own.
“Without Senate Bill 725, these students and thousands more around the state would have been prevented from starting college, pursuing jobs and apprenticeships, and joining the military. These students now can move forward as successful L.A. Unified graduates.”