Schools
Cautiously Optimistic
A look back at a year when the LAUSD School Board failed to enact meaningful change. Will two new members follow through with their mandate?
“We must hold the Superintendent accountable”
– Karla Griego
Hopes were high when Dr. Rocio Rivas won the LAUSD BD2 Board Seat in the 2022 elections. For the first time in decades, supporters of public schools held a majority and efforts could finally be made to hold charter schools accountable for the public funds they receive.
While Rivas has been a powerful voice on the school board, her compatriots have not provided her with the backup needed to affect real change. This was on full display at the November 19, 2024 meeting, where Rivas asked most of the questions as the Board considered the renewal of 15 charter schools. These schools were all approved, including ICEF View Park Preparatory Middle, whose sister school was closed owing LAUSD students at least $263,677, and one of the schools in the controversial Citizens of the World chain of white flight charter schools.
The year's biggest disappointment was the continued failure to hold José Cole-Gutiérrez for his years-long lie to the Board. During the Board deliberations that led to the passage of a resolution Rivas co-authored with Jackie Goldberg to “mitigate the negative impacts of charter school co-location,” the Charter School Division Director was forced to admit that, despite what he had been saying for years, state law did not require him to give away space that did not have a rostered teacher. As a result of this action, some children with Special Education needs were forced to receive their services in hallways and stairwells. Somehow, Cole-Gutiérrez has managed to keep his job even after this lie was divulged.
Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The successors of retiring Board Members Jackie Goldberg and Dr. George McKenna, are both strong supporters of public education, giving the majority a second chance to change the course of a District long controlled by forces who support the privatization of public education. They will get their first chance at the meeting on January 14, 2025, when the Board will consider the renewal of ten charter schools along with a request to open another publicly funded private school. The conduct of Crete Academy, Ivy Bound, and schools from the KIPP chain of charter schools leaves room for questions. Will the new Board Members join Rivas in performing their due diligence before voting?
A look back at some LAUSD events during the past year:
Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
January
With the deadline long since passed, the LAUSD Superintendent had not provided a policy for PROP-39. Shirley Elementary found itself under attack again.
February
The Charter School Division’s choice for LAUSD schools to provide SpEd services in closets and stairwells was not the only time it has acted without authorization.
The LAUSD School Board finally voted on a policy to protect public school students when charter schools take space from their campuses.
March
With 82.4% of these publicly funded private schools failing to meet enrollment targets in Los Angeles, is a rash of closures on the horizon?
The Charter School Industry spends millions trying to influence LAUSD School Board elections but fails in areas saturated with its schools.
April
Who will answer for the wasted education funds as Valiente College Preparatory Charter School announces its closure?
LAUSD bureaucrats say that “placement continues to be an IEP decision” but eliminate options by taking away SpEd classes from this school.
May
If the development of the LAUSD’s plan for providing Special Education services was supposed to be collaborative, why were parents excluded?
June
The penalty for taking more space than the law allowed was supposed to be paid immediately. These 23 schools have yet to pay in full.
July
The CAC was supposed to help craft the changes to the SELPA but the LAUSD did not even provide a means for the committee to discuss changes.
August
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho continues to lose parents’ confidence. Will the Board hold him responsible for his failures?
September
The LAUSD SpEd Committee has missed opportunities to provide parent input into how services are delivered. Will this year be any different?
October
Should school board campaigns model ethical behavior for impressionable students? The Charter School Industry didn’t seem to think so.
November
Scott Schmerelson’s reaction to the latest LAUSD scandal exemplifies why many were conflicted about supporting his reelection.
Digging into the numbers as the Los Angeles County Clerk posts the 2024 LAUSD School Board run-off election’s final results.
December
The Los Angeles Board unanimously votes for its most senior member, Scott Schmerelson, to be President. Dr. Rocio Rivas is Vice President.
Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him “a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles.” For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
