L.A. Unified staffers have already begun to tighten up their enforcement on the issue, according to an Oct. 24 memo issued by Jose Cole-Gutierrez, director of the district's charter school division. In the memo, Cole-Gutierrez said that after the Weekly story was published, his staff checked up on Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts, as well as other schools, to give guidance on their founding-parent policies.
Previously, the district lacked a clear definition of the term "founding parent." In his memo, Cole-Gutierrez offered his thoughts: "Founding Families are a finite group of individuals that assisted with the opening of a charter school. Any practice of adding to this group for a school that has been in existence for several years, and is well past its founding, is not consistent with our definition of Founding Families."
Cole-Gutierrez, who was unavailable for a follow-up interview, stated in the memo that he would work with the district's lawyers to determine what additional enforcement might be needed.
According to the minutes of the Los Feliz Charter School board meeting on Oct. 19, some board members had qualms about the founding-parent program. Others were concerned about negative publicity. Board member Matthew Shenoda was most outspoken, saying the program was not ethical and might "alienate" potential volunteers. Gabrielle Samuels, on the other hand, argued that it was most important to "stabilize the rumors and gain control."
Devis, the only Los Feliz official to respond to a request for comment, said the school would get along fine with the volunteer support it receives from parents who come in through the regular lottery process.
"Founding parents perhaps were needed at one point for the sustainability of the school, though I question that," Devis said. "We need to trust that the population is coming to the school because they're engaged with the school."
Several L.A. Unified board members did not return phone calls. At this point, it's uncertain whether Kayser's motion has enough support to pass.
The real scandal here is how the heavily white Larchmont Charter school and others are re-segregating public schools. It nowhere near represents the LAUSD schools' demographics of a Hispanic majority. I'd be curious to see their special education numbers. I bet those are out of whack too.
Disgusting indeed. God forbid a charter sets aside ten percent of its slots for the children of highly motivated parents. Why don't you focus on exposing the mediocrity at the local public schools and get an understanding of why charters have to be run differently in order to succeed? Why don't you interview parents whose taxes pay for LA public schools but who have to send their kids to private school because the local public school is so bad? These charters are jewels of their communities, serving children from ALL backgrounds, and all you can do is sh*t on them. Especially in the Silver Lake/Echo Park area, these charters are the only public schools where a lawyer's kid and a laborer's kid will be classmates. The only winners from this article: the teachers' union and self-righteous ideologues who don't have a clue of what it means to raise a family in Los Angeles. The losers: these charters, the kids who attend them, and the communities they serve. Why would the LA Weekly want to undermine our community with garbage articles like this? Shame.
Dear LA Weekly, stick to what you know....peddling adult ads and marijuana dispensaries with your throw-away which can be found clogging the gutters and sewers of Los Angeles. It may be best to leave alone the parents, children and teachers who wish to make a difference in this world.
The Clorox Company has offered $50,000 to the school with the most online votes. Please vote everyday from now until December 9 by texting: "Clorox3905" to 44144
Find everything you're looking for in your city
Find the best happy hour deals in your city
Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%
Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city
