Ava Pfannerer, 10, pens out another amusing story

ANOTHER FUN FISHY TALE FROM A SEVEN GOLDEN SECRETS WRITER

Dear Readers: When Ava came to the Seven Golden Secrets writing class, she barely wrote a paragraph. Now she writes all sorts of tales each with a beginning, middle and end. Catch this fishy one. Seven Golden Secrets to Writing is taught every Wednesday at the Corner Store. For more information, email hartchap@cox.net --- Diana

Scotty, the Unbelievably Dumb Fish

By Ava Pfannerer, 10

One day in the deep blue sea, there was an unbelievably dumb goldfish. Well, he actually doesn’t live in the sea. He actually lives in a goldfish bowl in Miranda Tombstone’s house. He was so dumb, he thought the bowl was the sea. Now, I will tell you the story of how Scotty got adopted.

One day, Scotty was swimming in a school of fish. Scotty then spotted a school of trout captured in a net.

“Hey ya’ trout. What cha’ doing in that net?”

“We’re going to be put in Pet Earth’s Place of Pets you unbelievably dumb fish!” a trout spouted out.

“I wanna’ come!” Scotty said swimming through  the net to hitch a ride.  Scotty was very small.

“We’re getting lifted,” exclaimed Scotty. “This is fun!”

A half hour later, they were at Pet Earth.

“This container is so small,” exclaimed Scotty with surprise at his new home.

Meanwhile, Miranda Tombstone was going to Pet Earth to buy a dog. They were just  going to pass the fish section when she accidentally knocked over Scotty’s container.

Miranda quickly scooped up the fish!

“If you drop it, you buy it,” said a worker lady.

“I am very disappointed in you,” scolded Miranda’s mom.

As Scotty swung back in forth in a plastic bag Miranda held tightly, she got into her mom’s car.

“I don’t like the car!” shouted Scotty.

When they got home, they put him in the glass bowl. To this day, Scotty still complains about going to the bathroom in the same place he sleeps.

And that was the story of Scotty, the unbelievably dumb fish.”

Lauryn Maes  plans to run a June marathon in her battle to raise money for cancer.

Michelle Mandich with friends.

San Pedro College Student Plans Marathon Run Already Raising Thousands of Dollars After Too Many Young Friends Have Been Diagnosed With Cancer;

Suddenly She Learns the List Now Includes Her Mother

By Diana L. Chapman

Lauryn Maes plans to slip on her sneakers and run and run and run. 

When she boldly joins the “San Diego Rock-n-Roll Marathon” on June 5,  she’ll streak forward with powerful determination “to kick cancer’s butt one step at a time” while raising funds to halt the disease -- along with her “honorary teammates.”

Her honorary teammates include three youths two of whom died from different forms of leukemia, including one of her closest friends, Michelle Mandich, a popular San Pedro High cheerleader who died in Feb. 23, 2005. She’s also running for two San Pedro friends who currently are surviving cancer, Sydney Botica, 16,  and her cousin, Janelle Vivanco, 13.

 It’s a fact of Lauryn’s life that she takes cancer personally. The journey has been arduous . Painful. And unexpected, starting with Michelle whose death left her in a state of turmoil and forced her to learn quickly about the realities of life. In the middle of this interview, she received a call from her mother and learned that afternoon her mother has kidney cancer.

“Four days ago, I received news from my mom that she has kidney cancer. I can't explain the feeling that rushed through my body,” Lauryn wrote on her Team-in-Training site, which helps people train to run and raise funds for cancer research. “Tingling....Numbness....Sickened....Angered... Scared... I didn't know how to react… I wanted to fix it. I wanted to tell her she was lying. But it is the truth, and I am still learning how to deal with it. She has always been my foundation. I’ve never doubted once in my life that she would be there for me.”

She’s now added her mother, Laura D’Anna, 46, to her honorary team. Her 26.2 mile marathon was long in the works before she learned about her mother’s illness.

Thus far, the 21-year-old college student’s sheer determination has raised $2,500 by selling “bling” coffee mugs. As for the marathon,  doctors, dentists, friends and family have already committed more than $10,500 through the non-profit Team in Training, an organization that trains runners like Lauryn. Team in Training has raised $1 billion for cancer research specifically for that purpose.

Thus far, she’s received donations as small as $10 to $1,000. Even though, she has nearly reached her goal of $10,000, she said, she plans to raise even more through the marathon. She will have another fundraiser in May and will keep jogging on to raise money for cancer research.

She’s driven hard by all those who have died and touched her life.

Michelle was her first handshake with young death. Before she went on to high school from Dodson Middle School, her mom sat her down and prepared her that in her upper grades she might start losing friends to car accidents, drug use and illnesses. She blesses her mom every day for it and calls her step-father, Rich, the other rock in her life.

“I remember thinking at the time: “What is this lady talking about,”” said a perky and loving Lauryn said, whose eyes well up with tears when she talks about Michelle or anyone she knows with cancer. “And there were kids into drugs, kids who got stabbed and kids, did indeed, die.”

In honor of her team, Lauryn trains four days a week, running at least 3.5 miles and when she trains she thinks of her times with Michelle, who she says, never gossiped or spoke a bad word about anybody. Most of all, she can’t forget while she and other cheer leaders were getting ready for a winter formal, Michelle was laying in the hospital unable to get out of bed.

In particular, she recalls how Michelle’s 17-year-old boyfriend, Dominic Di Bernnardo dressed up for the dance, drove directly to the hospital and spent the evening with her.

“It was so confusing,” explained the 21-year-old student who is studying for her masters in psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills. “We were all only 15. Michelle should have been going to the movies, going to dances, going to school like the rest of us. But instead, she was stuck in the hospital. When we found out of her passing, everyone was crying at school. She had touched so many people. They had to bring in counselors.

“I understood the possibility. But I didn’t believe it at first. And then I realized, this is real.”

The pain was so great from that tragedy, Lauryn said, she couldn’t imagine it touching  again. But it did. Many times over.

Leonardo Russo, 12

Soon, she would learn a 12-year-old family friend, Leonardo Russo, who attended Crestwood Street Elementary School, and had cancer.  After a seven month battle with non hodgkins mature b cell lymphoma, he died Sept. 22, 2010.

 Prior to that, Lauryn became concerned when a  9-year-old soccer player, Devin Hamilton, who also attended Crestwood, didn’t show up for her first soccer practice. Lauryn, the team’s coach, called Devin’s mother only to learn Devin had leukemia too. She died Jan. 26, 2010. 

Devin Hamilton, 9

That’s when Lauryn decided to take on her own personal siege against cancer, now battling for two more people she cares about, cousin Janelle who has nasopharyngeal carcinoma (behind the mouth and nasal cavities) and Sydney, a San Pedro High student. who is in remission from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Victoria Botica, Sydney’s mother, explained she appreciates Lauryn’s efforts and how difficult it is for a family to cope with cancer.

Sydney Botica, a San Pedro High student

Lauryn's cousin, Janelle Vivanco, 13

“Dealing with cancer is something no teenage girl should have to go through,” Victoria Botica said. “They should be worrying about clothes, make-up and boys, not blood counts, nausea and death. My hope is that someday (hopefully soon) no one will have to go through what we did.”

Lauryn just hasn’t done fundraising with the marathon. She’s selling bracelets for $1 that say “Kicking cancer's butt one step at a time” and “F…Cancer.” Having made Sydney a designer feather hair clip as a gift, the concept went virile once Sydney posted it on facebook.

Lauryn received more than 100 orders  for the feather hair clips that range anywhere for $25 and up and is keeping her working late at night.

“This kid is amazing,” said her aunt, Diana Chavez-Feipel. “She is over her $10,000 goal and has about six more weeks before the race to keep fundraising. All the while, she’s carrying straight As. Yah, you can say I’m a very proud auntie.”

 But for Lauryn, the strain and effort is worth it if she can help save lives.

Cancer “is a huge epidemic here and in Palos Verdes,” said Lauryn, who is a nanny for four children while she plucks away at her degree. “Obviously it’s a huge issue and if do anything, I just want to make people aware.

“People will say: ‘I can’t really help. I’m just one person.’ But there’s a lot people can do.’”

Everyone of the parents gave Lauryn their blessing to use their children’s names as honorary teammates, she said.

Donations can be made at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/rnr11/lmaesn

“Michelle lives with me every day and I’m inspired by her happiness,” she said. “It just feels so good to know you are doing something.”

Race Horse Chito Mono Inspires the Crowd; Running With All His Might, He Goes Down Stumbling Before Making the Finish Line in a Sweet Heart Story

By Diana L. Chapman

My girlfriend – who owns three horses including a thoroughbred named Kaia  who used to race  – warned me Sunday before I left for an afternoon at Santa Anita Park: This sport is remarkably hard on horses.

That’s why she never goes to the races. Still, my husband and I were excited to go with my son, Ryan, and his friend, Derek, both 17. We love to watch the equines and make small bets. There’s nothing more beautiful then to witness them streak by in a speeding furor.

But Sunday was a different day at the track. We almost watched a horse die before our eyes. Instead, he riveted us with his drive and grit.

As the start of the fifth race approached I had paid little attention to a smaller horse, named Chito Mono, opting to place my bets on Afleet Cowboy. In fact, none of us wagered on Chito Mono, the son of High Demand, and “probably a long shot,” according to the race pamphlet.

  

As the horses sped along the backstretch, however, there was Chito Mono ahead of the pack, running with all his heart.  He was a long shot alright. At the official start of the race, the officials odds of him winning was 99 to 1.

The horse ran on guts, spirit, courage, and determination, this ever so slight guy. It seemed Chito wanted to win badly that day, perhaps to please his owner and trainer. Quickly, we lost interest in our own horses and started watching Chito Mono who looked ready to charge to  a gallant victory.

But when he reachedthe far turn, suddenly he faltered. He fell so far back he was soon in last place. Well after others cross the finished line right in front of us, Chito Mono limped by. Before our eyes, he lurched down to one knee, and then the next and then crumbled like a house of cards.  The jockey jumped off and scrambled away.

The collective breath drained from the once enthusiastic crowd, now stunned and silent.  A posse of rescue crews rushed out.  Privacy screens of green canvas were set up on the track around the stricken horse. 

“Daddy, why did the horse fall?” a little girl asked.

A man behind us explained to his friends: “They are going to put him down.”

I started crying as my son cautioned:  “Don’t listen to him. That man doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

But, according to some horse racing enthusiasts, if the screens go up its not usually a good sign.

Because we were so close, we could see Chito Mono's head through a small opening at the bottom of the screen. 

He was breathing. He tried to get back up, but an attendant crouched over him, holding his head down and covered his eyes to try and calm him. Then another

crew member started bringing in buckets of water, one after the other. We could see water splashing all over Chito Mono. His nostrils flared steadily, but he still didn’t get up.

More buckets. More water. Sponges and hands circled and rolled over him.

The crowd waited breathlessly, for about 10 minutes to learn the fate of one-small horse.

When the attendants helped him lurch back upright, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause as Chito Mono bounced up.  As the crowd kept clapping, he seemed to prance happily over to a wagon before he was taken away for further treatment.

Minutes later, a security guard explained the horse had suffered from heatstroke.

His recovery was like spring arriving with fresh crisp air. With those impossibly long odds bearing down on him,  his courage never faltered -- even if his body did.

Although a horse named Trueno won the race, the crowd was entranced with another one's will to win.

A 12-year-old Writes About Her Bad Day and New Writing Classes Begin Wednesday at the Corner Store  

Corner Store Has Its First Easter Egg Hunt This Weekend And San Pedro High Students Do A Winning Blood Drive

-----------------------------------   Dear Readers:    Ada enrolled in my Seven Golden Secrets Writing Class and has learned so much about the craft within a few weeks. When she wrote about her particularly bad day, I thought other readers might enjoy it -- since we've all had a few of those! On  Wednesday, a new round of writing classes begin at the Corner Store ages 7 to 12. If you are interested, please e-mail Diana at hartchap@cox.net.  

Today

By Ada Day, 12

Today was just terrible. There is no other way to explain it. I got up late and rushed around the house. But  let’s go back to the night.

I went to bed at 9:30, not that late, but I was tired.  At 3 a.m., the fire alarm in my room went off because of low batteries – waking me up!

When I woke up late, I was upset that my sister was going on a whale watch field trip and I was going to the dentist. The dentist had to clean my teeth so he had to numb me and needle in the roof of my mouth. I started to cry. I don’t know why though. It hurt, but not enough to cry.

Then he “accidentally” stuck something down my throat, twice. I gagged. It was gross.  I was really hungry too because I forgot to eat breakfast.

When I went back to school, I got there right in time to do the long jump. Unfortunately, I hurt my ankle and it still really hurts.

Finally, it was lunch time.  “Uh-Oh," I realized, "I can’t find my wallet.”  It was at home. All my money was in there. So I starved.

