Newsletter – May 7, 2009

Congratulations Lisa Timmerman!

Lisa is the winner of the Petrick Award for Excellence in Education. We are all proud of you.

Budget News

Last Thursday night, principals, teachers and parents from all over the Palisades were at Revere Middle School to discuss the affiliated charter status, the potential layoff notices, the State and District budget as well as other general information. Approximately 150 people came to this meeting that was attended by a variety of LASUD administration and policy makers. The minutes of this meeting are attached to the end of this newsletter so that you can see what was discussed.

Life as a First Grader

As I am writing this newsletter, I am sitting here in a first grade classroom having traded places with our principal for the day winner, Andrew Shimanovsky. It is great to be in classrooms for this length of time, really experiencing life in the first grade. I have to say that our music enrichment teacher, Mr. Harrison, is truly loved by the kids. He not only teaches the children to have fun with music, the songs are educational and the children have a great time. I was amazed at one lesson he was teaching about rhythm and how he related it to student behavior. This was a great lesson that children totally understood. This is just one of our many enrichment programs that we are lucky enough to have due to the financial contributions of our parents.

Andrew Shimanovsky wrote the following paragraph to describe his day as principal.

I had the best day of my life so far. I had the longest day because I had a lot of work to do. Mr. Hollis did my work!! I had an assistant named Jason. When you’re the principal, you do a lot of walking. I had a really cool coffee break with two friends named Alec and Jason. I helped Mr. Josh make sure everyone was quiet at the library. I got my own walkie-talkie, and so did Jason, so we could talk to Mr. Hollis, Ms. Brucker, Ms. Borja, Ms. Miller, and the office. The best part was that I got my own office.

Survey Says?

Coming home to you on Monday will be a packet containing a parent survey that I need everyone to complete and return to me as soon as possible.

You may take the survey online by clicking here!

This survey is a way in which I can really see what you, the parents, value here at Marquez as well as what it is that you believe is the most important aspect of your child’s education. This survey will be used as input by the budget committee and the governing board when we decide what to purchase next year or what changes might need to be made to the Marquez programs due to the State’s inability to fund education to a desired level. Do you know that California is now 50th in public education funding? 50th!! To me that is unacceptable and we need to have a continuous, relentless opposition to this policy.

A list of all state assembly members will be contained in Monday’s packet. I know I have asked a lot of you lately, but our children need our help to correct this travesty with funding. Please consider contacting each and every member of the State assembly to remind them where our priorities must be placed. I know it is my opinion, and it is a biased one, being an elementary school principal and all, but I don’t understand how it is possible that education spending in California lags so far behind other states. I know we are in trouble, but priorities must be kept. If you share my views, please let them be known by calling, writing, emailing and pestering our representatives on a continual basis. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Again, please look for the packet coming home with your child on Monday. There will be important information for you to review. Including our plan for the potential teacher walk-out on Friday, May 15th.

Don’t forget that California Standards Testing begins on Monday, May 11. Please make sure your child in grades 2 – 5 gets a good nights rest, and makes it to school on time, even a bit early so that they are ready for testing.

As always, you can reach me at phollis@lausd.net

Palisades Affiliated Charter Schools

Paul Revere Middle, Palisades Elementary, Kentor Elementary, Canyon Elementary, Marquez Elementary, Topanga Elementary, Community Charter Magnet, Open Charter Magnet, & Westwood Charter

Thursday, April 30, 2009 Pali Complex Meeting

Meeting called to order by Fern Somoza, Principal, Revere Middle School

Introductions of Principals

Michelle King (MK), Local District 3, Superintendent, introduces the theme of support for the affiliated charters. She points out that she has her own children attending schools in this complex.

Introductions of Panel: Matt Hill (MH) is here to represent Superintendent Cortines’ office. Vivian Echian (VE), Human Resources, Steve Zimmer (SZ), School Board member elect, Marlene Canter (MC), School Board Member Jose Cole-Gutierrez (JCG), Director Charter Schools Division, Aaron Eairleywine (AE), Charter Schools Budget Division

Fern Somoza discusses the forum and process for the evening. Questions will be written on cards that will be handed to the principal’s to sort for common theme. Questions will be asked by the principal.

1. Within our Charter documents we have written a process for staff selection. During the RIF, if we do not find a suitable candidate to support our programs and philosophies, is it within our rights to return to the probationary lists, or can we have time to find the appropriate person?

V.E. – goods news – work will be done in stages – large number of retirees will result in fewer RIF – site selection at the charters will be honored – placement fairs will be held – after personnel with rights to positions are selected, additional RIF will be rescinded –

M. C. – money that parents raise will be able to purchase teachers – purchase must be in accordance with Ed Code and UTLA agreements

M.H. – task force will look at Ed Code and waivers for any restrictions on categorical money –

A.E – Categorical block grant has typically been $500 per ADA – currently looks like 13% deficit

Clarification – what about the time to select the best candidates – admins, clerk, teacher

M.K. – time will be allowed – classified staff also has “bumping” rights with district wide seniority – this is a ranking by strict seniority – May 15 will give us a good forecast

– can we interview them? – unanswered

2. Is there still an upcoming board vote regarding teacher layoffs and budget decisions?

M.C. – there will be a conversation regarding ways in which we use money – there is a motion on the table to address issues, but don’t stop planning – focus will be on making sure that schools have the staff they need

M.H. – May 15 – early retirement due and then impact will be readdressed –

3. What is going to happen to our P1and P2 teachers as to sub list wait list ?

V.E. – May 15 is date needed to get to in order to have a clearer picture – cannot share at this time for exact probability of what would happen to each employee – teachers will be rehired in bands – the district will try hard to have the ability to have these teachers return to their current school

