Billionaire Eli Broad aims to privatize the schools of half the children in the Los Angeles Unified School District; he has even funded a phony, astroturf organization called “Great Public Schools Now” to push his plan. He has no intention of submitting his proposal to the vote of the people of Los Angeles. He forgets that their tax dollars built the facilities; he thinks that because he is a billionaire, he should have the right or at least the power to privatize what rightfully belongs to the people of Los Angeles, without asking permission from them.
State law, adopted during the aggressively pro-charter Schwarzenegger era, clears the path for rapid expansion of charter schools. If LAUSD rejects a charter, it will be approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Education. In the rare instance that the county board does not approve, the charter can appeal to the state board of education. Los Angeles currently has the largest number of students in charters of any school district in the nation. The charters are deregulated and unsupervised. Neither the state nor the district has the personnel to oversee their financial or academic operations.
One member of the Los Angeles school board has had the courage to stand up and boldly say NO to billionaire Broad. He is Scott Schmerelson, the most recently elected board member and a retired educator in the LAUSD schools.
An article in LA School Report says:
“As a retired, life-long LAUSD educator, I believe that I have a moral obligation to raise awareness and understanding of externally driven strategies that support the uncontrolled proliferation of charter schools at the expense of the District’s ability to adequately provide for the needs of all students, especially the most disadvantaged students who rely on public education,” Schmerelson told LA School Report.
As impassioned as the resolution may be, it’s effectively toothless in terms of changing how the district deals with charter applications and renewal requests that come before the board. State law creates the rules for charters, and it only provides for denials in the cases of questionable finances or managerial weakness.
In his review of the resolution, LA Unified’s chief legal counsel, David Holmquist, said as much: “It should be noted that any analysis done by the district on any charter school proposal needs to be in accordance with the provisions of the Education Code.” He added, “The Board should be cautioned against using any fiscal impact to the district and potential decrease in revenues as bases for denying a charter.”
That’s part of the problem, Schmerelson said, pointing to state regulations that restrict how the school board monitors, controls and approves charter schools. “We need to change state law and clarify ambiguous state and district guidelines that hamper our ability to act as responsible charter authorizers and exercise diligent oversight of existing charter schools,” he said.
Understand this state law: school boards cannot deny a charter application simply because it will impoverish the district and rob the children of necessary resources. So Broad wants to create a system that is separate and unequal. The students in his privately run charters will have the resources they need, while the children who remain in LAUSD will be stripped of courses, programs, teachers, nurses, staff, and maintenance. Broad promises to create his little empire by robbing those children not lucky enough to gain admission. Eli Broad does not believe in equality of educational opportunity. He believes in the free market, so long as he is in control.
His proposal is a disgrace. He wants “great schools now” for some children, and “rotten schools now” for others. This can’t be America.
Scott Schmerelson most certainly is a hero of American education and of this blog.
This is Board Member Schmerelson’s resolution (Item 25 at this link):
Mr. Schmerelson – Excellent Public Education for Every Student (Res-019-15/16) (Noticed November 10, 2015 and Postponed from a Previous Meeting)
Whereas, The recently released report from the Los Angeles Unified School District Independent Financial Review Panel indicates that declining enrollment is one of the critical issues that the District needs to proactively address in order to remain fiscally viable and to be able to provide a high quality, full service public education for every child who enters public schools in Los Angeles;
Whereas, The recently released “Plan for Great Public Schools” from the Eli Broad Foundation seeks to aggressively move over 250,000 students from LAUSD public schools to privately operated, under-regulated charter schools;
Whereas, The Broad Foundation plan does not address the impact, implications and potential for collateral damage to the approximately 300,000 students who would be left in a LAUSD system precariously drained of resources, programs and support systems;
Whereas, The Governing Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District passed the “Believing in our Schools Again” resolution in May 2015 directing the Superintendent to identify successful programs within the District including but not limited to magnets,
International Baccalaureate programs, Dual Language Immersion programs, STEM/STEAM programs, and Pilot schools and develop a comprehensive strategy to grow these programs and strengthen instruction and support at neighborhood schools;
Whereas, The Independent Financial Review Panel made similar recommendations for investment in successful District programs;
Whereas, The Board serves as both the authorizer of the largest number of charter schools in the nation and is responsible for ensuring an excellent educational program for over 540,000 students in LAUSD schools and programs;
Whereas, Rather than incubating ideas and sharing best practices between robust LAUSD programs and innovative charter schools as originally envisioned, recent tactics of saturation and strangulation threaten to create unnecessary competition for precious resources and to divides students and communities; and
