Is the Los Angeles school board speaking truth to power, or was that Pope Francis? — PS connect

Is the Los Angeles school board speaking truth to power, or was that Pope Francis? — PS connect:

Is the Los Angeles school board speaking truth to power, or was that Pope Francis?

When I say AALA, think Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, not Allah. This was no mosque, after all.

The AALA Fall Reception took place last Wednesday at the Plaza Center at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Maybe, with Pope Francis making the most sense of anyone in the halls of Congress last week, AALA was hoping some of that holy mojo would rub off on all the board members, senior district staff and administrators present. There was no mention of any sacredness of the spot by AALA president, Juan Flecha, separation of church and state and all. Still, it was not business as usual.

The AALA event was rousing. The speakers--especially the board members--seemed inspired.

California State Superintendent, Tom Torlakson offered a benediction of sorts and then the more personal messages followed. Board President Steve Zimmer, with his usual preachy oratorical flare, paid tribute to the superintendent.

"What Ray Cortines has done is one of the most incredible acts of public service I have ever seen," Zimmer said. He went on to thank the administrators, particularly in light of the horrific news of the high number of shootings in Los Angeles neighborhoods over the weekend, for being the rock that students and families lean on in such times. He reminded everyone there that school is the center of many communities.

Zimmer closed by reassuring the administrators in the wake of the privateers' declaration of war against LAUSD, saying, "We are going to walk through this fire together."

George McKenna offered the parables and personal anecdotes to which we've become accustomed. "We can't just fight to fight; we have to fight to win. When the elephants fight, only the grass gets trampled," he said.

McKenna's best line, which seemed to either search for encouragement or to serve as a warning, was, "We're either going Is the Los Angeles school board speaking truth to power, or was that Pope Francis? — PS connect: