Los Angeles Unified School District board member Steve Zimmer's office on Thursday began sending out a response to constituent questions about inter-district transfers. The e-mail response explains the goal of his resolution: to exempt current high-school students only.
Zimmer, who represents the Westside and western San Fernando Valley, says he has heard the frustration of parents who want to continue to obtain permits to transfer their children to other, typically higher-achieving school districts. But, he said, financial pressures necessitate the move.
He also responds to "very ugly private feelings about LAUSD" that have been revealed by debate over the permit issue.
The text of the response is below:
To the Concerned Families of School Board District 4 and Beyond,After careful consideration and weighing of priorities, I have introduced a resolution to limit the potential disruption to students caused by LAUSD's new policies regarding inter-district transfers. The resolution will come before the Board on Tuesday, April 6. Per our board rules, seven speakers will be allowed to present their concerns in the meeting. If passed, the resolution will exempt all current high school students from permit cancellation. It also specifies that LAUSD staff should consider whether there is a viable LAUSD program for students who are presently enrolled in specialized programs when hearing appeals.
The goal of my resolution is to address very specific groups of students who would be materially damaged by permit cancellation. I recognize this resolution will not address everyone's needs. I have been the leading voice on the Board insisting that the Superintendent raise revenue to address our financial crisis. I support this and all of his efforts to offset the devastating cuts facing the children in our district. I have heard your voices of outrage and desperation. But I need you to understand there is outrage and desperation everywhere. We face the worst financial crisis since the depression--no one is out of harm's way. I do care about your family and your child. But I also care about families and children in East Hollywood, Mar Vista and in the West Valley who have invested in LAUSD and do not deserve to be in classes that have almost 40 children to every teacher.
This permit issue has brought some very ugly private feelings about LAUSD and our students into the full light of day. It is one thing to advocate for the needs of your children. The outrage and widespread panic over a potential return to our schools is another thing entirely. It is not necessary to disparage schools, denigrate staff and belittle children in the name of advocacy. There is a place for a reasoned conversation about the problems in LAUSD. But what is happening here is neither reasoned nor a conversation.
Please know that if I continue to I continue to receive letters and emails disparaging (directly and indirectly) our schools and our children, I will withdraw this resolution.
Respectfully,
Steve Zimmer
Board Member District 4
Los Angeles Unified School District
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