I noticed in one of the Fiesta La Ballona announcements that our local Parents-Teacher Assn. (PTA) and the newly-formed United Parents of Culver City (UPCC) are going to compete in a tug-of-war. I could not help but think that this could foreshadow an upcoming power struggle between the two local organizations: The 115-year-old PTA, with its locally organized school units and lobbyists at both the state and national levels, and the new local upstart UPCC, which will advocate for students at the local district level.
Might the time be right for another parent group to partner with the PTA and share in the student advocacy at our local district level?
Are Not Two Advocates Better than One?
Both groups have pledged themselves to the same lofty goal: The betterment of our students’ education. The two will use quite different approaches: The PTA has a long history of lobbying for legislation at the state and national levels. But the UPCC will be much more local in its approach. It will endorse local candidates. This is something the PTA has refrained from doing. In fact, the National PTA’s bylaws prohibit the endorsing of political candidates.
Seeking Out Endorsements
The continuation of the UPCC influence will depend on whether its political endorsements will be sought by local candidates and what the UPCC's endorsements will bring to those campaigns. If the UPCC’s endorsement means a larger pool of active supporters working to get their candidates elected, it may have a chance to evolve into a political force.
Short-Term Success
Parental splinter groups have not had a good track record in Culver City. Many past parent groups have come together, enjoyed initial short-term success in resolving one or two pressing local school issues. Some even have had one of their leaders run successfully for local office. Their influence usually subsided as a group’s original core activists moved on to other familiar issues as their children graduated.
Upcoming Issues
Another issue that may determine the UPCC's lasting influence: Will its supporters continue to advocate for all district students or will they end up being seen as only advocating for their own kids and their schools?
A Watershed Issue
One other upcoming issue that may determine United Parents’ degree of influence lies in how effective it will be in advocating for changes in prioritizing the parcel tax funds for the 2014 renewal campaign.
Parent Union’s First Challenge
It will be interesting to see how the relationship between these two advocacy groups will pan out. Time will provide the answer.
Even if the UPCC influence is short-lived and falls prey to the pitfalls that befell previous parental groups, the next couple of elections should be fascinating to watch.
On a Personal Note: I am a paid-up Community Member of the UPCC.
I found it disconcerting that an organization whose founding principle is to advocate for all of our District students would remain quietly on the sidelines while the District evicted 70 Culver Park High School students out of their long-time, tree-lined home at the El Marino Language School campus. It continues to remain silent and do nothing as the District plans to house these students in a couple of 40-year old refurbished bungalows in a back corner of an asphalt parking lot behind Farragut Elementary. To add insult, this same parking lot will be covered over with dozens of 12-foot tall solar-paneled carports, further de-humanizing the site.
My question for the UPCC leadership: Where were you when these students needed you?
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
