LA school board criticized for closed-door discussion of temporary representative
Mary Plummer/KPCC
The Los Angeles Unified school board decided unanimously to tap former administrator Sylvia Rousseau to temporarily represent the south-central district until a special election can be held in June to replace late board member Margueritte LaMotte. But the way the board reached that decision - discussing its options in a closed-door meeting - is drawing fire.
"This is a classically political decision that needs to be made in public if it's made at all," said Peter Scheer, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition.
The school district argues that the 5-0 decision Tuesday to pull-in Rousseau was a personnel matter, thus exempt from the California Brown Act's public meeting requirements. (Board member Monica Garcia was absent.)
But Scheer said that doesn't hold water.
"They can call it what they want buy they are appointing someone to fill-in for an
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Rosa Sanchez lays a child down to rest at Jardín de Niños, which is part of the California Children's Academy that helps families become financially independent by providing affordable child care to low income families.; Credit: Mae Ryan/KPCC In this data-driven age, a new report questions why states don't compare various pieces of information - like teacher training and Kindergarten success - to