Although much was initially promised to gain buy-in to school choice campaigns, most teachers, parents and communities of color have not experienced greater participation within charter schools.—Professor Antonia Darder
TAMAR GALATZAN + JOHN DEASY = 1.3 billion dollar iPad fiasco• WHO WOULD SHE PICK FOR THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT? A JOHN DEASY CLONE?• WILL SHE ATTEMPT TO BAIL AGAIN ON LAUSD AND RUN FOR ANOTHER POLITCAL OFFICE(CD 2, 2009)?• WILL SHE WASTE MORE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS AND RESTART THE 1.3 BILLION DOLLAR IPADS, HER PET PROJECT, EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE FBI AND SEC?• WHY WOULDN’T THE LA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENDORSE HER?Dear Friends and Neighbors:A few months ago, I wrote to you about the March 3 primary election which included a race for the LAUSD Board of Education. The result was that Tamar Galatzan faced a shocker - 60% voted against her. This Tuesday, we will be choosing who will be representing us for the next four years.I am writing to you again because I have become increasing disturbed by the visuals and verbiage of many of the flyers that are arriving in my mail on an almost daily basis. The funders of Ms. Galatzan’s campaign have chosen to use the lowest level of tactics to undermine and mislead the public. In one example, her opponent, school principal Scott Schmerelson, is referred to as a “paid” lobbyist for a school administrators’ organization. There is ZERO evidence to support these claims. WHAT OTHER LIES ARE THEY TRYING TO SPREAD??? WHY ARE THEY DEMONSTRATING SUCH DESPERATION???? MAYBE THE PUBLIC IS NOT BUYING WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SELL!!!!These same funders were long and vocal supporters of disgraced superintendent John Deasy. They would like nothing better than to bring back a John Deasy clone to LAUSD and Ms. Galatzan, as Deasy’s closest ally on the board, would most certainly make that her priority. Money is no object for these billionaires when it comes to taking over our local school board elections.According to the LA City Ethics Commission, violations of election rules can be filed, but it is clear that any investigation would not take place until after the election and would only result in a fine. Clearly, it appears to be safe to print and distribute these false materials with the knowledge that any actions by the city would occur after the fact and would not cause a candidate to lose their seat.On Tuesday, we have a choice. On one hand, we have Tamar Galatzan, close ally of ousted superintendent John Deasy and whose board resolution prompted Deasy to create his “tablet for everyone” plan. In contrast, revered teacher, counsel and school principal Scott Schmerelson, has expressed a much different view of how our school construction bonds should be spent and how to prioritize spending where it belongs, in the classroom.Ms. Galatzan has received endorsements from politicians(she works full time in City Hall as a prosecutor) while Mr. Schmerelson’s main supporters are students, parents and teachers who have had the priviledge of working directly with him and witnessed his ability to make a difference on every campus he has worked at.
