Two of the best known parents and personalities who did not speak at last evening’s introductory meeting of United Parents of Culver City were stars of the recent political past, Scott Zeidman of the School Board and Scott Malsin of the City Council.
Both stayed toward the back of the curious Parents Union crowd, which convened in the creatively lighted backyard of a private residence off Braddock Drive while other parents scooted into the driver’s seats.
Maybe their batons are being passed to persons such as Steve Levin, the Interim President, Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin, the event’s other primary organizer, Paul Blechner, Todd Johnson, Dan O’Brien, Scott Kecken, Scott McVarish.
Another leading politician of an earlier day, Madeline Ehrlich, a School Board member in the early ‘90s, had plenty to say, before and after the Parents Union formally launched.
“This is a new day,” Ms. Ehrlich said, “parents from all schools coming together.
“We did try this once before. It was called P.i.p.e.r., People Involved in Public Education, in the ‘80s. For some reason, we didn’t get it done.
“We got a few things accomplished, and then it kind of died.
“As for this organization, it has good leadership with a good foundation. I especially like the idea of having parents from all schools here.”
Just as Mr. Levin was about to start the meeting, Ms. Ehrlich waxed on about the UPCC’s germination:
“I think what happened was, they were being served some lemons, and this group has taken the lemons, and they are making lemonade.”
While the Parents Union, nearly unanimously in each case, passed three prepared motions, plus a last-minute addition, the course those actions will take in the coming months remains heavily clouded.
Interestingly, one of the motions concerned full-throated support for School Board member Laura Chardiet’s landmark plan at the Feb. 28 Board meeting. She proposed a bold plan that would have brought equality for all District schools in the controversial matter of adjuncts in the classroom.
However, a majority of the Board hurriedly backed away from the document as if it were infectious. In the three months since, the Board has not even glanced at Ms. Chardiet’s scheme.
However, the present issue is:
What does Parent Union backing of Ms. Chardiet mean?
How do the parents plan to demonstrate their support?
Not clear.
Another measure that won easy approval called for the much-debated solar panels to be installed before the new school term opens in September.
Everybody in the backyard knew that plan went sideways some time ago. The panels are not scheduled to be completely installed for 13 months.
So the Parent Union weather remains rather murky.
