The Flores-Aguilar Proposal for School Reform - Vote is Aug 25th - You Can Make a Difference

As you may know, this summer a proposal was submitted by LAUSD Board Member Yolie Flores-Aguilar to allow charter operators, teachers & administrators, and/or parents to bid for the operation all newly constructed schools and schools on academic probation for 3+ years (considered failing). At this point, the wording hasn’t been finalized, but the idea is that the community would be able to vote on which proposal they feel would be best for the school in their neighborhood.  It is being heralded as the first real step towards education reform by creating competition with the District and providing an alternative for schools that are not making it.

The Teacher’s Union (UTLA) is fighting this tooth and nail.  They are calling it the “school giveaway” proposal.  The reality is that charter and other types of school operators aren’t beholden to the 350+ page teacher contract that does not allow for the firing of bad and unsuitable teachers,  the reasonable evaluation of a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom or merit based pay.  UTLA’s mission has nothing to do with the quality of education or what is best for students.  It has only to do with protecting its members – which on its face is a noble and important mission.  But, not at the expense of our children. Incompetent teachers, teachers who don’t care, accused pedophiles….it’s almost impossible to get rid of them.  Maybe it’s time for a contract that demands excellence, that allows good teachers to be rewarded and poor teachers to be fired.  Maybe it’s time for the emphasis to be on providing the best education we can for the children of this city.

To be clear, we are NOT against teachers, or even unions! We are against the UTLA leadership policies that stand in the way of what’s in the best interest of schools, students and education.  

The School Board will be voting on the proposal on August 25^th.  If you agree that it makes sense to allow there to be a choice of school operators, and for parents and community members to be a part of the decision making process,  you can affect the vote by making a quick call (or dropping an email) to your School Board member to encourage him/her to vote yes next week.  Contact information and a sample script are listed below.  If you are unsure which Board Member is in charge of your district, you can look it up at http://laschoolboard.org/,

District 1 – Marguerite LaMotte marguerite.lamotte@lausd.net­ or 213-241-6382.

District 2 – Monica Garcia   monica.garcia@lausd.net or 213- 241-6108

District 3 – Tamar Galatzan  tamaar.galatzan@lausd.net or 213-241-6386

District 4 – Steve Zimmer steve.zimmer@lausd.net or 213-241-6387

District 5 – Yolie Flores-Aguilar  yolie.flores.aguilar@lausd.net or 213-241-6383

District 6 – Nury Martinez  nury.martinez@lausd.net or 213-241-6388

District 7 – Richard Vladovic Richard.vladovic@lausd.net or 213-241-6385

Sample Script:

Hello, I live in District X and I am calling to express my support of Ms. Flores-Aguilar’s proposal for school choice. I believe that this proposal could be the beginning of real reform in public education.  Parents and community members should be able to be a part of the conversation when deciding what makes sense for their schools. I urge you to support the proposal with a vote of yes on the 25^th.

Victoria

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MOMS UNITE is a grassroots parent advocacy group devoted to improving public education in California. Visit us at www.moms-unite.org.  To join, please send your contact information to join@moms-unite.org, join our Facebook group and follow us on Twitter @MOMSUNITE.