Category: Headlines

The last time we did headlines, we spotlighted a UTLA tweet that warned of a massive budget fight coming to school districts. Last week, Governor Newsom released his proposed school budget for next year. According to KPCC/LAist Education reporter Kyle Stokes, there are pretty sever cuts, but it could be worse.

“The news could’ve been worse for schools. Because California law closely ties education funding with state revenues, schools could’ve lost billions more. But Newsom proposed a series of temporary measures — including injecting another $4.4 billion of federal coronavirus relief money directly into district budgets — to backfill some of the revenue loss.

Another silver lining: Newsom also refused to roll back a proposal for a 15% increase in spending on special education, which is funded separately from the rest of the K-12 program.”

Stokes goes on to outline other things that could come into play that could spare districts from more cuts: federal aid, new funding approved by voters, and action by the legislature.

Continue reading “Headlines: The State’s Education Budget Promises Cuts, More on the Virtual LAUSD Plans for Summer School, and Re-Opening?”

In addition to providing educational opportunities for students during the shutdown, LAUSD has also been distributing meals though its “Grab and Go” program at schools throughout the district. The program is earning mostly high marks, and was profiled in the LA Times last week as an example of a COVID response program that’s working. There’s also a video version of the story.

If you are in need, visit this link to see where the closest Grab and Go can be found.

Also, a hat tip for the fun #GrabnDough hashtag that features recipes to make better meals out of Grab and Go food bags.

And as we start to look forward to schools re-opening, hopefully in the fall, the question circles around what schools will look like on Back to School Day. NPR has some thoughts based on what is happening at re-opened schools throughout the world.

Continue reading “Headlines: LAUSD Earns High Marks For “Grab And Go”, Rough Financial Times Coming and More on Elections.”

Well, it’s official. Yesterday morning, LAUSD announced that its buildings will be closed until the next school year giving time for more long-term planning to educate students in a safe environment while we wait for a coronavirus vaccine. Summer school will be offered online. No final word on STAR or other camps based on the school campus, but based on the language used by Beutner, I would guess they aren’t happening. LAist/KPCC, KTLA, EdSource.

The LAUSD announcement came the same day Spring Break ended and students returned to their virtual learning experience. It’s a hard way to start off Spring quarter, and in response there have been many wonderful “missing you” videos from all around the District. An exemplar is from Venice High School, where the same teachers who stole the city’s heart by dancing in the rain during the 2019 strike did their best to put a happy face on this weird experience in this video.

And while classes continue online, the move to approve charter co-locations continues in the real world. UTLA is asking LAUSD to put a halt on all charter co-location applications until the general public can be more involved in the process. Such a move is in-line with recommendations from national advocates for equity and inclusion in public processes.

From the “best practices” department comes a virtual spirit week put together by the parent advocate at Richland Avenue Elementary School (where my kids go.) If you’re looking for something fun to add to your curriculum or your kids’ sheltering at home, check it out.

Find SARS2/Covid19 resources for families here.

It’s hard to concentrate on mundane daily life when a novel virus is spreading inexorably through interconnected human communities across the globe. Best to muster authoritative information close:

• • The CDC on handwashing, why and how.
  • Superintendent Beutner’s version of same.
  • On “preparations”, why slowing disease matters.
  • CV daily reports from California’s Public health department.
  • Latest news from LAUSD.
  • Agenda for Tuesday afternoon’s Special LAUSD Board Meeting “Declaring Emergency Conditions Exist at Los Angeles Unified School District Schools and Offices and Authorization to Take Any and All Necessary Actions to Prepare and Respond Effectively to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).”
  • California Department of Public Health guidance for schools and other guidance bulletins.
  • California Department of Public Health news releases.
  • Approval of CA State request to allow meal service during school closures.

Updated 3/10/20 at 1:30pm to reflect ADA impact:

• Symptomatic children are being asked to stay, and are being sent, home.

• “Los Angeles Unified has asked the state to reconsider the existing ADA policies given the COVID-19 situation”.

And just like that, the focus switches from School Board elections and Prop. 13 [2020] (RIP!), to the Coronavirus and the District’s response. The District has been emailing and calling LAUSD parents daily and posting even more regular updates on Twitter.

While LAUSD’s response has been proactive and competent, LAUSD admits that the potential pandemic is “uncharted territory” and has plans for a potential shutdown.

Also uncharted is Superintendent Beutner’s foray into videography which is a little unfortunate for the paucity of soap, important for hygiene in breaking down cell walls. Some parents have been contacting teachers to ask whether soap or other supplies would be welcome donations to their classroom.

And perhaps not everyone in LAUSD is handling the situation flawlessly. A Chinese-American student is accusing his North Hollywood School of discrimination and retaliation after he objected to being sent to the nurse’s office for coughing.

But just because we’re all talking Coronavirus, doesn’t mean there aren’t other things happening.

As I type this, a protest is going on at Trinity Avenue School where frustrated public school parents are speaking out against the co-location with Gabriella Charter School.

In national news, the DeVos family is still scary! Last week while Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was fielding criticism about her new education budget, we heard news that another of her family is planting paid spies in progressive groups. Creepy.

And if the news has just bummed you out too much. Here’s a video of Scott Schmerelson reading Little Red Riding Hood to some students in PALS.