Report: Part-time, fractured LA school board unacceptable
Mary Plummer/KPCC
Los Angeles 2020 Commission is criticizing the part-time status of the Los Angeles Unified school board. In its report released Wednesday, the commission called the current approach "unacceptable."
"LAUSD’s current governance structure is prone to crisis, turnover and inconsistency; and provides little accountability," states the report.
The authors championed the work of L.A. Unified Superintendent John Deasy as "progress," focusing their critique on the school board. The board has at times pushed against Deasy's recommendations of reform, including using students' test scores to evaluate teachers and expanding charter schools.
"Cities in other regions across the country have either moved to mayoral control or clarified and strengthened the role of the Board and improved their Board’s working relationship with school administrators to try and establish accountability," the report points out.
Neither Deasy nor the school board members were immediately available for comment Wednesday morning.
The commission was established last year by Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson, and endorsed by then mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to study the fiscal stability of the city.
The report points to L.A. Unified's struggles with academic achievement and Report: Part-time, fractured LA school board unacceptable | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: