LAUSD Spending Tax Dollars on Ballot Measure?
The cash sucking machine that is the Los Angeles Unified School District is now coming back to the trough begging voters to approve Measure Y and another $4 billion in debt, on top of the billions of dollars the district has already borrowed to ostensibly build new schools and fund other "needs."Come on - its for the children!
The sad thing is that despite spending increasing and increasing amounts of money each year, the public schools are showing lesser results. Indeed, a major issue in the Mayor's race earlier this year was that over 50% of LAUSD students do not graduate high school.
The Daily News is right when they say that LA Unified does not need more taxpayer financed debt, but a breather.
But more than just bringing a really financially bad idea to the voters, LAUSD may be using the taxpayers' dollars to sell a yes vote on Measure Y.
Just today, I received a mailer from the LAUSD selling the merits of Measure Y. As well, the District's website has extensive info on the measure, but no opposition viewpoints.
While they do not come out and specifically say "Vote for Measure Y," I find these activities inappropriate. Its something that really should be looked into.
And if anything, if the District is going to distribute information about the Measure at taxpayer expense, then they have the moral obligation to inculde opposing views.But for the district politicians and teacher union leaders who have become addicted to bond money like a junkie to crack, this may seem like a ludicrous idea. Hopefully, the voters will see the truth.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 10/28/2005 07:15:00 AM
13 Comments:
More bond money is just more money for Roy Romer's relatives to be given the building contracts.
District enrollment has plummeted over the past three years and is anticipated to continue to fall, most notably in primary schools. Charter schools continue to eat away at the LAUSD's student body, adding 20 new schools within the LAUSD this school year. Meanwhile, neither the Board of Education nor the LAUSD has made any real movement toward reform.
Of course not, anon 7:51. No reform, no results, just more money down the black hole of LAUSD. What a huge failure LAUSD is. And School Board member, and its past president, Jose Huizar, has the support of 10 councilmembers and every major organization endorsing him. This speaks very badly for the way the entire city is run.
On November 8 I am going to do something I thought I never would - I am voting Pacheco. Do you see a pattern here: LAUSD doing a useless job but good at getting lots and lots of bond money. The mayor already talking about bonds for affordable housing, for schools, for more cops, for homeless. Villaraigosa and Huizar are going to put huge burdens on us and our children in paying back all these bonds. And the sad thing on top is that, based on his record at LAUSD, we won't see any improvements after spending all this money!
O.K. Angelenos... Let's get real. There are still too many kids packed like sardines in some LAUSD schools. Whithout easing this overcrowding, how could we honestly implement true classroom reforms.
Let's ask the high school teachers with 40 students in 5 classes if she could implement all of these "great" ideas people not in the classroom like her pontificate about.
The reality is that test scores and student achievement will not improve without our commitment as taxpayers to pay for it!!! On the real... This is STATE WIDE not just LAUSD.
I've supported the last 2 bonds. I'm not supporting this one. I've lost faith in the District and I'm pulling my kids out Aldama Elementary and home schooling them.
How much must we keep on paying, Anon 8:34? Taxes and bond money together and we have one of the worst education records in the country. You simply can't escape that fact! And if the LAUSD is unable to persuede voters to vote more money, then we need a new school board. let's vote the bums out - but not onto the city council!
8:34 a.m.
That's what the "bond" people sayd every time, and every time, more money comes in and test scores go down.
The problem is not the amount of money, but how it's allocated, who it pays, and how badly it's been spent.
Look to the people running LAUSD as the problem (not the amount of money they mishandle), but for god's sake DON'T look to these same people as the SOLUTION!
That kind of thinking buys you space in a padded room.
Private, parochial and charter schools all over the city spend FAR less per pupil and deliver FAR better results.
Blame the board, blame the administrators, even blame some of the teachers... its NOT about pouring more money down a rathole to shore up a house that's caving in.
The foundation is rotten -- new drywall and better drapes won't save it, it just means there will be more expensive scrap material left over in the basement after it all falls apart.
It is about funding my dears!!! Plain and simple.
And by the way, don't confuse the two... I'm not suggesting we throw our valuable tax dollars into a bottomless pit.
It takes money to reform. AND Let's do something to sreamline those categoricals.
Incidentally genious... Charters have fared well on standardized test scores, but they are not the end all. California Charter Academy debacle. Need I say more.
No one has really commmented on the issue of using government funds for electoral activities.
"Incidentally genious..."
You mean, "genius" right?
Nuff said.
Make a note: It ain't REFORM, if the same people that SCREWED IT UP, stay in power.
That would have been like trusting Gray Davis to dig us out of a $40 million state deficit.
Oh wait, that's right, the Dems ACTUALLY wanted to do that, and now they're PISSED that Arnold is trying to cut the horns off some sacred cows to finish the job.
RE-form, means "form again" -- not KEEP THE SAME DAMN TEAM ON THE PLAYING FIELD.
We all know the shannigans of LAUSD.
Vote NO on Y
Why does the media ignore that LAUSD has a great Magnet Program.
There is a problem with the program. It is taking in kids from outside the LAUSD district, suburb areas that are not affiliated with LAUSD. How does this happen. Parents lie about their place of address and put one that is in LAUSD. LAUSD does not verify, only use utility bill and sometimes nothing at all.
Meanwhile, intelligent kids that DO LIVE in LAUSD area are losing a seat to Mr. & Mrs upper middle class because the jobs they have are right next to the LAUSD. Wow! What a privelage. My neighbor's kid, smart kid, was turned down after two years on a waiting list for magnet. Then we have Mr. Meyers, Ms. GOMEZ-ROMERO, who work at LAC USC and actually live outside the area, but use a friends address. Mr. Baca, city worker lives outside the district. All taking up spaces from our well deserved neighborhood students. Tell me, can this corruption stop, do I have to put the fake and real addresses they use?
I see the half-wit is back to rant about the smudge on the wall while the building is crumbling.
You are still a moron!
Great post, Sam! Your essay prompted me to post my own experiences with LAUSD's fine administrators and teaching staph. I linked your essay with mine this morning.
Keep up the great work!!!
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