Whereas, The Board is committed to the most important and comprehensive education equity mission in the nation and must have the needed resources to implement the A-G for All resolution, the School Climate Bill of Rights, the Equity Index and other essential initiatives to ensure 100% graduation of all students who are college and career ready; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Governing Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District, while diligently seeking new District leadership, affirms and publicly commits to making every possible effort to attract and retain students and parents by engaging with all stakeholders to develop a framework for excellent public schools, and improved outcomes, for every student by relying on tested strategies and forward thinking new models that include:
- Research based curriculum and instruction designed to provide all students with equitable and rigorous learning opportunities to equip our graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary for college readiness, career training and preparation for successful lives after high school;
- Fostering Community Schools intentionally directed at improving student achievement, through a holistic approach to teaching and learning, by implementing policies and programs that recognize and support the social, emotional, physical and academic needs of all students;
- Demanding, supporting and cultivating accountable school leadership and teaching staff who understand and project a clear vision and high expectations of academic excellence for all students;
- Leveling the playing field for our youngest students, who daily endure the disadvantages of poverty, by providing access to high quality early learning opportunities that are aligned with first-rate early literacy programs;
- Equitably funded, sequential arts and music education curricula that advance creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills for all students regardless of their socioeconomic status;
- Acknowledging that student safety is our highest priority and that parents expect their children in our care to be vigilantly protected and educated in secure, well maintained facilities;
- A meticulous and urgent review of our parent engagement efforts that recognizes that we are not always successful in creating welcoming and resource rich environments and policies that support and encourage critical family involvement in student achievement;
- Developing aggressive and definitive plans for improving student and staff attendance and reducing our unacceptable dropout rate;
- Bold and consistent advocacy for adequate and equitable local, state and federal funding while improving responsible, transparent and accountable management of public revenues; and be it finally
-
Resolved, That the Board directs the Superintendent to analyze all external proposals targeting
the District for their impact in terms of enrollment, fiscal viability and the District’s ability to
provide an outstanding public education with comprehensive student and family supports before
that proposal is considered by the Board.
Mr. Schmerelson was a teacher and principal. He was assigned to one of the most challenged middle schools in LAUSD. His leadership lead to many positive changes in that school. He knows first hand what it would mean to starve these schools of even more resources.
While the article in LA School Report states that charter advocates claim that his resolution is unlawful, why is it lawful to legally steal resources from students in traditional public schools? The State Board of Education must step up to the plate and revisit the charter law. That’s their job.
It’s no wonder that there are efforts being made to repeal the charter law.
“Scott Schmerelson most certainly is a hero of American education and of this blog.” Very true. And in a city where the norm is smiling for the camera and then retreating to the back room to make a private deal, Schmerelson’s uncompromising values are all the more appreciated.
Thank you Left Coast for pointing out the lack of transparency in most of the decisions and dealings of the LAUSD BoE. It is a major part of the problem in this district…and it brought LA too many Broad Academy flacks.
He knows that if there are passionate advocates for charters and then “agnostics” that leaves public schools without a public advocate.
Agnostics aren’t advocates.
The thumb on the scale in ed reform towards privatization and away from existing public schools is glaringly obvious. If you’re looking at it as an “outsider” you’re mystified why it isn’t recognized.
Did Schmerelson throw his hat in the ring for Superintendent? A girl can dream.
Thank you, Scott Schmerelson, and thank you, Diane Ravitch, for recognizing a hero when you see one! This resolution is the DEFINITION of GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOW. Finally, instead of reacting to all the privatizers’ proposals, a board member is proactively stating “This is what we are here for!”
Research based curriculum and instruction, fostering community schools, demanding and supporting school leadership and teachers; addressing poverty by providing access to high quality early learning opportunities; restoring sequential arts education; vigilantly protecting children in secure, well maintained facilities; meticulously and urgently reviewing parent engagement; developing aggressive and definitive plans for improving student and staff attendance and the drop out rate; boldly and consistently advocating for adequate and equitable local, state and federal funding (probably need to look at the Students First lobbyist in the Government Relations department); analyzing the impact of all proposals in terms of enrollment, fiscal viability and the District’s ability to provide an outstanding public education.
Finally, in “recognizing the need to engage all stakeholders,” Scott Schmerelson acknowledges that without a public constituency, the school board and district (the largest in the nation with a democratically elected board) just may cease to exist at all. And this is exactly and comprehensively what we have been seeking.
You guys will love this.
It’s about physicians losing everything they value about their profession in the relentless pursuit of data and profits and then joining a union 🙂
“It was the idea that they could end up seeing more patients that prompted outrage among the hospitalists at Sacred Heart, which has two facilities in the area, with a total of nearly 450 beds. “We’re doctors, we’re professionals,” Dr. Alexander said. “Giving me a bonus for seeing two more patients — I’m not sure I should be doing that. It’s not safe.” (A hospital representative said patient safety was “inviolate.”)
