Press

Good news on chronic absences and the budget, despite a ‘structural deficit’ — a wrap-up of board action

Posted by · September 19, 2017 6:42 AM

Four independent charter schools run by the Inner City Educational Foundation Public Schools were approved for their five-year renewal, but a few board members were still concerned about low test scores at the schools, and a lack of a plan to help English learners. The ICEF prompted board member George McKenna to read a commentary about not renewing under-performing charter schools.

Board member Richard Vladovic noted that some of the redesignation of English learner students was below the district’s level, and said it was unacceptable. Board member Kelly Gonez noted that the students showed some improvements overall, and board member Monica Garcia said the schools have made great strides.

But parent and former candidate for school board Carl Petersen said that the ICEF schools have failed in their mission and have a high suspension rate and lack enough behavioral support.

New LA Unified school board is marked by its diversity, but can they get along?

Posted by · July 05, 2017 12:02 PM

"Other interesting notes about the new board:

Two board members, García and Schmerelson, ran against the same candidate, Carl Petersen, in the past. Petersen ended up supporting and campaigning with Schmerelson against Tamar Galatzan in 2015."

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July 4: A Day to Celebrate Our Heroes:

Posted by · July 05, 2017 7:58 AM

I always enjoyed July 4 as a day to celebrate our nation and to honor its heroes.

With an ignorant bully in the White House, it is hard to feel good about what is happening today. Trump seems eager to demolish the First Amendment and that’s bad for our nation and our future. He wants to remove environmental protection and allow the pillaging of our air, water, and lands. He wants to defund every social program that protects those who are in need while giving the military more money than it asked for.

But enough complaining! It is what it is!

Today I want to celebrate the everyday heroes across the nation who are fighting to protect public education against privatization.

I won’t remember all of them and I don’t know all of them, so I invite you to add the names of people you know in your district or state who are fighting to keep public schools public.

Today I honor the following...

Carl Petersen, Robert Skeels, Karen Wolfe, Ellen Lubic, Scott Schmerson, and all the other parents and educators in Los Angeles who keep hope alive for the survival of public schools in that billionaire-ridden city;

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LAUSD charter division looking into complaints brought by former school board candidate

Posted by · June 28, 2017 6:54 PM

"LA Unified’s charter school oversight division has confirmed it will look into complaints about three independent charter high schools made by a parent whose daughter attends one of the schools and who ran for school board this spring.

The charter division confirmed Tuesday that staff is looking into the complaints and will report back to the school board, likely at the September meeting.

Carl Petersen, who twice ran unsuccessfully for school board and opposed Mónica García this spring, spoke during public comment earlier this month before a closed session of the school board about the schools. One of the issues Petersen brought up includes what he calls “public shaming” of families by one school’s website that posts the number of hours families volunteered for the school. He also pointed out policies at two other schools which he said make it harder for homeless and special needs students to enroll because of documents the charters requested in applications."

Read the article on the LA School Report

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What the school board shift could mean for Michelle King, who was just named Superintendent of the Year

Posted by · May 20, 2017 12:36 PM

UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl predicted challenges for King with the new school board majority, and longtime LA Unified observer Carl Petersen said King’s job will be harder because of the board’s makeup. Petersen, who has twice run unsuccessfully for school board, said, “Michelle King will have it harder. The charter groups have bought themselves a new school board, and they will be tough on her.”

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JUST IN: Steve Zimmer concedes in LAUSD board race, Kelly Gonez leading in District 6

Posted by · May 20, 2017 12:29 PM

"When Zimmer arrived at his campaign’s party in Mar Vista, a somber crowd met him. UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl had been at Imelda Padilla’s party in Mission Hills but arrived at Zimmer’s party in time for his speech. Also at the party were school board member George McKenna, board secretariat Jefferson Crain, District 2 candidate Carl Petersen, and former school board members David Tokofsky and Bennett Kayser. Also attending were some LA School Police officers, not in uniform, and many members of UTLA, the teachers union."

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Election Results

Posted by · March 19, 2017 7:44 AM

Petersen is a parent and businessman. He is a frequent presence at school board meetings. He advocates for equitable access for special education students as two of his triplet daughters are on the autism spectrum. Two years ago, he unsuccessfully ran in District 3 against incumbent Tamar Galatzan. He then threw his support behind Scott Schmerelson who defeated Galatzan in the runoff. He raised nearly $3,000.

He said a challenge he faced in this race was there was only one candidate forum.

“I think, in the end, the district is the loser in that because no ideas are exchanged, which I think other than picking a person to lead, that’s what elections are for,” he said Tuesday night.

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Give Like a Billionaire

Posted by · March 01, 2017 9:40 AM

"The ferocity of CCSA’s attack is particularly visible and ironically so in LAUSD4 because Steve Zimmer defies the Charter movements bid for educational hegemony. But in fact their most obligated, least-forbearing minion is not even among the pair opposing Zimmer but has been entrenched in LAUSD2 since 2006. Not Zimmer, but in fact Mónica Garcia was the board’s president at the time of the iPad debacle. It was she who was ensconced at the foot of the board-U, shepherding Eli Broad’s unvetted and unqualified vassal John Deasy via then-superintendent Ramón Cortines, personally enabling one of the larger proposed heists of public monies in memory.

Why is it that she is not held accountable for selling out the district?

Zimmer convinces school board to go for ‘clean money’ elections

Posted by · February 18, 2017 9:21 AM

Carl Petersen, who is running against García, said during public comment, “Most, if not all, of you are recipients of special interest money. They are trying to influence how you do your job.”

In LA school board race, candidates try to move beyond the issue that pays: charter schools

Posted by · February 18, 2017 9:14 AM

“I think the charter forces sometimes forget the kids that are actually enrolled in the district get left behind. Mónica García has been particularly guilty of that," said Carl Petersen, who moved from Northridge to unincorporated East L.A. late last year specifically to challenge García.

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