February 2010 Archives

The LAUSD board has voted to approve educational reform plans for Gardena and San Pedro high schools that were authored by teachers and administrators at each campus.

The two schools were among the least contentious -- because they had generated no bids for control from outside charter groups -- at an ongoing board meeting where members are selecting winners of the Public School Choice process.

Superintendent Ramon Cortines had said he was recommending the internal reform plans for Gardena and San Pedro "with reservations."

At the request of Richard Vladovic, the board member who represents the Harbor Area, along with Carson, Gardena and Lomita, that label was dropped for San Pedro High. Vladovic called it a "slight stigma," saying that he was proud of the teachers' plan for the school.

"San Pedro High is a good school that's fallen away and we're bringing it back," Vladovic said. "The community is committed."

That means the San Pedro High plan will be implemented as authored.

In contrast, Gardena High will need to make changes -- including authoring a more specific instructional plan and a detailed vision for community involvement -- to its plan by the end of March. Gardena's plan will be reviewed for renewal every three years.

Like other winning Public School Choice applicants, San Pedro will have five years before applying for renewal.

Bonnie Reiss, a member of the University of California Board of Regents, has been chosen to be the governor's top education advisor. She replaces Glen W. Thomas, who stepped down earlier this month to take care of his ailing mom.

"I enthusiastically support the Governor's priorities for education and his commitment to seeing that every child receives a great education that allows them to achieve their dreams," Reiss said in a statement. "I believe that every door opened to me in my life has been because of education, and I am committed to working to ensure that all children have the tools they need to achieve success."

Reiss, a former advisor to the governor, was named to the UC system's governing board in March 2008. She previously served as an senior advisor to Schwarzenegger from 2003-2007. The Education Secretary position does not require Senate confirmation and Reiss will earn $175,000 annually.

"Bonnie has always been a friend to the California State University in her various capacities with the Governor's office, and we look forward to working with her in her new position as Secretary of Education," said Charles B. Reed, California State University Chancellor, in a statement issued this morning.

"She understands the important role that public higher education plays in the state's economic recovery, and the critical need to educate the future workforce," he added.

While on the UC Board of Regents, Reiss served on the California Postsecondary Education Committee and the UC Committee on Educational Policy. She has degrees from the University of Miami and Antioch Law School.

*UPDATE: Here's a statement on Reiss' appointment by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell:

"I look forward to continuing to work with Bonnie Reiss as she takes on this new role," O'Connell said. "Bonnie is knowledgeable about the challenges and opportunities faced by public education during these difficult economic times. With her leadership, the collaboration between my office and the Governor's Office of Secretary of Education will continue as we work together to implement education reform efforts and secure critical federal funding for California schools."

Reiss, 54, worked as a staff member for Senator Edward Kennedy while a law school student, and took a one-year leave of absence when he ran for president in 1980 to help run his campaign.

From City News Service:

INGLEWOOD (CNS) - Burglars broke into more than 10 classrooms at St. Mary's Academy in Inglewood over the weekend and stole laptop computers and other electronics valued at more than $25,000, police reported today.

Inglewood police detectives sought clues to identify the culprits, said Lt. Oscar Serrano of the Inglewood Police Department.

Anyone with information about the break-in at the campus in the 700 block of Grace Avenue was asked to call the Inglewood Police Department's Burglary Section at (310) 412-5245.

St. Mary's is a Catholic, all-girls high school.

 The El Segundo Chamber Choir, directed by Gianna Summer, peformed at Carnegie Hall earlier this month.

Here's the press release:

On February 14, the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International and Distinguished Concerts Singers International, comprised of auditioned chorus members from across the country, including the El Segundo High School Chamber Choir (Mrs. Gianna Summers, Director), presented a Sold-Out concert event at legendary Carnegie Hall's Isaac Stern Auditorium entitled Love, Lust and Light - A Valentine's Day Concert.

The performance opened with DCINY Conductor Laureate Vance George, who conducted Carl Orff's most famous work, Carmina Burana and featured soloists Penelope Shumate, soprano, Dillon McCartney, tenor and Stephen Swanson, baritone. The Distinguished

Singers/Orchestra International then performed Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna under the baton of DCINY Guest Conductor Nancy Menk. These pieces communicate directly with the human heart and provided a fitting celebration of Valentine's Day.

This concert marked a stunning achievement for the performers, and was made even more special with every seat filled in world famous Carnegie Hall. We at DCINY would like to congratulate Mrs. Gianna Summers and the El Segundo High School Chamber Choir. We look forward to words of their future success and to welcoming them on the DCINY Concert Series whenever they wish to return.

