A leading member of the bar and a member of the California Board of Regents is urging the Los Angeles school board to retain Superintendent John Deasy, who recently threatened to resign. The letter was signed by George Kieffer, a Schwarzenegger appointee to the state Board of Regents in 2009. Business leaders are working hard to hold on to Deasy, despite his poor relations with the educators of Los Angeles and the recent iPad fiasco. Even the mayor weighed in to support Deasy.
Clearly, the power structure wants Deasy. And they don’t care what educators think about his leadership.
The letter read:
Dear Members of the Board of Education:
This letter is to inform you of the tremendous sense of disappointment, approaching anger, that the Los Angeles community is feeling today because of the inability of the School Board to develop a plan with Superintendent Deasy to move forward together for the benefit of the students of the Los Angeles Unified School District (“LAUSD”).
LAUSD has seen important gains across the board in student achievement over the last few years. Under LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasy’s leadership, the District has improved student test scores and other student success indicators such as the number of students accessing college preparation courses. It has also seen decreases in student drop-out rates and truancy rates.
The District is embarking on a massive roll out of professional development and technology tools that will prepare teachers and students to implement the new, and highly more rigorous, state education Common Core standards and student assessments. Further tests to Dr. Deasy’s leadership will be presented as the District prepares to develop its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), as part of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) that was passed by the State Legislature and signed by the Governor earlier this year. The LCFF is a much needed step in the right direction to ensure that all California schools receive equitable funds from the state.
All of these and other important initiatives are crucial to ensure students are succeeding academically and graduating prepared for college and 21st century competitive careers.
We believe that John Deasy has the unique skills and commitment necessary to move the district forward on each of these topics. The leadership of the business community and the non-profit community strongly supports Superintendent Deasy and we encourage the School Board to meet with him immediately to work out a plan to continue his tenure as our Superintendent of Schools.
In the next few months, and for the first time in several years due to an increase in funding, the Board will make critical decisions about the budget and technology programs. It will be very difficult to make good decisions for our children if we do not have a strong and experienced leader in the Superintendent’s office.
Firing Superintendent Deasy, or making his life so miserable that he has no choice but to leave, is not in the best interests of the students of Los Angeles. We urge you to pull the board together and make every effort to retain one of the top Superintendents in the country.
Sincerely,
________________________________
Sent by: Lucy Smith
Secretary to George Kieffer
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Oligarchs are warning an elected body of their “disappointment, approaching anger.”
This is some heavily orchestrated nonsense. Deasy floated the resignation to give allies like this an opening, to brandish their threats in his defense. Ooh, I’m scared. What if they all throw money at the next election? How did that work out?
For the latest info on the LAUSD situation please read this.
http://laschoolreport.com/civic-groups-rallying-support-to-keep-deasy-at-la-unified/It would eem that the high power lawyers of the billionaires are threatening the Board with legal action in behalf of Deasy if he is fired. If this is true, and it is extortion, then if the Board gives in and signs his contract tomorrow, we can say good bye to any democratic action by and for the public. All will be lost.
It is obvious how these people are running scared at the prospet of losing their control of all education policy at LAUSD, and since they now have Keiffer, a Manatt lawyer and a member of th eU of C Bd. of Regents posting here in favor of Deasy, we see the a battle of David, us, and the worlst of Goiaths. It has become a battle filed scattered with the boies of teahcers and their students. How ugly can this get?
http://laschoolreport.com/civic-groups-rallying-support-to-keep-deasy-at-la-unified/
Here is the link to read…this was sent at about 2 PM PT.
So sorry for typos…the softward does not show my writing so I cannot edit my typos.
I of course meant ‘a battlefield scattered with the bodies of teachers and their students…in the dispropotionate battle of David, the public, vs. Goliath, the money and power of the billionaires who do not want to give up their control over us all and our progeny.
Ellen,
I think we met briefly once.
It’s Julie. I was just forwarded
an email with an account of a
conference call coordinating the
various astroturf groups
who will be protesting against
us tomorrow.
Yep, that’s right. Some mole
within their ranks leaked this
to me.
Did you ever want to eavesdrop
on a planning session of a
bunch of ed reform astroturf
groups as they are trying to
create a demonstration that
has the appearance of an
actual community grass
roots protest— when it’s
actually a manufactured
farce concocted by well-paid
corporate shills?
Now’s your chance!
Enjoy:
(Folks, this is real.
Gabe, Ryan, and the rest
pull out all the stops to
earn their respective
$200,000-plus salaries)
———–
“Date: Mon, Oct 28, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Subject: Re: conference call
“GABE (Rose, from Parent Rev.):
“#4 wear your organization’s
T-shirt to show broad support.