Some Sacred Heart hospitalists left for other jobs, and the rest formed a union, one of the first of its kind in the country.”
Teachers really aren’t alone. US workers of all stripes are freaking miserable.
That’s fantastic. There are many parallels between medicine and education. A decade or two ago bean counters started taking over medical decisions and physicians complained of becoming “providers” of services marked on check boxes on an insurance form instead of the educated professionals that they are. Teachers and education activists need to recognize the larger political agenda this advances. (btw, Chiara, I’d love to correspond with you directly–Karen@PSconnectNow.org).
Great link, Chiara. I found myself reacting the same way to this article as I do to the reports from veteran educators: clenched jaw, irritability, jitters,…
For those blog commentators supporting charters this posting is a direct and powerful invitation to show that it’s not all about privatization and $tudent $ucce$$ for the few at the expense of the many and undermining democracy and public education—
They should be all in for Schmerelson’s resolution. Period. No excuses. Not just because it’s the right thing to do but because they claim that’s what charters (and, as I see it, privatization) is all about, at least so saith the public proclamations: rising tide that lifts all boats; friendly helpful competition; transparency; efficiency; fiscal responsibility; doing more with less—need I add more of [what I see as*] the selling points? *Prove me wrong.*
Silence is lack of compliance with the very simple and direct intent of the resolution to make plain when ordinarily goes largely unsaid and unpublicized.
Waiting, but based on unfortunate experience, not holding my breath…
😎
If you look at the link to the resolution, also look at TAB(Item) 23. Board member and former teacher Monica Ratliff has authored another resolution to bring more transparency to the approval/renewal process for charter schools. I’m sure the charter industry, especially CCSA(California Charter School Association) will be out in force at the meeting.
CCSA has always claimed that it supports the shutting down of “bad” charters. But, when push comes to shove, they show up at board meetings attempting to keep these charters open.
Unfortunately, LAUSD has broken its own conflict of interest policy by placing a former employee of CCSA as head of their Charter School Division. But it doesn’t stop there. The State of CA’s Advisory Commission for Charter Schools is headed by a charter operator and several members of the committee fall into the same category. There goes any claim of independence when it comes to transparency.
The CCSA looks at scores of independent charters for closure. Not sure they do that for the politically connected.
I hadn’t heard of Scott Schmerelson before he ran for LAUSD school board. What of course worried me was that he was a Republican.
You would normally think that would send a progressive educator screaming off the rails.
Schmerelson has instead gone places where no one on LA’s Board has had the courage to go. In contrast, BOE Presient Steve Zimmer (who quotes Martin Luther King, Jr. any chance he gets in his speeches) has been pathetic and cowardly most of his career in championing a progressive education agenda for the schools of LA.. Schmerelson is a much truer heir to MLK’s fighting principles than any other member of the Board.
Schmerelson says things that milquetoast Democrats like former Board President Richard Vladovic and Neo-liberal Democratic charter advocates (and billionaire allies) like Monica Garcia and Ref Refugio don’t: The largest democratically-elected school board in the nation has an obligation to take a strong stand on what is the most just and advantageous for ALL the students of Los Angeles.
The most important aspect of Schmerelson’s proposal is that he is forcing a PUBLIC discussion that is indeed long overdue. I am anxious for it to be part of the official record so we know where each of our board member’s stands on Eli Broad’s proposal.
For the good of democracy, it is essential to have the key players in the debate state their positions so all can hear with their rationales. This precise honesty will be important in assessing the practicalities, the realities and in whose interests this plan benefits..
This Charter debate also brings up the pressing competing notions of what pedagogy our LAUSD students receive (and from whom) and how it is administered.This has been completely neglected in our discussions of WHO should be the new Superintendent and it is extremely telling which board member advocates WHAT philosophies.
I have come to appreciate Schmerelson’s ground level observation as a principal in a LA school. The knowledge and sophistication he gleaned from the experience shapes the passion of his resolve.
Here are words I never thought I would say: I am thrilled that the voters elected this particular Republican to advocate for the best public education possible in LA.
Thank you, Scott Schmerelson.
You are the voice Progressives have waited so long for in LA.
Well, it had to be said. Geronimo is not the only public education advocate in Los Angeles to be frustrated with Steve Zimmer’s weak defense during the years long attack on our schools.
I honestly believe that Steve wants to support our cause, but he fancies himself a jedi master who is doing some secret, elaborate maneuvers to appease Eli Broad so as not to face his wrath in re-election. That’s not going to happen.
Governor Jerry Brown learned that. He was careful not to seek too much in his vital tax measure, Prop 30, for fear of alienating Eli who was publicly supporting the measure. But Common Cause revealed that Eli and other billionaires were simultaneously secretly funding the contrasting measure http://articles.latimes.com/2013/oct/24/local/la-me-pc-secret-donors-california-initiatives-20131024.
