With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
LAUSD Board To Meet Publicly Today For The First Time Since Pandemic Began
()
While both the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and L.A. City Council have continued to hold remote meetings throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the L.A. Unified School Board hasn’t met in open session since March.
That streak is due to end today at 1 p.m., when the school board is set to meet. Here’s what they’re talking about:
- LAUSD’s budget: Superintendent Austin Beutner is due to give an update on how pandemic response and potential state funding cuts — which he warned yesterday are “just as real a threat to [students] as is the coronavirus” — will affect LAUSD’s bottom line.
JUST IN: @LASchools says @CAgovernor's proposed budget cuts — forced by #coronavirus economic downturn — would cut #LAUSD's general fund revenues by $500 million https://t.co/st9MxddoP6 pic.twitter.com/nOlTKFqcot
— Kyle Stokes (@kystokes) May 19, 2020
- Emergency procurement: Board members are reviewing a list of purchases LAUSD officials have made using emergency powers they voted to give the superintendent when the pandemic began. Among the items: more than $72 million in technology purchases and another $30 million on food. Read our story about how tech companies have been the biggest recipients of this spending >>
- Charter school co-locations: Today, LAUSD board members will vote whether to renovate 68 district-owned facilities — so that a charter school can move in. These charter “co-locations,” mandated by a state law known as Proposition 39, have always been a point of tension. Recently, L.A.’s teachers union has been calling for a moratorium on new campus-sharing arrangements.
Here’s a live stream where you can watch the meeting and the webpage where the meeting materials are posted. To address the board during the meeting, you’d have to go to LAUSD’s headquarters downtown, but you can also send a public comment via email.
Support for LAist comes from
READ MORE:
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist