UCLA diverting student fees to fund Pauley Pavilion upgrade
When UCLA officials first planned a $185 million upgrade of Pauley Pavilion, they expected the bulk of funding to come from donors – alumni and others eager to overhaul the aging home of the school's renowned basketball team.
But it didn't quite turn out that way. With economic realities dampening fundraising expectations, UCLA is now planning to using student fees that were levied for other purposes to fill the gap, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Flickr photo by BobT2The university will tap $10 million in student fees that were set aside for seismic upgrades and $15 million in student fees that were supposed to go to maintenance on two specific student facilities to help pay for the project.
The move raises several questions: How can the university change the original purpose of student fees? Why spend money for seismic upgrades on Pauley Pavilion, when more than a dozen other buildings are known to be more dangerous in a quake?
The UC regents first approved the seismic-safety student fee at UCLA in 1988 – $39 per year to be used exclusively for seismic and other safety corrections to Kerckhoff Hall and Ackerman Union. Both buildings were rated "very poor" for seismic safety and were
Judge rejects union attempt to block charter conversions
In the battle for control of Los Angeles schools, now both teachers and charters can claim victory.
A superior court judge on Friday denied a lawsuit filed by the United Teachers of Los Angeles that, if successful, would have blocked the Los Angeles Unified School District from turning over new campuses to charter school management firms.
Photo by Jason Morrison
According to the LA Times, the suit was prompted by the school district's controversial reform initiative that allowed for teachers, charters and others to bid for control of more than 30 schools. Filed in December, the suit
A superior court judge on Friday denied a lawsuit filed by the United Teachers of Los Angeles that, if successful, would have blocked the Los Angeles Unified School District from turning over new campuses to charter school management firms.
Photo by Jason MorrisonAccording to the LA Times, the suit was prompted by the school district's controversial reform initiative that allowed for teachers, charters and others to bid for control of more than 30 schools. Filed in December, the suit