I started to cry while walking home. When I arrived, I took a deep breath,  made  two sandwiches and wondered what the rest of the day would be like.

_____________________________

EASTER EGG HUNT

Sat, April 9^th at 12pm

Come to The Corner Store

*Meet the Easter Bunny

*Decorate your Easter Egg

*Compete in Easter Games for great prizes

*Enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt for more prizes

Pre-registration suggested as space is limited.

Cost: Only $5.00

Call for more info at: (310) 832-2424 1118 37th Street, San Pedro  

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San Pedro High Hosts A Winner Blood Drive

    About  162 San Pedro High students gave blood to the Red Cross last week , a donation Red Cross officials believe can possibly save some 330 lives.     Rita Marquez, student president of the club called M.E.Ch.A, organized the event and its members aided in the set-up, organizing and pre-registration of the campuses' students.      Students gave about 110 units of blood.      "Rita, you and the members of club M.E.Ch.A are to be commended for organizing a successful life saving event.," wrote Red Cross official Kimberly Davis. "Please extend a special thank you to all members who assisted at the blood drive -- their hard work and volunteerism is greatly appreciated."

INCOMING LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT JOHN DEASY TURNS AWAY INCREASE IN HIS SALARY DURING A SLEW OF LAYOFFS

By Diana L. Chapman

Watching an avalanche of layoffs from teachers to janitors, incoming Los Angeles Unified School District John Deasy woke up on a Saturday morning and flatly realized there was no way his moral compass could accept thousands of dollars in a pay increase.

Bravo.

The move to delete the $55,000 increase when Deasy assumes the superintendent post was gratefully accepted by struggling Los Angeles Unified School Board Members last week who recently sent out another round of pink slips to 7,000 teachers and other employees and expect an even greater influx to come.

Instead, Deasy opted to remain at his current $275,000 salary as deputy superintendent when he takes the reins of the nation’s second largest school district.  He will replace outgoing Superintendent Ramon Cortines on April 15.

“It’s just been on my mind,” Deasy, 50, said for why he decided to take the decrease. “I figured it was the right thing to do.” Budget cuts are “emotional and terrible,” and are tearing up the precarious fabric of district morale.

Said School Board Member Richard Vladovic: "Dr. Deasy along with the rest of the Board of Education understand that this is a very difficult time for the District and he made an admirable step toward alleviating some  of these horrific budget cuts."

Readying to take up his post, Deasy, in a quick phone interview before marching off to yet another budget meeting, warned that students’ education across the state is becoming an endangered species and that communities need to pull together and “take back Sacramento.”

The decrease was one of the first independent streaks I’d witnessed in the fast-talking Deasy and I applaud him for his decision not to take the money, especially as a massive tsunami of layoffs  leaves some former LAUSD employees nearly destitute and without health benefits.

Had he taken the increase, it would seem rather medieval when whole families are financially paralyzed.

Instead, the former deputy director for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recommends citizens start getting on the phone or writing their state representatives. Understand, he says, this is not an LAUSD problem but a state-wide disaster for education overall.

“Morale is fragile and low across the system,” Deasy explained of district employees.  “Kids’ education is really in peril. We’ve had budget cuts before, but nothing like this. We need to take back Sacramento.

“We don’t want new money. We want the pathetic level we had before.  Up and down the spine of the state, we are going to dismantle state public education. This is a willful act. We should be adding, not cutting anywhere. It’s in (Sacramento’s) hands now.”

State Governor Jerry Brown and the legislature were unable to reach an accord to put tax extensions on the June ballot this week, which some school officials believed would shore up some of the education's financial crises.

Some consider Deasy, who comes with a resume steeped in education, as an ally of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who attempted to take over the school district and has many allies on the school board.

But others see Deasy as man who will determine issues himself – and will show independent streaks. We will have to wait and see.

So far, I’m liking Deasy’s upfront attitude; He doesn’t appear to hold back what he truly thinks.

“We will do our best with the little resources we have,” Deasy explained, understanding that he was plunging into even darker times ahead for Los Angeles schools. “I will be overseeing a devastating reduction in force.”

 Deasy  held posts as superintendent of Prince George’s Public County Schools in Maryland and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District before coming to Los Angeles Unified.  