Any board member who thinks that remaining silent will prevent the CCSA and Eli Broad from working to unseat them is wasting a seat on the Board. We need board members to join Scott Schmerelson in publicly declaring their allegiance to our public schools and working to strengthen them.
As always…so well said Geronimo. And I am in total agreement with you.
And yes, Karen, many of us are upset and frustrated at Zimmer proclamations that are full of sound and fury, and MLK quotes, but are meaningless as shown by his voting record on the LAUSD BoE. The same goes for Richard Vladovic. Both were/are presidents of the Board and could have made remarkable change if they had voted with Ratliff and Kayser, but too often they supported John Deasy and his claque of Garcia and Galatzan.
Now they both have a second chance…and they should be outspoken in supporting Scott Shmerelson in his open battle against the charter takeover attempt by Eli Broad and his followers.
I also worry about George McKenna who, in an expensive special election, replaced the excellent Marguerite La Motte when she died, Marguerite was never afraid to take a stand against Broad/Deasy and their hench women Monica Garcia and Tamar Galatzan….neither of whom are fit for any elected office. Today we see the duo of Garcia and Refugio Rodriguez who won his seat on the BoE by the machinations of Voteria.
So, now Garcia and Rodriguez should not be permitted, encouraged, in their pro charter school antics by a weak sister…Zimmer (paired with weak sister Vladovic) who thinks he is Gandhi and wants all Board votes to be unanimous rather than just a simple majority vote. This is a ridiculous behavior…and Zimmer is far from Mahatma. Steve…as I always say, prove me wrong and I will apologize publicly.
Zimmer’s fear of Ratliff’s ability and popularity with the public, made him appoint on the day he took office, the brand new member, McKenna as his VP so that he will follow as the next Prez. The far more experienced Ratliff got stabbed in the back. Steve seems to be more intent on polishing an image of a mediator who will next run for State office, than a dedicated public school elected BoE member.
Ellen, my own very small district had a period of time when the Board thought it was good policy to have a consensus on all votes. I didn’t always agree with the stand of some of our less conciliatory board members, but I did appreciate that they had a different take on an issue. There must have been a slough of popular books on management by consensus . Silly.
The Republican and Democratic Parties have become tools of International Corporations and businesses led by people who want the benefits of the Bill of Rights but no responsibility. Entitlement personified. Schmerelson seems unrecognizable as a Republican because the current party is actually a Libertarian/oligarchical structure. And the Democrats are not far behind. Trump and Sanders illuminate this state of affairs. It just might be that America’s seventy-five year run of exceptionalism is over and decline has set in.
The Ottoman Empire lasted 800 years, the British far less, and the American may be even shorter.
Perhaps those born into the working class should look outside the States for the new millenium.
This gentleman needs to speak to Gov. Brown–personally–and soon. Brown thinks charter schools still operate as they did when he opened two of them in Oakland during his tenure there as mayor. He currently has no ownership or participation in any charter school in CA–so no conflict of interest here on the part of Brown. Charter schools have morphed into something far from that model he worked with in Oakland, CA.
I spoke with someone on the education committee in Sacramento over winter break. It was stated rather obliquely in the conversation that it is Brown’s ignorance (I hate to say that about Brown, as I admire his intelligence and service in politics) on this issue that is creating the maelstrom in CA regarding charter schools, thus enabling Broad and others to capitalize on the liberal legislation allowing the proliferation of such entities in CA.
CTA’s attempt to introduce AB787 to prevent profiteering by charter schools was vetoed by Brown (I have a copy of the veto statement). His veto of this legislation was due to sheer ignorance according to my source-the veto statement is clear to that as well.
Maybe if Scott Schmerelson met with the governor, Scott could enlighten Brown to the current state of affairs on the nasty tentacles reaching into the public pot for their own personal gain. Bravo to Scott and thank you Diane for this information. Keep up the good fight.
Jerry Brown, unfortunately, appointed the multi millionaire PUC Charter School developer/owner (16 schools), to the most prestigious Education Commission in Sacramento. As much as Brown has improved our State since Arnie the Austrian was Gov, he still has a long way to go. And his sister Kathleen Brown, is an attorney for the powerful firm of Manatt….which represents most of the billionaire charter ‘pushers’ who are the enemies of public schools.
Too bad UTLA is silent about the charterization of LAUSD — unless you count marching around in a circle. Instead the union is pushing a 30% dues increase to members, and wants to create a “pass through” so our NEA and AFT affiliates can raise dues on us anytime they want to — without a vote of the membership. Right now the only way to hold our affiliates accountable is through a vote — and UTLA wants members to give that up. These are the same affiliates who sold out workers to the charter movement long ago. Why is UTLA asking members to give up their voice? Crickets from UTLA