Our oversight is “proactive and responsive” – José Cole-Gutiérrez, LAUSD Charter School Division Last June, I informed the LAUSD School Board that a charter school under their jurisdiction was violating the privacy of their students by publishing “Parent Volunteer Hours” reports on their website that included student names. The charter’s Chief Development Officer defended the […]
Click here for reuse options!Access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state” – California Government Code When LAUSD Superintendent Michelle King first disappeared from the halls of the Beaudry Building “some insiders said she injured herself in an accident while on vacation with her family.” […]
Click here for reuse options!In the congressional races in 2008, the candidate who had more money won more than 93% of the time. Our representatives don’t serve us; they serve the people who pay them — their corporate funders.” – Cenk Uygur The Republicans passed a tax bill despite the opposition of 55% of Americans. Now in an ass-backward […]
Click here for reuse options!Shoot the hostage.” – Speed The California Charter School Association (CCSA) paid millions to purchase the LAUSD School Board, but their narrow majority is in danger. Not only is Ref Rodriguez, one of their hand-selected Board members, facing criminal charges related to his campaign, but the charter school chain he founded has accused him of having […]
Click here for reuse options!We serve the people of Greater Los Angeles because we believe there is a better path for the children of our great district. Unfortunately, the serious allegations against Dr. Ref Rodriguez distract from that critical mission.” – Monica Garcia, Nick Melvoin and Kelly Gonez While the LAUSD School Board was evaluating the performance of the […]
Click here for reuse options!The following Letter to the Editor was sent yesterday in response to the Los Angeles Times’ article “L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez faces conflict-of-interest complaint over $285,000 in payments”. Unsurprisingly, it was not published. As the accusations against LAUSD Board member Ref Rodriguez mount, it is important to note that the charges are not […]
Click here for reuse options!Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” – Paraphrasing George Santayana Just months after assuming a majority of the LAUSD School Board, the charter supporters already find themselves embroiled in controversy. Their first selection for President, Ref Rodriguez, is facing felony charges and was forced to resign from the position. As […]
Click here for reuse options!This is much ado about nothing” – Attorney Mark Werksman According to the Felony Complaint against Refugio (Ref) Rodriguez, he and his cousin allegedly conspired in a scheme that hid the source of almost $25,000 in campaign donations from the public. While a lawyer involved in the case maintains that this is “a small amount […]
Click here for reuse options!Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – The First Amendment Apparently, the Bill of Rights is […]
Click here for reuse options!We cannot truly have the impact charters were intended to have – to reinvent public education – if we do not close those charters that have demonstrated an inability to meet the challenge of excellence and chronically underperform.” – California Charter School Association (CCSA) According to the statistics provided by the CCSA, View Park Middle […]
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