Photo courtesy of Ilona Peterson

Local students have jumped into action to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti, organizing fundraising drives and reaching out to the local community for food and clothing donations.

At Billy Mitchell Elementary School in Lawndale, third grade students recently organized a "Pennies for Haiti" drive. Students, parents and staff members donated what they could - pennies, dimes and quarters. Together, they raised $1,052.08. The money was donated to the Three Angels Children's Relief organization, which runs an orphanage and school in Haiti.

"When there is a need, our students are right there and give as much as they can. Now there is a big need, and once again the children stepped up and helped a cause," said third-grade teacher Ilona Peterson.

Los Angeles Unified today posted the comments from two review panels examining reform proposals authored by teams applying to run 30 campuses, including San Pedro and Gardena high schools.

Under the district's unusual reform effort -- Public School Choice -- 12 existing "focus schools" and 24 new campuses are up for bid. Superintendent Ramon Cortines asked two teams of education experts to examine the plans.

The reviewers' thoughts, along with Cortines' own (still undisclosed) analyses, will accompany the results of last week's community votes in a messy package to be voted on by the Board of Education Feb. 23.

Well, it doesn't look so good for San Pedro and Gardena high schools, two of the focus schools named by Cortines last fall.

The schools received no outside bids and submitted reform plans authored by current staff. Their plans received less than enthusiastic reviews, which said the proposals lacked detail. One unnamed reviewer said Pedro's plan needed polishing, noting somewhat strangely, "This is party a gut feeling."

Of Gardena, another reviewer wrote: "The current staff has failed to implement District policies with fidelity; therefore, I am not confident that this partner will implement effective structures to support the plan."

I'm having trouble copying any of the comments, but they're worth a read. They're here.

California State Sen. Dean Florez (D-Bakersfield) has announced legislation that would seek to limit fee hikes for students enrolled in the state's public universities.

The bill, introduced Wednesday, would guarantee students pay the same tuition fees throughout their years of schooling.

"The university has got to stop looking at our students as walking ATM machines," Florez told The Californian.

The bill, SB 969, called "The California College and University Fee Stabilization Act of 2010," would also seek to put a five percent cap on university fee increases.
Student fees have been increased 32 percent during the last year by both California State and University of California systems.

Florez represents the Kern County town of Shafter and is running for Lieutenant Governor.

A group calling itself Save Gardena High is apparently urging parents, staff and community members at the school to vote no on a reform plan authored by teachers and administrators.

A spokesman for the group, who gave his name as both Sean Renear and Sean Kennedy, said the group favors the school's reconstitution, a radical move in which all existing staff are fired and made to reapply for jobs.

"The patients can no longer run the asylum," Renear said.

The Gardena reform plan -- drawn up in response LAUSD's Public School Choice process, which let outside groups bid for control of 12 troubled and 18 new campuses -- was unveiled last month. Gardena High received no outside bids, so voters are simply voting yes or no on the internal plan. (Here's my story on the plan and its reception. A PDF of the plan itself is here.)

Renear sent out his press release on Wednesday afternoon, a day after the main voting period. Voters can also cast ballots on Saturday morning.

Renear said no members of Save Gardena High were comfortable speaking to me because they feared repercussions from teachers and/or for the safety of their jobs. The group consists of former and current administrators, teachers and parents, he said.

My questions to you readers are these: Have you heard anything about this group? Are you involved? Do you know anyone who is involved?

If you know anything, contact me at melissa.pamer@dailybreeze.com or 310-543-6606.

The press release sent by Renear is after the jump:

Leadership students at Palos Verdes High School are putting on a concert this evening to raise funds for relief following the earthquake in Haiti.

"We've already from $5,600 from ticket sales," said Kristin Huber, the school's activities director. "The kids have worked so hard on this event."

Huber oversees the Associated Student Body, which is organizing the event.

The event is tonight from 5 to about 8 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and about 10 student bands and soloist will perform. The public is welcome.

The event benefits World Concern, a nonprofit Christian humanitarian group.

If you can't attend, students are encouraging donations via check. Donors sending over $10 will receive a tax ID number.

Donations can be sent to:
Palos Verdes High School
attn: Kristen Huber
600 Cloyden Road
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274

No Surprise here.

Charitable contributions to the nation's universities dropped 11.9 percent to $27.85 billion, according to a survey released today by the Council for Aid to Education. The decline is the steepest in the survey's history and was expected considering the current economic climate.

"Historical patterns indicate that as the economy recovers, contributions will rise again," said Ann E. Kaplan, director of the survey. "However, 2009 was a difficult year for colleges and universities and, indeed, also for the individuals and institutions that care about them."

