Monica Garcia

Suspension from school seldom makes much sense except in matters of campus safety. Let's face it: Most students don't bounce out of bed first thing in the morning celebrating the dawn of yet another school day. So why reward bad behavior with days off? No one should be surprised, then, that suspension has been found to be fairly ineffective as a disciplinary measure. It's certainly unhelpful academically; missing classes and falling behind only raise the likelihood of future truancy and dropping out. What's more, studies show that it disproportionately affects African American and Latino students.

Suspension from school seldom makes much sense except in matters of campus safety. Let's face it: Most students don't bounce out of bed first thing in the morning celebrating the dawn of yet another school day. So why reward bad behavior with days off? No one should be surprised, then, that suspension has been found to be fairly ineffective as a disciplinary measure. It's certainly unhelpful academically; missing classes and falling behind only raise the likelihood of future truancy and dropping out. What's more, studies show that it disproportionately affects African American and Latino students.

Uncertain whether they are being joined by friend or foe, members of the Los Angeles Board of Education guardedly welcomed Monica Garcia into their ranks Thursday while Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa suffered a setback in support for his efforts to have a greater role in the school district. Garcia, who was overwhelmingly elected last month to fill a vacancy on the seven-member board, was sworn in during a brief morning ceremony.

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti picked up the backing of school board member Tamar Galatzan on Friday and responded to criticism over his statements on a measure targeting low-achieving schools. Standing outside a school in Porter Ranch in the San Fernando Valley, Galatzan - who has been on the school board since 2007 -- praised Garcetti as someone who would work closely with Los Angeles Unified School District. Minutes before Galatzan spoke, rival Wendy Greuel's campaign sent an email asserting that Garcetti had given mixed messages on the so-called “parent trigger,” which allows parents at a low-performing school to force aggressive changes, such as handing it over to an outside operator.

Even as he presses his case to take over the Los Angeles Unified School District -- and replace its elected board with his own appointees -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa endorsed a candidate Thursday to fill the vacant seat on the school board. Villaraigosa said he was backing Monica Garcia, the former chief of staff to Jose Huizar, who left the District 2 school board seat in November after his election to the City Council.

Monica Garcia took over as president of the Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday, an event that followed the swearing-in of three new board members -- setting in motion a sweeping reform agenda amid celebration from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and rumblings from other quarters. Garcia, 39, joined the board just last year, but she is the senior member of the new majority bloc, which is closely associated with Villaraigosa.

To the cynically tuned ear, two remarks by Los Angeles Councilman Eric Garcetti in recent days seem to suggest the perils of a mayoral candidacy dependent, at least in some measure, on support from United Teachers Los Angeles, the union that represents local teachers. The first came in a debate moderated by former Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner, who had considered running for mayor himself. Beutner tried to pin down Garcetti about whom the councilman is supporting in a school board race that features incumbent Monica Garcia, generally regarded as a supporter of reform, against four opponents, three of whom are backed by the union.

Monica Garcia soundly defeated other candidates in Tuesday's special election for an open seat on the Los Angeles Board of Education, but did not earn enough votes to win the race outright. Because she did not receive more than half of the votes cast, Garcia, 37, will face second-place finisher Christopher Arellano, 33, in a June runoff. In an election marked by very light turnout, Garcia finished with 47% of the votes, and Arellano with 19%.

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti picked up the backing of school board member Tamar Galatzan on Friday and responded to criticism over his statements on a measure targeting low-achieving schools. Standing outside a school in Porter Ranch in the San Fernando Valley, Galatzan - who has been on the school board since 2007 -- praised Garcetti as someone who would work closely with Los Angeles Unified School District. Minutes before Galatzan spoke, rival Wendy Greuel's campaign sent an email asserting that Garcetti had given mixed messages on the so-called “parent trigger,” which allows parents at a low-performing school to force aggressive changes, such as handing it over to an outside operator.

After four Los Angeles school board members were sworn in for four-year terms Friday, a verbal skirmish broke out, with one member calling the newly reelected board president a flunky for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Monica Garcia, who has strong ties to the mayor, was one of those reelected. She was also reappointed president of the seven-person panel. FOR THE RECORD: L.A. Unified board: An article in the July 2 LATExtra section about verbal skirmishing that erupted after four members of the L.A. school board were sworn in said that Monica Garcia was reelected to the school board this year.

In a school board election that attracted national money and attention as a referendum on the reform policies of Supt. John Deasy, candidates who favored his agenda were leading in two of three races, according to early returns Tuesday evening. If those results hold up, Deasy would maintain a fragile majority in support of his policies, which emphasize holding teachers more accountable for student achievement in the nation's second-largest school district. The Board of Education race is "the sleeper of this election," said Raphael J. Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State L.A. "It matters a great deal.

Outside spending is dominating campaigns for three seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education, surpassing $4.4 million through Friday. The outcome of Tuesday's primary is expected to shape the path of improvement efforts in the nation's second-largest school system. The costliest race is in District 4, which spans the Westside and the western San Fernando Valley. There, one-term incumbent and former teacher Steve Zimmer faces parent and attorney Kate Anderson. The pro-Anderson and anti-Zimmer effort has spent more than $1.1 million.

To the cynically tuned ear, two remarks by Los Angeles Councilman Eric Garcetti in recent days seem to suggest the perils of a mayoral candidacy dependent, at least in some measure, on support from United Teachers Los Angeles, the union that represents local teachers. The first came in a debate moderated by former Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner, who had considered running for mayor himself. Beutner tried to pin down Garcetti about whom the councilman is supporting in a school board race that features incumbent Monica Garcia, generally regarded as a supporter of reform, against four opponents, three of whom are backed by the union.

A group led by former District of Columbia schools chancellor Michelle Rhee donated $250,000 Wednesday to contests for seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education, adding further political fuel to a battle over the direction of reform efforts in the nation's second-largest school system. The support of StudentsFirst, which is based in Sacramento, will benefit an independent campaign on behalf of school board President Monica Garcia as well as Kate Anderson and Antonio Sanchez, who are seeking to join the seven-member body.

After four Los Angeles school board members were sworn in for four-year terms Friday, a verbal skirmish broke out, with one member calling the newly reelected board president a flunky for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Monica Garcia, who has strong ties to the mayor, was one of those reelected. She was also reappointed president of the seven-person panel. FOR THE RECORD: L.A. Unified board: An article in the July 2 LATExtra section about verbal skirmishing that erupted after four members of the L.A. school board were sworn in said that Monica Garcia was reelected to the school board this year.

Sal Castro went from classroom to jail cell. The Eastside social studies teacher was branded a dangerous agitator in the press — held responsible for inciting thousands of teenagers to march out of school. The district attorney slapped a bunch of conspiracy charges on him. The Board of Education voted him out of his job. All that was 42 years ago. Fast forward to Saturday, when Sal Castro will stand with Los Angeles Unified School District dignitaries and cut the ribbon at a brand-new campus: Salvador B. Castro Middle School.

Monica Garcia was reelected Monday as president of the Los Angeles Board of Education, but not until after one board member alleged that politics and backroom manipulation sometimes put the interests of adults ahead of students. Garcia ascended to the presidency last year as the most senior member of a new board majority aligned with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On the other side was Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who survived a reelection campaign in which she was targeted by the mayor's allies.

Sal Castro went from classroom to jail cell. The Eastside social studies teacher was branded a dangerous agitator in the press — held responsible for inciting thousands of teenagers to march out of school. The district attorney slapped a bunch of conspiracy charges on him. The Board of Education voted him out of his job. All that was 42 years ago. Fast forward to Saturday, when Sal Castro will stand with Los Angeles Unified School District dignitaries and cut the ribbon at a brand-new campus: Salvador B. Castro Middle School.

Monica Garcia was reelected Monday as president of the Los Angeles Board of Education, but not until after one board member alleged that politics and backroom manipulation sometimes put the interests of adults ahead of students. Garcia ascended to the presidency last year as the most senior member of a new board majority aligned with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On the other side was Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who survived a reelection campaign in which she was targeted by the mayor's allies.

Monica Garcia took over as president of the Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday, an event that followed the swearing-in of three new board members -- setting in motion a sweeping reform agenda amid celebration from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and rumblings from other quarters. Garcia, 39, joined the board just last year, but she is the senior member of the new majority bloc, which is closely associated with Villaraigosa.