“We will be sending an email with
talking points. Any other questions?
“Commenters are looking for talking
points and one page info sheet
to send to supporters.’
“RYAN (Smith, from United Way, Julie)”
‘Create as many signs as possible.
Utilize chants.’
“GABE (Rose, from Parent Rev.):
” ‘Are we trying to pack the
boardroom?
“RYAN: ‘Yes, I’ll talk to you offline
about that. Regarding media
outreach, we will utilize
our guy here: Charles/Mary Lou
(Endowment),
” ‘Can I connect you to Jason
Mandel?’
GABE: “Sandy will email Ryan a
tag line. Let’s see… we’ll call it…
” ‘Communities for John Deasy’
“… or …
” ‘Communities for Educational
Justice’! ”
RYAN: “Good, but let’s not make
this ad hominem against certain
Board Members or UTLA union
leaders. Also, we are not trying
to change John Deasy’s mind.”
GABE: “Right. This is much
broader than Deasy.
Although we are very
supportive of his courage, this is
really about telling the board that
the community… we want our
initiatives to continue and we
want to hold them responsible for
making sure they stay the course.
We’ve been working on this for
decades. We’ve seen
superintendents come and go.
The progress over the last 4-5
years needs to continue.”
END OF CALL
———————————-
Then there’s a summary of
another conference call:
————————————
“BETH (???): “Can anyone on
the call confirm that Deasy
contacted anyone in educ.
reform community that he
spoke to board members
about resigning?”
RYAN: “Hey. Let’s not go down
that road. A lot of it’s conjecture
rather than truly substantiated.
I’m hoping we can talk a little
more off line.
ELLEN ( Pais President &
CEO – Los Angeles Education
Partnership): “People in
Sacramento are talking about
this, wondering, ‘What-the-heck
is going on?”
LINDA (???): “Has any email went
out? We want to send to our staff
and parents.
RYAN: “We will send it out after
this call finishes.”
RENE (Rodman, from Parent
Partnership): “Is everyone aware
that there is a petition up to support
the superintendent? Let’s not
duplicate efforts.
RYAN: “I’ll send out both and
people should sign both. We can’t
get enough signatures.”
“We have a total 150-160 who will
show up for tomorrow. This is a
testament to the work that’s
happening. If you are willing to
speak, email Elmer.”
erolean@unitedway.org:
“Yolie Flores and Caprice Young
will join the rally to speak in support
of the issues and the leadership
of the district. We also want
parents, teachers and if possible
students although they should be
in school.”
——————————————
The students “should be in school?”
Really, now… ya think?
There’s more:
—————————————–
“There is a theory that it was
possibly leaked as a way to push
out the superintendent, but that’s
not confirmed. There is a school
board meeting tomorrow. Been
turned mostly into a closed session.
“At 12:30, two items, and then
immediately afterwards, they’ll
go into closed session. This will
be a shorter meeting. Changes
our plans regarding press
conference and rally. CLASS
believes that students and
communities are most in need of
support. We have been supportive
of many of Deasy’s initiatives.
“This is beign made about John, but
—Support of Prop 30,
—protecting teachers from budget
based layoffs for first time in ,
—saving 200 counselors jobs,
—his support of 193K students
breakfast in classroom,
—efforts against policies that push
students out, end of defiance.
“A lot of policies that put students first.
Important for progress of lauds.
We will rally around continuation
of these policies no matter what,
and Deasy.
“CLASS hosting press conference
and rally about these issues which
have been supported by Deasy.
“10:30am Rally arrivals,
“start at 11am.
“Press conference immediately after.
“Thought about one after board
meeting too, so students and
teachers will be in the shot.
“Many of the organizations have
asked to speak and participate.
“We need to tell school board
members that we support Deasy
and visionary leadership. We are
asking each of you organizations
to tap your constituencies to make
phone calls and emails to board
members. Important that all board
members are communicated to, but
most important Vladovic and two
considered swing votes—Monica
Ratliff and Steve Zimmer.
“We support these policies and
visionary leadership.
————————————————
Ellen, here’s a list of everyone
included at the end of this email.
