Carl J. Petersen
Bio
Carl Petersen is a former Green Party candidate for the LAUSD School Board and a longtime advocate for public education and special needs families. Now based in Washington State, he writes about politics, culture, and their intersections.
Stories (321)
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Controlled Crash Or Devastating Calamity?
“The LACCD Board exerted oversight that the [LACOE] board as a whole has failed to show.” – Hans Johnson, EAPD It has been more than a month since the Board of Trustees for the North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) decided to jettison its middle school. Since this represents a major change in the operation of the charter school, the decision should have been immediately followed by a request for a Material Revision to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). Unsurprisingly to anyone who has followed NVMI’s tumultuous history, its leaders never made the request. The trustees have never even discussed the possible wording for the document.
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
School Board Member Will Look At Special Education Resolution
“I’m happy to look more closely at it and to follow up.” – Tanya Ortiz Franklin While the community has expressed support for the proposed Improving Special Education Within the LAUSD resolution, the elected board members have not stepped up to help the District’s most vulnerable students. Most disappointingly, Scott Schmerelson, who had expressed support for elements of this proposal during his last reelection campaign, rebuffed several requests to include a discussion of the resolution on an agenda for the Special Education Committee that he chairs.
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in Education
Community College Board Delays Action On Charter School Lease
“Poor planning on your part does not necessitate an emergency on mine.” – Bob Carter With the 2022-23 school year coming to a close, the North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) currently has nowhere to hold classes next year. With time running out to come up with a plan, “Superintendent” Mark Ryan went before the Los Angeles Community College District’s (LACCD) Board of Trustees on July 7, 2023, with the hope of getting approval to rent space on the Los Angeles Mission College campus. He hoped to get this done quickly as the Los Angeles County Office of Education must approve any change in the charter schools operating plans before classes can start.
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
Two Organizations Issue Statements As They Fight For Public Education
“NVMI is a case study in shamelessness.” – East Area Progressive Democrats After putting in the work to elect Dr. Rocio Rivas and end control of the LAUSD School Board by forces loyal to the Charter School Industry, supporters of public education looked forward to big, positive changes in the country’s largest school district controlled by an elected board. This optimism was increased with the elevation of long-time public school supporter, Jackie Goldberg, to the Board’s Presidency.
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in Education
And The Lesson Today Is How To Hate
“Some children have two mummies or two daddies.” – The Great Big Book of Families This innocuous (and accurate) sentence set off a firestorm culminating in a violent protest outside Saticoy Elementary School last Friday morning. A group claiming to represent parents at the LAUSD school had spent the previous weeks distributing flyers expressing “outrage” that “K-12 [SIC] students [would] be taught about LGBTQ+ during an assembly” including the showing of a video that says “some kids have 2 mommies, some have 2 daddies.”
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in Families
Community College Board To Consider Lease To Charter School
“We write to exert warning about the pattern of fraud, gross mismanagement, and waste of taxpayer money perpetuated by the North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) a rogue charter school here in L.A. on the brink of collapse.” – East Area Progressive Democrats
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
School District Tries To Silence The Voices Of SpEd Parents
“I do share the concern of several of the officers that we are being told what to do, and specifically what not to do; and at the last minute, especially. [This is] highly unusual.” – CAC Parliamentarian, Paul Robak
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in Education
Will The LAUSD Board Restore Promise To The District?
“Primary Promise, unanimously supported by every board member in 2020 when it started, is the most promising early literacy program in the nation. This is not only backed up by data, but with abundant anecdotal evidence from teachers, parents and students.” – Parents Supporting Teachers
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in Education