 COASTAL NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL COMES TO THE RESCUE OF SAN PEDRO HIGH AFTER SCHOOL COOKING CLUB SO IT CAN CONTINUE FLAMING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE  YEAR

And SP High Hosts a Blood Drive This Thursday  Open to Adults;  In April Recycle Your Electronic Waste Such as Computers, Television and Copy Machines at the Campus

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Cooking Club

By Diana L. Chapman

The life of a popular, much attended after school cooking club at San Pedro High was propped up to for the remainder of the school year once the Coastal Neighborhood Council agreed this month to fund nearly $1,000 for food supplies.

Voting 9 to 1 with one abstention,  most of the council members agreed that the club was necessary for the school  – especially after a beloved culinary teacher, Sandy Wood, retired two years ago. Wood often had a waiting list of 500 students.

However, due to the economic crises and teacher layoffs, the position has not been permanently filled and is likely to remain that way, said Jeanette Stevens, school principal.

Supportive council members said they were encouraged about the club because it teaches math and science and prepares students for their futures.

Coastal Member Doug Epperhart said the funding was a fit.

“It's a pleasure to support this effort to get kids to realize they can prepare meals
that are good for them and enjoy food that doesn't come in a wrapper from some fast food place,” Epperhart said.

James Weston, who heads the cooking club, applauded the council’s move, calling it an action to improve youth's lifes. The students learn making the smallest items, such as eggs and biscuits, to full meals, such as teriyaki chicken.

“I was really pleased when the council not only approved the financing that will allow our after school club to continue, but voiced their overwhelming support for what we, and others like us, are doing,” he said. “Some members even offered to volunteer to come in and help teach cooking!

“In a time when a lot of elected officials are being criticized for not paying attention to the needs of the communities, Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council s stepped up and should be applauded for their vision towards our children’s future and the betterment of San Pedro.”

Even Los Angeles School Board Member Richard Vladovic’s chief-of-staff was happy that the council made the decision.

“I sincerely thank the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council for their support in providing the students of San Pedro High School with the much needed and respected program,” David Kooper said.
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RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE THURSDAY AT SP HIGH OPEN TO ADULTS AS WELL AS STUDENTS

Adults : Come on down.

San Pedro High school will host a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday in which all those who donate blood will receive two free tickets to LA Galaxy games and be entered into a drawing for annual Disneyland passes.

To give blood, please register at www.redcrossblood.org. and head to the high school’s auditorium. Walk-ins will be accepted. The school is located at 1001 15^th Street.

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SAN PEDRO HIGH E-WASTE CLEAN UP IN APRIL 9

Do you have old monitors, televisions, copiers, computers, cell phones, speakers and a variety of other electronic waste?

Then San Pedro High’s Global Environmental House/Earth Alert Academy wants you!

On April 9, such items can be recycled by dropping them off at the high school between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of Leland and 17^th streets.

Proceeds from recycling will support the academy and its future. Other items that will be accepted included DVD or CDs, cameras, fax machines, pagers, radios, desktop computers, laptops, fans, printers, ram chips, memory, paper shredders, power supplies, car batteries and other electronic waste.

 San Pedro Resident Mitch Harmatz Writes His Fears About Education Becoming Privatized After His Wife Receives Her Pink Slip and Another Mother Gives Her Views on the Latest Round of 7,000 Layoffs in the Los Angeles Unified School District

Submitted By Mitch Harmatz

“…We cannot have a free society, unless we have an educated and literate public…”

     On March 13^th, my wife, a fifth grade teacher at Park Western Elementary School, along with 12 other colleagues and thousands of other teachers in our community were fired.

     Contrary to what the gentleman my wife met one night at Starbucks believes, the teachers I know are dedicated, visionary, and committed to our children and our community.

     Maybe the union is not so well run, and yes the school district does waste money and just as likely the teachers do need a better PR firm but the reality is:  Education and the value of education starts with the household and is reflected in our society.

     Disneyland offers a free pass on your birthday.  They do not say Saturday or Sunday only or just on school holidays.  Disneyland does not offer a free pass for straight “A” students.  What does this teach our children?

     When a child cannot get to school because the parent, if there is a parent, cannot get up or is not around, the school is not allowed to add 10 points to that student’s score.  No, the teacher is graded as not adding value.

     The” billion dollar” privatization of public education is a march by a few to benefit those few.  When the march is no longer to provide quality affordable public education rather to generate “tools of securitization” known as student loans we as a community need to support our public schools, work together to improve our public education system, not make our teachers or immigration the scapegoats, and most important push back against the attempt to end public education.