It’s sort of
“THE L.E.A.: THE LEAGUE OF
EXTRAORDINARY ASTROTURF” :
——————————————————-
“Ryan Smith – United Way Greater Los Angeles
“CLASS –
“California Endowment
“Educators for Excellence
“Community coalition
“Inner city struggle
“Parent revolution
“Alliance for a better community
“campaign for college opportunity
“advancement project
“children now
“communities in schools
“students first
“laup
“students matter
“teach plus
“good will of southern California
“seiu local 99
“Green Dot
“LA music center
“Sing together
“New Teacher Center
“Herb Alpert Foundation
“Families in Schools
“Mind Research Institute
“Partnership for LA Schools
“ACLU of Southern Calif
“Kids LA
“Ed Voice
“LA Gay & Lesbian Center
“Arts
“Teach for America
“Educare Foundation
“CCSA
“Education Pioneers
“LA Voice
“Parent Partnership
“Educate Our State
“LA Urban League
“Pique
“RFK Center
“UCLA Center for Ed
“LA Small School Center
“YPI
“Lacer After School Program
“Asian Americans for Education Justice
CFY
“Goal: update you on info we know re:
John Deasy incident. Much more
than you probably already know.
“School board meeting tomorrow.
“Impending rally and press conference.”
——————————————–
Karen, that’s quite a formidable
assembly of astroturfers.
I mean, really. With “The Mind
Research Institute” on their side,
they’re going to be hard to beat.
Also, what-the-hell is “The Herb
Alpert Foundation” doing here
on this list?
Does this mean that
“The Tijuana Brass” reunite
tomorrow so they can
serenade the astroturfers’
“Save Deasy” rally with
“A TASTE OF HONEY”?
That alone should bring ‘em
all down to Beaudry!
See you at the rally.
Ta for now,
Julie
Is what they say true about the gains in performance etc?
What do they mean by equitable funds for all students—is that code for charters and vouchers?
I am so tired of the 21st Century skills job catch phrase. The only thing we know about our century is what we know right now. Furthermore, every century has seen itself more developed in various areas than in others; the 21st Century is not unique in that category. The notion is being abused to allow carte Blanche for reinventing the wheel in education. To presume we know what a work force will necessarily need in twenty years is preposterous. All we can do is make educated guesses. So why throw away systems that work and gamble it away on notions that cannot be known? (I read something about a think tank in 2010 having a problem with the existence of teachers and classes of students simply because that arrangement dates back 2500 years. Well, so does having a roof over our heads and wheels going round and round. Does not make a case for upheaval.
I hope someone will answer my first two questions. I genuinely want to know.
Joanna,
The reformers use these catch phrases to promote their own agenda. The future jobs will be in alternative energy and infrastructure. That is, after we, the people, are able to regain our democracy and hopefully, before the total destruction of our planet. The billionaires who make policy are not smart. They are greedy. Smart people are compassionate and honest. They care about the impact they leave on future generations and the world, in general. A native American guy once told me that Los Angeles was backward. It’s named for the angels, but is run by devils!
They are lost angels and Satan was an angel. The favorite angel in fact. He was the angel of music and said: I would rather rule in Hell than serve in heaven. You still owe me an apology because I was right on all counts in a previous post.
George:
I would ask you, what do you propose ?
Joanna,
George may be a hothead, but he is right. We, the people, need to protest this corruption and fascism any way we can. Best way is to document their illegal schemes and get people to rally around the truth. Take them to court, if necessary. i think there are still a few honest people left in the court system. Most importantly, NEVER give up. That’s what they are counting on.
I was sincere in my question.
Joanna, George is not the best source of compassion or coherent information.
He cant answer your question, if he could get would be the “winner”.
Do mot be discouraged by his acrimonious outbursts. Asking questions is what smart folks do.
http://www.hemlockontherocks.com
I’m so sick of comments like this:
George Kieffer:
“Under LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasy’s leadership, the District has improved student test scores and other student success indicators such as the number of students accessing college preparation courses. It has also seen decreases in student drop-out rates and truancy rates.”
Once and for all, DEASY DIDN’T HAVE JACK-QUAT TO DO WITH THOSE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS.
The hard-working teachers on the ground, doing the hard day-in-day-out grinding work of educating our students, and doing so with less funding, larger classes, and conditions more trying than they have ever been… THEY, THE TEACHERS are the ones responsible, not DEASY, who has thrown up every obstacle he could to block motions that would, in fact, create conditions favorable to greater academic outcomes—i.e. lower class size; expanded arts programs; rehiring librarians; counselors; and on and on.
In fact, they did so IN SPITE OF DEASY, and would have effected even greater gains, had someone other than Deasy been in power. Everyone I know has seen excellent, veteran teachers thrown into teacher jails on trumped up charges simply because they were targeted as a result of their being at the high end of the salary scale. This has devastated morale, and instilled a toxic, fear-based environment for all teachers.
