Polls are open bright and early today at 7am and you’ll be able to drop by and cast your vote until 8pm. AirTalk checks in with with reporters at various polling locations to check in on turnout and atmosphere. We also debate the pros and cons of of LAUSD’s plan to decentralize into 32 networks; and more.
Happy Election Day: A check-in from the polls as record voting turnout is expected
Polls are open bright and early today at 7am and you’ll be able to drop by and cast your vote until 8pm.
There are several swing districts in Southern California that might play a role in whether Republicans hold on to the House or whether the “blue wave” will push the House of Representatives to the left.
We’ll be bringing results to you after the polls close, but right now we check in with reporters at various polling locations to check in on turnout and atmosphere.
Have you voted yet? How was your experience?
Guests:
Neal Kelley, Registrar of Voters for Orange County, California
Sharon McNary, KPCC’s infrastructure correspondent, who is at Maurice Sendak Elementary Library in North Hollywood; she tweets
Caleigh Wells, general assignment reporter for KPCC and LAist, who is at Glen H Dysinger Elementary School in Buena Park; she tweets
Megan Burks, education reporter at KPBS, San Diego public radio; she is at the Sherman Heights polling location, in Congressional District 51
The pros and cons of LAUSD’s plan to decentralize into 32 networks
Yesterday, the LA Times reported that the LAUSD Schools chief Austin Beutner is looking at a plan that would decentralize the district by breaking it up into 32 different networks.
The goal is to give schools more decision making power, make the bureaucracy smaller and cut down on costs. That last goal is an important one to Beutner, who has pointed to analysis that says the district is currently spending $500 million per year more than what it’s making, which would mean that funds would be gone in three to four years. The teachers union has disputed this projection. This plan would still have to be approved by the Board of Education.
What do we know about how these networks would work? Is it a good idea to decentralize LAUSD in this way? What would this mean, on the ground, for educators and students?
Guests:
Howard Blume, reporter covering education for the L.A. Times, where his recent story is “School chief's plan would divide L.A. school district into 32 networks”; he tweets
Katie Braude, executive director of Speak Up, a grassroots parent organization
David Tokofsky, a consultant strategist with the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, which represents principals and other administrators working in LAUSD; former LAUSD board member and a former teacher in the district
Alex Caputo-Pearl, president of UTLA, the union representing 34,000 educators and health and human service professional
Maywood high school teacher arrested after hitting student
A Los Angeles-area teacher was arrested on suspicion of punching a 14-year-old student who used a racial epithet and threw a basketball at him in a classroom, authorities said.
Marston Riley, 64, was taken into custody on suspicion of child abuse after the fight recorded on cellphone video Friday during a music class at Maywood Academy High School, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Los Angeles Unified School District officials said they’re cooperating with the sheriff’s investigation. “We take this matter very seriously and do not condone violence or intolerance of any kind,” a district statement said.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guest:
Nick Salerno, adjunct faculty member in the Department of Education at Cal Poly Pomona, where he also teaches the Educational Administration Credential Program, a professional development program for teachers seeking to become school leaders; he is the former superintendent of El Monte Union High School District and the former principal of El Monte High School
The state of basketball in LA: LeBron, The Lakers, and the superstar-less Clippers
The Los Angeles Lakers ended on a high note in October taking over the Dallas Mavericks on Halloween. But last week was a different story.
According to reports, Magic Johnson, Lakers president of basketball operations, met with coach Luke Walton last Tuesday after the team’s sluggish start to the NBA season. Lakers star LeBron James appeared frustrated after a 124-120 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves but, according to reports, he did not raise concerns over Walton’s handling of the team.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers has survived the death punch schedule. When the NBA released the Clippers schedule back in August, some fans were taken aback. The schedule featured several difficult stints against serious playoff contenders. But the team proved to be better than expected. Analysts say it helped that most of those early games were at home and Clippers opponents looked weaker than they seemed a few months ago. Now we have to wait and watch.
How far do you think these teams will go? And what do you think of their performance so far? Call us at 866-893-5722 and weigh in.
Guests:
Tania Ganguli, reporter covering the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times; she tweets
Andrew Greif, Clippers beat writer for the Los Angeles Times; he tweets
Dan Woike, national basketball writer for the Los Angeles Times; he tweets