     Every successful business person knows an educated community sustains our community. 

     Every successful business persons knows that diversity of ideas sustains the process of continual improvement.

     Support our public education system.  Call Sacramento and let them know we support public education.  Write to the state senate and assembly and tell them we support public education.  Call San Pedro High School, our high school, and ask what you can do. 

     By the way, the quote above; Governor-elect Ronald Reagan, January 11, 1967.

Sincerely,

Mitch Harmatz, Owner Plaza Automotive Center & Park Plaza Shell on Western in San Pedro has a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy; UCLA

 And a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degree from Cal State University Dominguez Hills

He is a San Pedro Resident with three children; one at  UC Santa Cruz (accepted for Fall 2010) and graduate of San Pedro High, Dodson Middle School;  a junior at San Pedro High School;  and a seventh grader at Dodson Middle School.  They all graduated from Park Western.

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MOTHER WRITES THAT THE STATE LAYOFF RULES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION

 ARE WRONG  DURING THIS FINANCIAL CRISES

 Submitted by Rachel Fischer

The rules for teacher layoffs were never intended for the current situation. 

Who could have predicted such dire financial circumstances? The state’s rules 

that protect seniority don’t make sense at a local level. Forcing upwards of 40 

percent turnover at any school destroys  years of community and educational 

program building. 

In all of this, the question needs to be asked:  “What is best for the kids?” The adults can find other jobs, but the kids can’t just choose to go to school another year.  A 
lost year in a kid’s life can make all the difference.”

From Union Busting to Saying the LAUSD Board Has It Right, Readers Ponder the School Board’s Decision Last Week to Allow Charters to Take Over Operations of Seven Los Angeles Schools;

Also, a Mother Asks Readers to Lobby for Tax Extensions to Aid Education

By Diana L. Chapman

About a week back, I expressed my dread with the Los Angeles Unified School Board’s decision to hand over seven schools to outside bidders  last week – a move that makes me brutally concerned over what that does to the disintegrating morale of the district’s staff.

With 5,000 more layoff notices  issued last week alone – and more expected to rain down on LAUSD staffers – I couldn’t help but be wary of what ramifications this means to teachers and support staff already awash in massive tsunami of cuts – yes, where many of our kids go to school.

Despite that LAUSD Supt. Ramon Cortines, who will retire in April, approved most of his employees proposals to breath new life into 13 campuses, the board discarded many of his suggestions and handed over seven schools to charter operators. The move was made after the board approved an earlier policy of “public school choice.” This allows charters to bid some of LAUSD’S failing and newly constructed schools.

The action disappoints me, because I fear an inequitable form of education branching out amongst the charters and a head toward privatization of public education.

In the meantime, seven LAUSD schools are gone – and only time will tell if the charter is a better provider to students.

Readers immediately emailed me their views, which included one who argued the teachers can only blame themselves,to another calling it the avenue the board embraced a remedy to bust the union.

In one case, a reader said teachers need to look in their own direction.

“I hate to say it, but teachers have brought this upon themselves,” wrote Kim Stevens. “It is not a money issue (the charter teachers are paid the same), but it is a matter of work rules leading to inflexibility and waste. All the nominated schools were a failure under LAUSD operation. Principals had no control over unqualified, unwilling or failing teachers. No way to run a school.

“The UTLA has two choices. Act passively and try to keep what it has and see the jobs dwindle. Or act positively, go back to zero on work rules keeping the same pay, and try again under able management. You  cannot fire a bad teacher. But you can eliminate their job. That is not about wages.”

Martha McKenzie, a former LAUSD teacher for 36 years, argues there are no other motives than one – to break up the UTLA.

 “You know as well as I that they (the school board) has ulterior motives,” McKenizie wrote. “They are doing it for one reason-union busting!! They fail to see the LONG term results of their irresponsible actions!!! Shame on the School Board. (School Board Member Richard and former administrator) Vladovic receives his pension because of the union-UTLA. The administrators always fell in suit with the teachers’ bargaining issues. What a traitor!”

Calling it a “giveaway,” of schools, parent Teresa Feldman has other concerns that have nothing to do with the UTLA. She worries if whether the board’s move is  even legal when involving newly constructed schools.

