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Schmerelson revises anti-Broad measure — but unanimity uncertain
Scott Schmerelson has revised his LA Unified board resolution that attacks an outside group’s plan to expand the number of charter schools in the district. A majority of the seven board members has expressed opposition to the plan. But a shift in mission from the group — Great Public Schools Now, supported by the Broad Foundation and...
By Michael Janofsky | December 3, 2015
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For the LA Unified board, a long day of discussions, disputes and votes
The LA Unified School Board convened at 10 a.m. and didn’t adjourn until more than 12 hours later yesterday, in a series of meetings that ran the gamut from moving forward on finding a new superintendent, to confronting ugly budget realities to diving into the minutiae of charter school applications. For background information, each member...
By Mike Szymanski | November 11, 2015
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Charter group says LAUSD anti-Broad measure appears ‘unlawful’
LA Unified school board member Scott Schmerelson is bringing a resolution before the board today, asking it to go on record opposing a plan by the Broad Foundation to add 260 new charter schools to the district over the next eight years. The plan has drawn rebuke from other board members and the LA teachers union,...
By Craig Clough | November 10, 2015
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LA Unified gearing up for new statewide science tests in 2019
LA Unified 2nd graders will be taking a California comprehensive science test when they reach 5th grade in 2019, and district science coordinators are already gearing up for it, according to a presentation before the school boad’s Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Equity Committee. But it’s a huge undertaking. District officials leading the effort told the committee that...
By Mike Szymanski | November 3, 2015
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LA Unified improving school centers to help parents parent
Now LA Unified is trying to make it fun for parents to go to school, too. In a report by Ruth Yoon, the district’s administrator of Parent, Community and Student Services, she said 75 parent centers at schools will be renovated and updated by the end of December. Another 35 parent centers will be renovated...
By Mike Szymanski | October 8, 2015
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A busy day ahead for LAUSD board — test scores, early ed, textbooks
Two committee meetings and a board meeting on the sufficiency of school textbooks will keep the LA Unified school board members busy tomorrow as they discuss the adequacy of textbooks, a detailed analysis of the recent state test scores and district plans to expand early education classes. Two of the new school board members will chair their...
By Mike Szymanski | October 5, 2015
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LAUSD board has mixed views on foundations’ charters expansion plan
Some think it is a threat to the public education system. Some welcome it. Members of the LA Unified school board have reacted quite differently to the announcement that the Broad, Keck and Walton Family Foundations are planning to expand the number of charter schools in the district to serve well beyond the 101,000 students...
By Mike Szymanski | August 24, 2015
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Vowing unity, new LA Unified board members sworn into office
Two new LA Unified board members and two former board members took their oath of office today during a ceremony in which they vowed to bring unity and collaboration to the district and with each other. For each member, it was the start of a five-and-a-half year term, following a change in the city’s voting...
By Mike Szymanski | July 1, 2015
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In-coming LAUSD board members getting their priorities in order
* UPDATED Ref Rodriguez is in the market for new friends. Specifically, friends on the LA Unified school board, which he’ll officially join tomorrow for a five-year term ending in 2020. “I know I need to build some relationships with certain communities that may not trust me because of the campaign,” he told LA School...
By Vanessa Romo | June 30, 2015
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Schmerelson taps former Martinez aide, Irlando, as chief of staff
While sitting LA Unified board members are combing through the latest budget proposal and wrapping up other end of the year activities, the newly-elected representatives are busy staffing up and hiring some familiar names. Scott Schmerelson, who replaces Tamar Galatzan as the District 3 representative on July 1, has named Arlene Irlando as his Chief of Staff....
By Vanessa Romo | June 18, 2015