Re “And What Is Your Opinion of What Happened Yesterday?”
From the panoply of audience reactions following the School Board’s Tuesday afternoon study session to ponder fallout from the sudden discovery last autumn that El Marino Language School has a booster club that funds adjuncts:
Leslie Gardner, PTA Councils President – “I am encouraged there is so much discussion about the subject and that (Supt.) Patti Jaffe wants to have a meeting next Tuesday with parent groups to decide what they actually want, what they are intending to fund, what they want to fund. I am a little discouraged by some School Board members wanting to keep policies broad. I thought the whole point was to narrow it down so we could continue to fund positions that aren’t being funded by the School District. Personally, I would like to see us be able to fund at our own rate. I would like the District to make a policy on that. I also have realized there are some people for the unions and some people who aren’t. We just have to work it out.”
Todd Johnson, Sustainability Committee chair – “I was pleased with the way this session went. I was concerned there would be a lot of mudslinging and blaming. But the energy was focused on getting to a solution and not calling anybody names, working it out together. That always is pleasing. I am concerned about the big picture in the District, not just El Marino. There were a thousand documented volunteer hours in the District, and I feel that has to be maintained for the sake of quality education. We need a broader policy (that what is specifically applicable to El Marino adjuncts) regarding volunteers. As the budget gets cut more and more, we will have to rely on more volunteers.”
Scott McVarish, parent – “What is most eye-opening for me is that there really is not a group that can effectively advocate for students in our District. PTA and booster clubs are wonderful groups, but they have very restrictive internal rules that only allow them to do certain types of advocacy. Frankly, there needs to be a counterpart to the associations of District employees whose unions advocate for their interests very well, and they should. I am talking about a collective of parents that would be able to intervene in School Board elections and on District issues. There is a parent union in Los Angeles, and a few throughout the country. I would not Be surprised if, because of the inaction of a majority of the School Board, that something like that will happen in this District.”
Jamie Wallace, parent – “I continue to be frustrated. Here we are, a group of hardworking parents at all of the schools who want the best things for our kids, and the process of getting that into reality is incredibly frustrating. It is taking too long. Our kids only are going to be in school for a limited time. They need to tap into that huge p[arent resource out there, without restrictions, without regulations that stop us in our tracks. This was solely an informational meeting. It was interesting hearing what some Board members had to say. But, no, there wasn’t any progress made. We should have had the conversation between the District clubs and Patti Jaffe first so that the District understands more what the booster clubs and PTAs are trying to do, what we are looking for. Then they could come back and say what we can and can’t do. Getting the clarity from (the District’s) attorney was helpful – as far as El Marino only. I am confident the status quo can be maintained at El Marino, and I am hoping that the other booster clubs can have a policy so they can do what they need to for their kids. We are all trying to enhance our children’s education. If the District can’t afford it right now, let the parents help. A framework needs to be set up so that in September all the booster clubs and the PTAs can hit the ground running so we can say to them, ‘This is what our fundraising goals for the year are, and here is what we plan to fund.’ We need that done now.”
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin, parent, and originator of the Parents Have Rights petition, begun in February – “I am very heartened by what happened here. I felt the members of the School Board were taking all of the parents seriously. They are putting it on the front burner now, where it always should be. I am looking forward to the community coming together. The one thing that has saddened me in the past – I am an optimistic person – is when the community starts to attack itself. And so, this is a good step toward unifying all of the parents and the schools. We have been meeting, talking on the ‘phone, emailing. It’s great getting together with all the parents of the School District. I feel that now the School Board is seeing us as stakeholders in the community, not as the other people. School Boards come and go, and often there is a different energy. I feel this is the first time parents are being accepted at the table. I am thrilled that it looks as if El Marino will be able to keep its very important adjuncts program. However, speaking of the equity issue, some people are angry at El Marino. They feel El Marino is a have, and the rest of the schools are have-nots. I would like to change that perception. I believe very strongly that all parents should have the right to fund programs. You know that the parents of La Ballona School submitted a proposal to have adjuncts in their school, and that has not been addressed. I don’t think the equity issue will go away until parents at other schools can do what El Marino can do.”