“When the district first proposed allowing charters onto new campuses like Eli Broad’s school for performing arts downtown, I emailed (Superintendent Ramon Cortines) and voiced my concerns. I actually ended up getting a phone call from the man himself and we had a long conversation. At that time, he made it clear that he was not in lock-step with the Mayor, but somehow the district ended up with the “failing schools” giveaway anyway.

“Now that Cortines is leaving, he is showing his real disdain for this move toward privatization, and I applaud him for that. I do wish he or someone familiar with the law would look into whether or not giving away new schools is against the law. I voted for bond issues to build new LAUSD schools for underserved populations that were expecting overcrowding. Now the district has decided that they need to use those campuses to avoid being sued by charters for not providing them access to LAUSD campuses. This is not what I voted for, and unless the charter schools agree to have gifted education, special ed., integration, etc. I do not want charters to go in.

“My kids have friends who lost whole school years because the charters their parents placed them in turned out to be bogus. Others have moved to charters only to have them close up for various reasons. Some educators I know have seen former charter school students pushed back into their neighborhood schools because the children didn’t “fit in”…Someone in the know has to wage a legal battle over the use of these campuses for charters.”

The last writer echos my sentiments exactly. Let’s not give up on kids who don’t “fit in,” or have special needs beyond the scope of any given charter. All kids deserve a chance at a good education – and not all kids will be equal or receive that at charter schools.

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HELP THIS MOM GET THE TAX EXTENSIONS OF THE JUNE BALLOT

Sumbitted by Dayna Wells

Let’s get the tax EXTENSION on the June ballot.

Please call your legislators today and ask them to let the people vote.

 As you no doubt are aware, Governor Jerry Brown inherited a $25 billion-plus deficit from Governor Schwarzenegger. Brown has proposed a budget that splits the difference to close the deficit -- one half budget cuts, and one half new revenues in the form of extending temporary tax increases passed two years ago. But a group of legislators are refusing to put the tax extensions on the ballot in June, calling instead for only cutting government services and programs -- even though cutting $25 billion would represent more than a quarter of the state’s budget.

This would be devastating to K-12 education, as reflected by local school districts current move to increase class sizes and layoff over thousands of teachers and health and human services personnel.

Teachers, health and human services workers and people who want to support these services need to call their state legislators over the next couple of days and urge them to put the tax extensions on the ballot in June. Let the people vote!

Please contact your legislators. Tell them to let the people vote on whether or not to extend the taxes. It is impossible to overstate the importance of concerted phone calling –These calls CAN make a difference!!!

Thank you for your consideration.  Please call you representative below today:

 State Assembly Members
Jeff Gorell, District 37, 916-319-2037
Cameron Smyth, District 38, 916-319-2038
Felipe Fuentes, District 39, 916-319-2039
 Bob Blumenfield, District 40, 916-319-2040
Julia Brownley, District 41, 916-319-2041
Mike Feuer, District 42, 916-319-2042
 Mike Gatto, District 43, 916-319-2043
 Anthony Portantino, District 44, 916-319-2044
 Gil Cedillo, District 45, 916-319-2045
John Perez, District 46, 916-319-2046
 Holly Mitchell, District 47, 916-319-2047
 Mike Davis, District 48, 916-319-2048
 Mike Eng, District 49, 916-319-2049
 Ricardo Lara, District 50, 916-319-2050
 Steve Bradford, District 51, 916-319-2051
 Isadore Hall III, District 52, 916-319-2052
 Betsy Butler, District 53, 916-319-2053
 Bonnie Lowenthal, District 54, 916-319-2054
 Warren Furutani, District 55, 916-319-2055
 Charles Calderon, District 58, 916-319-2058
 State Senate Members
 Sharon Runner, District 17, 916-651-4017
Alex Padilla, District 20, 916-651-4020
 Carol Liu, District 21, 916-651-4021
 Kevin de León, District 22, 916-651-4022
 Fran Pavley, District 23, 916-651-4023
Ed Hernandez, District 24, 916-651-4024
 Rod Wright, District 25, 916-651-4025
 Current Price, Jr., District 26, 916-651-4026
 Alan Lowenthal, District 27, 916-651-4027
Ted Lieu, District 28, 916-651-4028
 Bob Huff, District 29, 916-651-4029
 Ron Calderon, District 30, 916-651-4030

A DATE YOU MIGHT WANT TO RESERVE; THIS SATURDAY, A DANCE FOR KIDS AGAINST DRUGS AND A COMPETITIVE CHILI COOK-OFF