That was also the theme of members of the newly formed Parent Revolution and the Lemonade Initiative, two groups trying to organize public school parents.
"We can't take it anymore," declared Ben Austin, executive director of Parent Revolution, "when we read in the L.A. Times about child molesters -- child molesters! -- being put back in the classroom to teach our kids."
His group, which is affiliated with four charter organizations, promises parents that if more than 50% sign up, Parent Revolution will guarantee that their school will dramatically improve within three years or face competition from a charter. He told the board that more than half the parents at feeder schools for Garfield High on the Eastside and Mark Twain Middle in Venice had recently signed the petitions.
Given the circumstances at Birmingham, the board appeared more resigned than eager to approve its charter petition. Under state law, districts are required to approve charters if the organizations submit a valid plan. One leading opponent of the charter, banker Steven Shapiro, said the new school's budget did not add up and could leave Birmingham with a $2.5-million deficit; but district staff said they had closely analyzed the budget and believed it was sound.
Shapiro implored the district to wait until plans for the union-backed school were ready, but the board asked Birmingham Principal Marcia Coates only to "think about" eventually giving it space on her campus. The board did require that the Daniel Pearl Journalism Magnet, a school-within-a-school at Birmingham, remain a district school. Sports and extracurricular activities will be shared.
Adding to the board's uneasiness was a recent incident involving comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, of "Borat" fame, who posed for somewhat kinky magazine photos with members of the Birmingham football team. Board members roundly excoriated the school's leadership for allowing the photo shoot; Garcia called it "a violation of trust regarding the children on that campus."
Cortines said he had handed down discipline against Coates and Athletic Director Rick Prizant but conceded that nothing would happen because the two would no longer be district employees. Coates brought, but didn't read, prepared remarks conceding that allowing the photos was "embarrassing to the district and to myself, and not a decision that I am proud of." But she said that the request she had approved was "age-appropriate and non-controversial" and that she wasn't aware of the content until the photos were published in GQ magazine.
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mitchell.landsberg@latimes.com