As Karen Wolfe wrote on the other article, the voters have spoken in whom they have selected for the LAUSD Board. They want Deasy gone:
https://dianeravitch.net/2013/10/27/los-angeles-parent-who-runs-our-schools/
Who the hell is this Kieffer guy, anyway? Nobody. That’s who. A nobody who doesn’t know the first thing about Los Angeles schools.
Read this excellent column by Steve Lopez
regarding Deasy’s I-pad fiasco to get a
true picture of what a bone-head, Apple-product-pushing
shill Deasy is: (a well-researched piece,
with salient quotes from all the relevant
people)
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/28/local/la-me-0929-lopez-ipad-20130929
In any other industry or government agency,
the person responsible—in this case, Deasy—
would have been immediately fired for the
massive and total incompetence and
resulting disaster described in this article.
Instead, we get idiots like this Kieffer praising
Deasy and threatening to unleash the business
community’s “anger” if the LAUSD Board not
only retains Deasy, but allows him an even
freer hand to do more of the same.
Have people like Kieffer lost their minds?
I think that Eli Broad has rounded up his ‘boys’ to try and help Deasy save face. His poor, little fragile ego can’t take another hit for being fired. Again. No one in the LAUSD power structure or the city will admit the truth about what is really going on because they “protect their own”. Deasy will get the boot, but will never have to answer for his crimes. Those at the top are not held accountable for injustice, but at least Angelenos can say, “good riddance to bad garbage.”
Tony,
Those in high powered positions in both government and big business NEVER answer for their crimes. It’s the American way. The economic meltdown and housing crisis caused by Wall St., and the government shutdown are just a few examples.
Tony, I am in full agreement with you. In any other
profession, Deasy would have been fired long ago. I have worked in
both the private sector and in the public and I am having
difficulty understanding why this guy is still helming the school
district. Millions of dollars have been wasted and lost. His VAM
score should be labeled “Shameful.”
Tony,
I would hardly call this article “well researched.” Lopez doesn’t even mention the fact that most poor kids (the ones who were supposed to benefit from the ipads) don’t have wireless connections! They are dismantling the wireless networks in the district as we speak (blog) due to the high risk factors associated with wifi radiation. The bumbling idiots in charge of LAUSD prove that you don’t need a triple digit IQ to make six figures and wear a three piece suit.
I read an article from another county in NC where this pad fiasco occurred….Not sure if it was apple but they stopped the program immediately…
Well, D-UH! Tell us something we don’t already know. The business community in Los Angeles has used LAUSD as their personal ATM for decades. The economic downturn, however, has an upside. Because of this, people are becoming more aware of how their hard earned tax dollars are being spent. And stolen. In addition to their plan to bankrupt the district, Deasy threw out the board ruling which banned wifi within a certain radius of schools. Turns out that wifi can cause significant brain damage in young children. Call your board members and other representatives and express your outrage. Better yet, rally at the board meeting on Tuesday, October 29, and literally, chase John Deasy out of the Beaudry building.
So this was a ploy for sympathy after his multimillion dollar debacle?? He must have hired a PR firm to come up with that prank. I have a feeling this guy is staying.
I will bet that he is already gone. They just have to go through the motions. But the pulic will continue to be lied to. My guess is that Broad threatened him for allowing Vladovic and Ratliff to get control of the board and dumb Deasy didn’t realize he wasn’t supposed to throw a public tantrum about quitting. I suspect that Broad isn’t too happy with his star pupil because he hasn’t lived up to LAUSD’s #1 rule: Take your punishment and keep your mouth shut. Maybe Broad will mandate an IQ test now before turning out more graduates of his academy. Deasy is nothing more than a liability to the billionaires now.
Nope. Read
http://nyceye.blogspot.com/2013/03/eli-broad-who-is-eli-broad-and-why-does.html
http://www.alternet.org/story/46855/ethnic_cleansing_in_l.a The
Broad Report Lois Weiner http://www.hemlockontherocks.com DEASY is master
of confusion, bully extroidanair and most importantly, a bold,
innovative theif. I dare him to sue me for slander bc he has to
prove it is not true. He cannot do that and he already stole
everything I have except my whistle. I got fired for blowing it but
now what can he do? You are trying ti puzzle this out and getting a
lot of it wrong, but few do as much analysis or evaluation to get
that close. Thankfully, there is lot out there to help you
understand the perverse logic of the vukture ploys. BATS, Noam
Chomsky, Edsyster, Education Shakedown, , At the Chalkface, NYC
Rubber Room Reporter, Defend Education, Common Dreams, google and
go! Hemlock has a lot of links and samples to get you
started.