4. How can we access the stimulus money?

M.C. – innovation money is in the stimulus package – set up a meeting with District super and sit and talk about that process – innovation is the key in this proposed stimulus money –

M.H. – finding the practices and innovative programs where success is being documented with data – and transferring this to other schools/districts – reach out to the superintendent’s office to get assistance with the grants

J.C.G.- how can we catalogue what is working – tension in the charters and the Ed Code needs to be leveraged to make change – working closely with the charter office and the office of the superintendent is required – Ed Code and Charter School Law often conflict, with Ed Code taking precedence

M.C. – align our programs to student progress – ask ourselves how to get money to increase student achievement –

5. Can we create an affiliated cohort separate from the independent charters – to highlight our programs? To decrease confusion from what is needed from independent charters and from affiliated charters?

J.C.G – yes – we are trying to make that distinction – many times there is information for everybody – principals were concerned last year that Affiliated Charters were being doubly visited for program reviews etc. We did make progress this year in making sure that the system was streamlined. – committee member will be reviewed

M.C. – make sure we have an ex-oficiado member of the charter commission led by a board member

6. Can we use the talented personnel and talent to make up the innovation team rather than from consultants?

M.H. – we are open for volunteers to access the innovation money – if you have recommendations please bring them to the attention of the superintendent’s office –

7. Why aren’t we using the stimulus money now to reduce class size and keep teachers now?

M.C. – controversial topic – I am of the opinion – short term gain, long term loss – this decision could impact us twice as hard next year – my decisions are based on experience with the district and my own experience – we have been advised that this is one time money – concessions would need to be made upfront – but no movement has taken place –

S.Z. – remember that these are extraordinarily stressful times -

M.H. – if there is a financially suitable plan on the backend, then superintendent is open – he is sitting with unions to discuss alternatives – cuts, furloughs, shared sacrifices,

6. How can we absolve the bump back rule?

J.C.G. – the board is working with the charter and ed code – you need to use your grass roots efforts to “force” the issue with regards to your charter issues – we need legislative changes –

M.C. – Ed Code bumping seniority issues trump the charter law – we need to rewrite Ed Code to work within charter laws – we need a new dismissal process for teachers not fulfilling their duties – collective bargaining was never intended for a crisis like this – reducing Beaudry was not the intention of bumping younger teachers – bumping rights are the reason for this RIF –

M.K. – Principals will not be replaced in hopes of continuity –

Clarification – stimulus money – isn’t this money intended for current crisis – the purpose was to help now –

M.H. – statement of the law was to be used over three years – not intended to be used this year completely – LAUSD is looking at many districts and how they are using their money and making sure it is being used correctly – we still don’t know exact dollar amounts – if we are being conservative with our estimates, superintendent will use the $ for jobs –

M.C. – 3 years is the intention – we have fiduciary responsibilities to the county and state – again it would be short term gain and we wouldn’t be responsible if we need money over year two and three –

7. What are the alternative strategies to ensure smaller classes and quality teachers can we have a parent task force?

M.H. – any solutions to increase revenues, look at parcel taxes, or look at bonds to free up money, we are looking at foundations, opening up books and have transparency available,

M.C – a time to pull together – not apart – we need to pressure the state – California spends so little on education – redirect our frustration onto Sacramento – important for parents to familiarize yourself with the budget at large – if $500 – $58 goes to retirement – we have to understand the budget and what allocations and pressures are put upon it – advise a town hall with a budget personnel to make sure we understand –

S.Z. –it would be incredible if everyone together built a movement directed at Sacramento – with a consistent and relentless manner that classrooms are number one!

8. As identified Non-Title 1 schools, we do not have equal access to grants. How do we assure equal access for alternate funding sources? And what about this funding?

M.H. – this is a federal program – the way the law is written says that 35% of population is required for this assistance – I believe it is the child that needs the assitance, not necessarily the school – every dollar that is generated should follow the child, but difficult to change federal law – we look at waivers to drop the percentage rate – look at disaggregated data – we can target money – title II money to target this population –

M.K. superintendent is aware and is looking for alternative funding in order to meet the needs of the achievement gap in our schools – what about sharing resources across schools and the district? School might be able share certain resources by purchasing them together.

9. Must place teachers are without a position and must be placed at a school – Will LAUSD enforce our charters and not place a “must place”

V.E. – absolutely – again I want to reiterate our job placement fair – the word “ must place “ has been eliminated from HRS – the hope is to marry the charters and the rights of the individuals with contract and return rights with the district – the people who are looking for positions are quite worthy of consideration

10. Increasing class size in this community will cause our families to go to private school. What can you do to help us with this problem?

M.C. – we have worked hard to have neighborhood children attend our schools, it has been my goal, and we are pleased with the numbers of neighborhood children coming to our community schools – we are a minority and often our needs are not looked at during policy making – pleads to not have community leave –

10. How do we save our teachers!

M.C. – we are in a crisis – we are feeling it everywhere – the stress is overwhelming on how to keep our community together – if you want more teachers, you have to have bare bones on other programs – the decision making is yours – you have to leverage money, but must comply with Ed Code and the RIF process – you cannot purchase P1 and P2 teachers

M.H. – the timeline – process we are in is due to Sacramento’s delay in passing a budget – May 15 again is a date that will reveal many answers –

S.Z. – will continue the advocacy that M.C. has begun

M.C. – your schools are not going to look the same – the situation is not normal – sit with the superintendent making sure that your needs are known -

Unfortunately our time has ended. Fern Somoza thanked the panel and the meeting was adjourned at 7:40.