Carl Petersen: The Flaw in California’s Charter Reform Legislation

"Carl Petersen, a veteran of the charter wars in Los Angeles, writes here about the serious defect in the charter reform law.

The law finally allows local school boards to determine whether proposed charter schools will damage the fiscal stability of the public schools, a welcome change.

But it also allows the unelected County Board of Education to overturn the decisions of the elected district school board. If the elected school boards determine that the proposed charter will damage the district, the unelected County Board can reject the decision of the local elected board. That is just plain wrong."

Read the article on Diane Ravitch's Blog.

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Carl J. Petersen: Watch Nick Melvoin Give Away Public Facilities to the Charter Industry

"Carl J.Petersen describes the machinations of Nick Melvoin, a school board member who was put into office by the money of the charter school lobby.

As blogger Michael Kohlhaas has demonstrated by publishing leaked emails between Melvoin and leaders of the California Charter School Association, Melvoin is looking out for the interests of his sponsors."

As posted on August 26, 2019

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Carl J. Petersen: Public School Allies Retake Control of the Los Angeles School Board

"Carl J. Petersen, parent advocate and blogger in Los Angeles, writes here about the long, hard struggle to wrest control of the Los Angeles Unified School District school board from the hands of the billionaires.

Eli Broad, Michael Bloomberg, Reed Hastings, and other billionaires have funded the campaigns of charter advocates. The billionaires spent many millions to gain control, only to see one member of their slim majority—Ref Rodriguez— indicted for campaign finance violations. Even after his indictment, however, he refused to step down for nearly a year until after the board had chosen businessman Austin Beutner as superintendent.

But everything changed after the election of Jackie Goldberg, who won Rodriguez’s seat.

Read this great story."

As posted on July 8, 2019.

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Greens in Office

At least 116 Greens currently hold elected office

Name Office Location Term Ends
Elected Carl Petersen Neighborhood Council Los Angeles, CA 05/2021

See the complete list on the GPUS ELECTIONS DATABASE.

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Los Angeles: Will LAUSD Close Down Failing Charter Schools?

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Los Angeles: Austin Beutner and Cronyism

"Carl J. Petersen, a watchdog in Los Angeles, has untangled a web of cronyism surrounding Superintendent Austin Beutner."

Read the full article on Diane Ravitch's blog.

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The strange case of Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.

"And investigative ed blogger Carl Petersen connects more of the curious dots between Beutner, Sebastian and the bad seed lobbyist’s political potentate dad, L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas."

Read the full article on Capital & Main.

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All You Want to Know About Looming Los Angeles Teachers Strike

Some were left stunned that the school board voted to allow volunteers into the classroom without full background checks. The board initially said no to the idea, but changed its position Tuesday ahead.

"I would've thought the district would have learned its lessons from Miramonte and the millions of dollars you paid out in claims," Carl Petersen, who has two special-needs daughters within the LAUSD, said, referring to a LAUSD elementary school teacher convicted of sexually abusing students. "This is one of the reasons we have financial problems."

Read the Full Article HERE

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Parents Call Potential LAUSD Strike Plan 'Phenomenally Irresponsible'

Carl Petersen who has two special-needs daughters within the LAUSD, addressed the board over the issue.

"I would've thought the district would have learned its lessons from Miramonte and the millions of dollars you paid out in claims," he said, referring to a former LAUSD elementary school teacher convicted of sexually abusing students. "This is one of the reasons we have financial problems."

"They look for short-term results. And right now the only thing they have on their minds is how to staff those schools and keep them open."

He calls the board's decision a disaster waiting to happen.

"Unfortunately some kid is going to pay the price," Petersen said.

Read the Full Article HERE

Watch the video HERE

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LAUSD Board Eases Volunteer Restrictions In Event Of Strike

“The school district has failed. They have a specific obligation to the children, and they failed it,” parent Carl Petersen told CBS2. “They’ve had, what is it, two years now, in contract negotiations, and they don’t want to settle.”

Read the Full Article HERE

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