Funny LA School Report urged UTLA to get a PRFirm whike gloating about grass roots and winning . Your joke is most likely true, the astroturf was bad enough. We pay for this crap. He cannot even do his job and needs to hire some consultant to pretty up his image. Sheesh
PS Did anyone see him on Top Chef Masters honoring teachers??
Yes. Make the stomach turn.
Tony Brantley: good points. I do not challenge what I take
to be your assertion that hard work by teachers and support staff
has been, is and will be responsible for any genuine improvements
and gains. However, I would add that educrats like Superintendent
John Deasy [and his enabling subordinates] are adept at massaging
numbers and stats in order to make themselves look good. Hence,
figures that supposedly reflect good performance on the part of
‘Manager Deasy’ should always be taken with a very large grain of
salt. You suggest one way of improving, let’s call it, stat A: take
resources away reflected in stats B, C and D [e.g., cutting back on
classroom offerings, staff, and libraries]. So yes, you might on
paper boost up stat A but you’re doing so at the expense of stats
B, C and D. And the cutbacks might be—given current circumstances,
often are—in more meaningful and important areas of public
education. Another common trick is to simply redefine what is meant
by “college preparation courses” and “student drop-out rates and
truancy rates.” Like most folks, for a long time I did not realize
the extent to which educrats and their accountabully underlings
engaged in numerical sleight of hand and mathematical intimidation,
but it is amazing what can be achieved by just—let’s say in the
recent bailout bill that included a provision written specifically
for TFA—redefining what is meant by a “qualified teacher.” Another
very recent and egregious example of simply redefining something to
fit one’s personal and political agenda [plus ensure that $tudent
$ucce$$ continues] is referenced by Gary Rubinstein in his current
posting, “The Latest New Orleans Miracle.” In this case a change in
the scales used can work true magic in the appearance [not the
reality] of educational gains. He concludes with the rather
understated remark: “Anyway, I’m sure others will do a fuller
analysis of all the claims in their press release. It’s
always amusing to see what new ways they come up with to distort
the data. But like a Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, you can only
do it for so long before it all comes apart.” Link:
http://garyrubinstein.teachforus.org/2013/10/25/no-miracl/ I
include two other links by ethical numbers/stats folks on the same
matter: Link:
http://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/2013-louisiana-school-letter-grades-recovery-school-district-gains-nothing/
Link:
http://crazycrawfish.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/new-orleans-sps-score-release-reveals-69-of-students-now-attend-failing-schools-according-to-bobby-jindal-compared-to-62-in-2005/
Given all the dodges and evasive maneuvers that the edubullies
engage in, it may take some time to untangle the specifics
regarding Superintendent Deasy. But with this blog and others, the
truth will out sooner or later. You end your second comment with an
easily answered question: “Have people like Kieffer lost their
minds?” Not exactly. You forget their devotion to Marxist axioms:
“I’ve got the brain of a four year old. I’ll bet he was glad to be
rid of it.” ¿? Groucho of course. Although I now realize I owe an
apology to all four year olds… 🙂
Glad you apologized to 4 year olds…and TA andTony, Im ain agreement. Butthis is far from being only an incident at LAUSD…rather our state andprobalby all of our coleagues stes are int he this meat grinder of the super welathy andpowerful determination to control us all. In California, the post by Keiffer is so telling for he is a major mover and shaker on the Bd. lof Regents on the U oC. system of universities. These same REgents just anointed the head of HOmeland Security t, Janet Napolitano, to be the President of our woeld class univerty system. this is much the way they got Deasy appointed in LA.
If I would guess this is happening nationwide. Dieane and Mercedes probably have the stats on this.
Folks…I am sorry but this software fails me…there is no way to edit for I cannot see my words…soif can seem to be gibberish.
Beginning to wonder if I am hacked. Does this happen to anyone else???
It must be so nice to live in a black and white world where everything “they” do is evil and everything your side does is good and virtuous.
Nothing constructive will happen in K-12 education until people from both sides stop allowing their agendas to battle each other and start working together for the good of children everywhere. The truth is that both corporate reformers and public school advocates have kids, and both sides are concerned about the education of all kids. Can’t we use this as common ground to work together?? It isn’t helpful (or truthful) for corporate reformers to use cooked data to talk about how bad the public schools are, and it is equally untruthful for public school advocates to say that there is nothing wrong with today’s public schools (as if it is only the corporate reformers who are to blame).
Does anyone really think that the way we are handling things is helpful?
