Re “UPCC Is Anti-Union, Should Be Stopped, LAUSD Teachers Letter Claims”
[Editor’s Note: Ever since a letter from the LAUSD teachers union was posted here last Monday, the second-year United Parents of Culver City openly has been under fire from certain corners of the community for the first time.]
The speech I gave at the founding of the United Parents of Culver City stills holds true today.
[img]2189|right|Scott Kecken||no_popup[/img]Our uniqueness is that we are 100 percent local and organic. We were formed in Culver City by Culver City parents and community members.
This election, we have endorsed Kathy Paspalis, Sue Robins and Dr. Steve Levin for Culver City School Board on Nov. 5 because we think they are the best candidates for the job.
Please take a moment to read my speech, and know that we continue to work toward strengthening our united school district. Most importantly, vote a week from Tuesday.
My speech from a year ago last May at the founding of the UPCC:
My name is Scott Kecken. I’m a parent of a second grader at La Ballona Elementary. I would first like to thank my wife for all her support, members of the organizing committee, members of the School Board and City Council, the community members who still give their time even though their children are no longer in the District and all the parents who came out from all the schools, especially my colleagues from La Ballona.
I am very honored to be here and to have been chosen to be the Chair of the PAC for UPCC. What we are starting here tonight in this backyard is incredible, and in some ways historic.
When I first moved to Culver City four years ago, I immediately felt a sense of community. Culver City is the first place where I truly had this in my life. This motivated me to get involved. Before you knew, it I was up to my neck in responsibility.
The results of working together with other parents at my school began to pay off. We took a new Booster Club that was just started and made it into a vibrant, self-sufficient, non-profit organization.
We have supported many incredible programs at La Ballona, too many to list here tonight. The one thing missing from this equation was our connection to each other. There were times when our schools seemed to be at odds with each other.
“That ends tonight. From this point on, we are coming together to collectively speak in one voice for our children. They are the reason we are here tonight. We want to take our already excellent School District and make it even better. I hope you will join us in this journey.
I promise you it will not be easy. There will be more work ahead of us, but I guarantee you this organization will make a positive difference in our community.
Let’s make this happen. Let’s move our School District and city forward to a brighter, sustainable future.
Come join us as United Parents of Culver City.
Mr. Kecken may be contacted at scottkecken@gmail.com