UCLA was ranked ninth among the top 20 fundraising universities, receiving $351.69 million in 2009. Stanford University topped the list, raising $640.11 million.

More from NPR:

The money given to colleges and universities for their endowments and physical assets, like buildings, took the biggest hit, declining nearly 25 percent.

The fallout from this is fairly self-evident. Many schools will be forced to defer projects to renovate facilities or erect new ones.

Pay freezes and in some cases wage and benefits cuts will continue to affect many faculty, administrative and support personnel.

Glen W. Thomas will step down from his position as the governor's chief education advisor to take care of his ailing mother, Capitol Weekly reports.

Thomas, 63, was appointed to the post Jan. 21, 2009. The date of Thomas' departure has yet to be set.

From Capitol Weekly:

In explaining his departure, Thomas said:

"My 96-year-old mother is not well. Twenty-four years ago I cared for my father and I told my mother that when the time came I would do the same for her. It's been the highest honor to serve in the administration but family is always first priority."

A native Californian, Thomas is a former classroom teacher. He has also been a local school administrator and worked at the state Department of Education in a variety of posts including executive director of the State Curriculum Commission. He also helped develop the High School Exit Exam.

Most Californians favor tax increases to maintain current funding levels for the state's public schools, according to a survey released last week by the California Progress Report.

In the survey, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would pay higher taxes to avoid cuts to K-12 funding. About 70 percent said they support spending cuts to the stater's prison system. Half of California's surveyed said they would be willing to pay more taxes to protect higher education.

From the press release:

But while majorities want to protect K-12 schools and cut spending on prisons, Californians are as divided as their leaders on the overall strategy to deal with the state's $20 billion budget deficit: 41 percent favor a mix of spending cuts and tax increases and 37 percent favor mostly spending cuts (9% favor mostly tax increases). They are in more agreement when it comes to asking the federal government for help, as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has done: 66 percent say California should seek federal aid to help meet its budget obligations.

When asked which of the four main areas of state spending they would most want to protect from budget cuts, 58 percent choose K-12 public education--the area most Californians have wanted to spare each of the nine times PPIC has posed the question.

Results were based on telephone surveys with 2,001 California residents in January.

Among the reform proposals President Obama plans to implement to the Bush Administration's landmark "No Child Left Behind" will be changes to the way school districts receive federal funds. Under the proposal, announced today, distribution of funding will be based on student achievement and academic progress, rather than enrollment.

The proposal would also eliminate the controversial 2014 deadline for academic proficiency. Any changes to the law would have to be approved by Congress.

From the New York Times:

Significantly, said those who have been briefed, the White House wants to change federal financing formulas so that a portion of the money is awarded based on academic progress, rather than by formulas that apportion money to districts according to their numbers of students, especially poor students. The well-worn formulas for distributing tens of billions of dollars in federal aid have, for decades, been a mainstay of the annual budgeting process in the nation's 14,000 school districts.

Currently the education law requires the nation's 98,000 public schools to make "adequate yearly progress" as measured by student test scores. Schools that miss their targets in reading and math must offer students the opportunity to transfer to other schools and free after-school tutoring. Schools that repeatedly miss targets face harsher sanctions, which can include staff dismissals and closings. All students are required to be proficient by 2014.

Educators have complained loudly in the eight years since the law was signed that it was branding tens of thousands of schools as failing but not forcing them to change.

The education law has been praised for focusing attention on achievement gaps, but it has also generated tremendous opposition, especially from educators, who contend that it sets impossible goals for students and schools and humiliates students and educators when they fall short. The law has, to date, labeled some 30,000 schools as "in need of improvement," a euphemism for failing, but states and districts have done little to change them.

The last serious attempt to rewrite the law was in 2007. That effort collapsed, partly because teachers' unions and other educator groups opposed an effort to incorporate merit pay provisions into a rewritten law. Earlier this month, Mr. Duncan and more than a dozen other administration officials took steps toward organizing a new rewrite, meeting with the Democratic chairmen and ranking Republican members of the education committees in both houses of Congress.

The Obama Administration will also seek to add $3 billion in additional for funding the nation's public schools. Once the law is reauthorized, an additional $1 billion would be added. More money would also be given to charter schools.

From Reuters:

(Obama) would also expand the stimulus initiative known as "Race to the Top" that funded new education innovations, especially at semi-autonomous charter schools, and has added $490 million in his budget for the charter school system. He would also create a $500 million testing program to gauge the success of various innovations.

In the budget, Obama also proposes giving $950 million of competitive grants to states and school districts for recruiting teachers and principals, as well as train them, and $210 million to "Promise Neighborhoods," to strengthen community services for students.