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November 1, 2018
Dear friends and partners,
 
November has arrived, bringing a glimpse of autumn to the land of eternal summer, the nascent buzz of the holiday season, and the chance to exercise your civic duty by voting in next Tuesday’s midterm election.
 
For some of L.A. Unified’s students, this will be their first time casting a ballot. The growing movement of student activism has culminated in record-breaking numbers of new voters in California—out of 200,000 teens who pre-registered, 100,000 have turned 18. And half of these new voters are in Los Angeles County!
 
I am excited to watch the next generation of leaders continue to register, exercise their right to vote, and join in the fight for fair funding of their very own public schools.    
 
No matter your age or status, it is important to remember that civic engagement doesn’t just happen on Election Day. Get involved, stay informed, and together, we can make a difference for our kids.
 
Read on for more info on current labor negotiations, champions of spelling and storytelling, and some standout BD4 Halloween costumes!
 
              Onward,
             Nick Melvoin
Stay in the Know: The Latest on the Labor Negotiations
Negotiations with the teachers’ union is still ongoing. No resolution was reached during Mediation, and UTLA has rejected the District's latest offer, so we now move into the “Fact-Finding” process. L.A. Unified remains committed to negotiating a fair contract that values the hard work of our teachers and gives them the support and resources they need to improve student achievement while living within our financial means. I believe that the facts will speak for themselves during this next phase of negotiations:
  • LA Unified is an underfunded school district—parents, teachers, and the District need to work together to demand more funding from the state.
  • LA Unified has offered teachers a 6% raise and safeguards against increasing class sizes. As a reminder, healthcare benefits were secured for all employees in last year's separate benefits negotiations—employees do not have to pay any premiums (contributions) for the healthcare for themselves, their spouses, or their dependents.  
  • LA Unified’s reserves will help pay for these raises—but these are one-time funds that will be gone in less than three years, leading us toward insolvency if we do not address our structural deficit.
  • LA Unified has made multiple offers to UTLA, but the union's leadership has been unwilling to make any counter-offers or work toward a resolution to avoid a strike that will be bad for students and families. 
For more information...
 
In the News: Highlights from the Classroom to the Boardroom
October has been a busy month of meetings, town halls, and events. Thank you to all the parents, school staff, and community partners engaging in the process of improving our public schools! 
Student Spot-L.I.G.H.T.S.: Young Spellers and Storytellers
I was thrilled to emcee this year's Del Rey Spelling Bee! Congratulations to all the talented spellers—including our champ from Short Ave ES who correctly spelled “isthmus” for 1st place!
My team and I watched “The Biggest Show,” where the stories of some very creative young students came to life thanks to the work of the Young Storytellers program!   
BD4 Schools Celebrate Halloween in Style!
LA Unified Updates & Upcoming Dates
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily updates on L.A. Unified, Board District 4, education news, and much more:
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You can also contact my office anytime at (213) 241-6387 or BD4Info@LAUSD.net.
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Office of LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin · 333 S. Beaudry Avenue · 24th Floor · Los Angeles, CA 90017 · USA