No they aren’t concerned about education, just corporatizing education
Eli Broad publicly supported passing a California proposition that raised taxes to increase funding for public schools, while at the same time it just cam out that he funneled money to groups trying to defeat it. It is hard to see good motives in such duplicity.
“It must be so nice to live in a black and white world where everything ‘they’ do is evil and everything your side does is good and virtuous.”
“No, it’s awful.” (Holly Hunter’s Jane Craig
to her boss in the movie BROADCAST NEWS)
And might I add… very frustrating and maddening.
The corporatists may have children, but not children in public school.
No one has said there is nothing wrong with today’s public schools.
Nice false equivalence, though.
This is part of a giant smoke screen strategy. The man is an absolute disaster. The real issue is that he does not want any investigation into his illegal actions – taking construction bonds for school infrastructure without permission and instead bungling hugely by buying I-pads for every student. THIS IS THE REAL ISSUE… Feigning resignation and all the letters from the corporate world singing his praises and begging him to stay is just ONE GIANT SMELLY SMOKESCREEN. Let us hope the public refuses to buy it! Can we do a DD/DD… DUMP DUNCAN/DUMP DEASY and do the people of this nation a favor?
ok. Does anybody want to make a list of businesses and products that teachers will NEVER use again?
I will start the list. Please add to it.
1. L.A. Times
2.
2. ipads. LAUSD has been dismantling wireless networks in schools since the whole scam broke. Turns out you’re not supposed to have wifi within a certain radius of schools due to the high levels of radiation. There was a board resolution passed back in 2003, but Deasy nipped it in the bud. Some high level administrator leaked this info. Guess all the suits ain’t as dumb as they look.
Everyone is invited to attend the farewell party on Tuesday, 10/29.
The ipad meeting is called off. Vlad, Tamar, Zimmer, Lamotte, Garcia will vote to keep Deasy. Ratliff and Kayser may not, but it will not matter.
As usual, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
That is major! Is there a news report or blog on it ? Please contact me and let me know more about this so we can use it in our appeal to Gov Brown. I will not reveal your info.
http://www.hemlockontherocks.com
Radaxis7@aol.com
I think they announced the iPad meeting as being postponed in several newspapers, but it could be misinformation. Right or wrong , the rudeness is unnecessary. If I am correct do you have any intention of apologizing? And do you think this makes you look good? Let me fetch those links and see what you are made of. It is tiresome to come here for discourse and deal with abuse, as we are supposed to above that as adults. Is that truth tellin, taxpayer?
As usual!? I make sure not to say something I have not checked out first . You may want to give that’s try. I have to wonder if there is any veracity to your Internet nugget now. Cavalier cruelty is not wit. I could say some things and be well in my rights to do it. But I am going to give you an opportunity to be gracious.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lausd-ipads-deasy-20131025,0,4055200.story#axzz2ix9zFneC
You were wrong and you are not very gracious. Too bad, as you are also sharp and on top of things. Infected with the Buzzetti bug ? Better get thee to a school in Watts and volunteer. Humility will fix you up fast.
3. Testing publications and all related testing materials published by Pearson, Harcourt which then became Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Mcmillan and any other “ed reform” publishers …
4. All of the above
We cant afford the lawyers. We should not give to united way. Remember them trying to deduct regular donations from our pay? I give my charity to winos and small efforts like battered women shelters. Now I will start a fund for teachers left in tatters by this criminal enterprise. CU regents? Always thought tbat college was overrated. What else?
This law firm has no business speaking for the city of LA as they do not represent us Most of us cannot afford to retain them. Of course LAUSD can and does. Mulvaney and co, a group of attorneys in this network of bullies , are the sharks who take librarians into basements to interrogate them about their fitness as teachers. They ruin innocent teachers with false charges. Derail cases where students are injured. Their antics are legendary! Do you know LAUSD will pay the 100 x what it costs to settle to drag a case out ? They do it often, they starve plaintiffs out, they drag things out until the victims die or quit. Anything to avoid setting precedents or exposing their vile secrets. Billions in legal costs. You pay to protect white chalk criminals, the swine who put kids in harms way. You pay to protect the people caught stealing you money!
I don’t know where this was published before here, but we need to expose how these lawyers lack any ethics and epitomize an appalling abuse of the public with their control of biased media and grandstands like this. Very unsettling. I doubt that all business and industry in LA see Deasy as any sort of hero. I know people do not. Please be heard teachers, parents, students and tax payers. You count.
I am reporting the firm to the bar. This is a conflict of interest. Please doing so. I have talked to the bar and they are very interested in shedding unfit legal practices and chastising this kind of misconduct.
What gains? My students have worse writing skills than ever. They can’t create an email account or attach a file- in high school. Deasy is destroying education in Los Angeles by cutting electives and promoting cookie cutter curriculum. Our students are less prepared than ever but then, who would listen to a teacher, right?
“. . . who would listen to a teacher. . . ”
Only fools dare to listen to a teacher. Sit down, shut up, do what we say and smile the whole time while kissing our asses.
Kind of like today when I get to go get “professionally developed”.
I’m from NYS, actually Buffalo, NY, and we have some of the same issues. We recently got rid of a superintendent that had policies which made the district worse, not better. And it’s hard to change a climate of failure.
I’m not sure about the iPad issue. I believe the iPad can be a useful tool, although not necessarily assigning one for every student. However, it sounds like the plan was not well thought out – perhaps even random in nature – with no pre-thought curricular application.
Ultimately, the trouble with our country’s educational plan is that it has not been properly developed. Just because you attended a school in your youth does not make one an expert. Decisions need to be based on the expertise of teachers, administrators, educational researchers, child pschologists, etc. Tests need to be written by experienced test writers, not publishing companies. Individuals in power who have been bought out by greedy corporations should be arrested for fraud.
It doesn’t matter what state you live in, we all seem to be singing the same tune.
Here is how the oligarchs do it…they get United Way to do
some dirty work and pack the meeting room so no one else can get in
to present an anti-Deasy perspective. LAUnitedWay+CLASS Call-In Mon
Oct 28 at 8:30 AM to SAVE DrDeasyLAUSD They need to hear what you
think! 888-204-5987 Conf Code: 6636216# Feel Free to Retweet the
above – it’s exactly 140 characters (in search of some drama) From:
Elmer Roldan [mailto:eroldan@unitedwayla.org] Sent: Friday, October
25, 2013 4:58 PM To: Elmer Roldan Subject: Special CLASS Call for
John Deasy Mobilization Greetings CLASS Network Partners- We are
holding a special call this coming Monday, October 28 at 8:30am to
discuss our mobilizing efforts in response to the reports that
Superintendent John Deasy will be resigning his position. The
intent of this call is to share information and invite you to
participate in mobilizing efforts happening next week. There are a
number of actions that our coalition is leading including two press
conferences and rallies at the School Board. A calendar invite will
follow. Please let me know if you plan to join and are interested
in mobilizing next week. Here is the number for the call: TOLL FREE
DIAL-IN #: 1-888-204-5987 ACCESS CODE: 6636216 Please let me know
if you have any questions. Have a great weekend. Elmer Roldan
Education Program Officer United Way of Greater Los Angeles 1150 S.
Olive St., Suite T500 Los Angeles, CA 90015 Tel: (213) 808-6283
Cell: (323) 337-3025 Fax: (213) 808-6347 eroldan@unitedwayla.org
http://www.unitedwayla.org
LA readers…
We Must Stop This!
It is not only disheartening, but it is downright alarming when our Mayor joins forces with elite and powerful law firms, with PR firms, with major businesses who profit off us all, with the billionaires who are fighting to take over public schools and public education for investment opportunities, in order to retain a mediocre Superintendent of Schools, John Deasy, who has made so many egregious mistakes even beyond the Billion Dollar iPad fiasco. Anyone with a track record such as Deasy’s would never have lasted this long in the private sector.
After a recent huge vote of 91% NO CONFIDENCE by LAUSD teachers it is only reasonable to think the Board of Education, whom We the People elected, would represent the outrage and direction of the greater community which elected them, to NOT SIGN another contract to keep this man on and to give him even more time to run the District into the ground, into bankruptcy, as he is doing. His salary, and all the budget line items his suggests and approves, are paid for by the People, not by Broad, nor Gates, nor any of the self-appointed billionaire movers and shakers who are attempting to destroy LAUSD and turn it into LA Charter District.
Garcetti was not elected to run the public schools, but he is now following in the footsteps of his predecessor Villaraigosa who brought in the billionaires donations to our local elections to try to get their Charter supporter candidates placed in what they then saw as a position of power and support for their boy, Deasy. That would have been the coup they needed and they would have backed a strong Board.
But since that failed them and Ratliff and Zimmer beat the big money choices, now they and their PR experts spin the tale to excoriate the School Board for being too nosy about what Deasy is doing or not doing. They even set a smoke screen of old portended misdeeds by a Board member to redirect public attention away from Deasy’s failures in judgment and administration.
Which way is it Eli, Eric, et al? If your members such as Garcia and Galatzan run things then you support the School Board, but now that there are five teachers on the Board, and they question the potential fraud and possible sweetheart deals, and the terrible lack of concrete long term planning leading to such huge waste of taxpayer money, all of a sudden it is the fault of the Board.
This is utter nonsense and we should all see through it.
We the public do not want you to usurp our ballot box decisions and turn them to your own end…to the profit making Parent Revolution scams, to the imbedded Charters for vast profit all paid for by the public, using TFA kids to try to teach with no real training, to the outrageously over priced iPads. None of it pulls the wool over our eyes.
It is certainly not the role of big business to be bullying the community and to take over the legal will of the people with yet another ‘bait and switch’ operation. Deasy resigns says the LA TImes…rejoicing starts. Ah no, he says he is only thinking about it…and then in steps the Mayor and the red-faced Times, and Broad with his lawyers and PR firm and rich buddies in business, and beg Deasy to stay as they all slap our hands, and castigate the Board for not kissing Deasy’s feet.
We have all been “pranked” in the current youth vernacular. It is disgusting and shameful to have them all collude in this orgy of political theater orchestrated to confuse us, whom they see as the little people, the hapless people, who need their leadership as they are picking our pockets.
This opportunistic behavior with the over-bearing mendacity, manipulation, and attempt to control the peasants, you and me, should bring out everyone on Tuesday morning to the School Board meeting where Deasy’s contract signing, or not, is to be discussed.
It happens at 9 AM at 333 So.Beaudry St. in downtown LA and I would hope to see hundreds of parents, teachers, and others in line. And this time, the Police should not let in the VIPs to fill the room before We the People can get in and get our slips to speak our minds for the 3 minutes allotted to us. I am nonplussed when standing in line for hours, to have 30 or 40 people appear at the door, cutting in front of the rest of us. The word on the street is that this is going to happen with Deasy/Garcetti minions filling the room with Deasy supporters so the real people cannot get heard.
I am sick and tired of our voices being silenced anywhere. See you all Tuesday at 9 AM.
Ellen Lubic, the Angry Educator
Will this be televised?
I would love to see this live..
Yes…they do live streaming. Go to the LAUSD site and you can find it.
But sometimes when things are touchy, they claim the cameras don’t work and thus, no live viewing.
John Deasy may be the poster boy for what passes as education “leadership” in the United States. There are countless other less visible superintendents who are very much like Deasy. They talk endlessly about test scores, and “data-driven instruction,” and merit pay for teachers, but most of them wouldn’t know quality curriculum and instruction (or credible research) if they came eyeball-to-eyeball with them.
Deasy (he of the very questionable doctorate degree) was praised by the LA Times for for “great ideas” like these:
• “Transform the central office from one that micromanages educational policy districtwide into a service-driven operation that monitors results… ”
• “Treat underperforming schools much as you would an academically struggling child, with tight supervision and lots of direct coaching for both principals and teachers…”
What the Times never not questioned, and what Deasy never explained, is where is he getting the high-quality, knowledgeable people to do these things? And at what cost?
If Deasy was really going to “transform” the central office, he needed very skilled, dedicated people who knew curriculum, instruction and assessment inside out. In effect, he needed really good teachers. Was his plan to pull them all from classrooms?
And, if he truly desired to offer “tight supervision” and “coaching,” then he required people with well-developed inter-personal and communication skills. He needed people who could effectvely assess and model effective instruction. He needed really good teachers. Again, was his plan to remove them from classrooms (and replace them with unskilled Teach for America plebes)?
A key component that is at the heart of Deasy’s “reform” model is valued-added evaluations. Virtually all expert assessment of value-added call it highly volatile and unreliable. As one critic pointed out, it’s equivalent to a coin-toss. But Deasy and other “leaders” like him (think Arne Duncan) seem to think it’s absolutely critical to remaking public schooling.
If public education is in peril in the U.S., it’s because of “leaders” like John Deasy and Arne Duncan, and other administrators just like them.
Tony Brantley…cannot make the softward respond to reply above to your comment on Keiffer. Sad to say that he is a very important player in this scenario. He is on the Board of Regents of the U. of C. system, and has a major voice in how our students are educated. He sits on the Board with Senter Feinstein’s husband, Bloom the billionaire, and these heavy hitters rule education poicy for our public edcation system. This affects all grant monies and the way they are used including funding from the Dept. of Defense. There is so much more to this infighting we face with LAUSD.
addendum…the Board of Regents made the recent decision to hire Janet Napolitano to run the largest university system in the country, Univirsity of Californai. She is not an academic but she was put in place, much like Deasy was, without a public input as to a search and a list of vetted candidates. Why would the Regents want the head of Homeland Security in this position?