To my Board District 4 constituents, L.A. Unified family, and beyond:
It is hard to believe that next week marks my first 100 days in office. The Board of Education voted on September 26 to elect as Board President East LA representative Mónica García, and she appointed me as her Vice President. I am humbled to serve in this role and excited to continue making progress on our kids-first agenda.
In my first 100 days, I’m proud of the introduction of my first Resolution—an innovative app for the District to communicate with parents—that I hope will fundamentally transform and enhance the way L.A. Unified engages with parents, and I’m proud of fulfilling my campaign promise to bring Board of Education meetings into our communities. Read on below for more on both of these items.
To the Future,
Nick
Bringing L.A. Unified to the Community:
Upcoming Board Meeting at Fairfax High
As the new Vice President of the Board, I am fulfilling my campaign promise to bring L.A. Unified Board Meetings into the community by chairing the upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting at Fairfax High School, on October 17 at 1PM. We will continue to hold these monthly meetings at different sites within the District. If you would like more information, please contact my office. See you there!
Leveraging Technology for Parent Engagement:
The T.E.C.H. App Resolution
My first resolution will be the T.E.C.H. (Transforming Engagement via Community Hubs) App Resolution, which will transform district communications with students’ families by implementing a districtwide smartphone app. This app will be a platform for easy and quick two-way communications between L.A. Unified and families to engage and empower parents and caregivers as well as providing instant, up-to-date notifications of emergency situations, school closures, and other relevant information. Because this is for parents, I believe it should also be by parents, so I am hosting several roundtable discussions to hear your input and feedback.
I made house calls on Student Recovery Day to intervene on behalf of students struggling with disengagement from school, chronic absences, and other attendance issues, to get to the bottom of the barriers holding them back from success in school. I serve on the Board to listen and understand the challenges students and families face every day so we can offer the guidance and support they need to get on track to graduate and succeed in life.
Keeping Kids Safe: Pedestrian Safety Month and Walk to School Day
I also walked with students at Mark Twain Middle School to celebrate the district-wide “Walk to School Day” on October 4 to highlight both pedestrian safety and all the fun and healthy benefits of getting outside and walking to school. There is an urgent need for greater pedestrian safety awareness in California, and it really is up to the adults in kids' lives to not only teach them, but also to lead by example, both on the sidewalk and behind the wheel.
Promoting Civil Discourse: Debate and Panel with USC Unruh Institute
Last week, I took part in two civil discourse events through the USC Unruh Institute and ProCon.Org. Along with State Supt. Tom Torlakson's Principal Advisor, Jason Spencer, and Compton Unified School District Vice President, Micah Ali, I promoted the need for innovation in classrooms, local control so schools can best serve their communities' needs, and more per-pupil funding from the state.
On the panel, moderated by Howard Blume from the L.A. Times, we shared and discussed ideas to promote collaboration between all stakeholders in the movement to fix our public education system. In order to make significant progress for all our students, we have to look past our disagreements and focus on our aligned ideas and shared goals.
Protecting our Employees: Unanimous Support for Summer Bridge Fund
Serving All Kids: Charter Renewed for Continued Growth
On October 3, among other charter renewals, I voted along with four other Board members to renew the charter for Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy, which serves a high-need high school community in Watts. I started my career as a teacher in Watts, and saw firsthand the barriers of inequity for these students to get a quality education. Let’s be clear: this is profoundly hard work, and I applaud Green Dot for the growth they have achieved at Locke over the past nine years, as well as their resolve to continue to improve outcomes for students. We can, and should, acknowledge progress without becoming complacent.
School Spot-L.I.G.H.T.:
Mar Vista Chooses Mark Twain
At the Board’s first Committee of the Whole, I honored Dr. Althea Ford, Principal of Mark Twain Middle School in Mar Vista—not for her outstanding basketball skills (but she did play at UCLA)—but for her commitment to putting Mark Twain Middle School on the map as an integral part of the Mar Vista community. Dr. Ford has led the charge toward three consecutive years of increased enrollment with an innovative campaign to bring local families back to the school, while also ensuring that programs such as its bountiful Seeds to Plate garden and rich language immersion programs in Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, and French thrive.
Stay in the Know:
L.A. Unified Updates
Talk to Someone: We were all shocked and devastated by the tragic shooting carried out in Las Vegas. If you or your child need any counseling services, please contact L.A. Unified's Health and Human Services.
Disaster Relief: After multiple hurricanes and earthquakes have left communities struggling with basic human needs, L.A. Unified donation sites have been set up for disaster relief. Click here to find one near you.
Get Prepared: Are you ready for “The Big One?” The Great California ShakeOut wants to make sure your kids are. Learn more about their program here. You can also click here for tips to keep you and your family safe when an earthquake strikes.
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Board District 4, education news, and much more:
You can also contact my office anytime at (213) 241-6387 or BD4Info@LAUSD.net.
