LAUSD - The apartheid district

With recent elections now behind us, a little bit of history is in order. LAUSD District 5 was created to force the LAUSD board of education to integrate, challenging decades of de facto apartheid. 

In 1995 the LA Times reported, "Although the Los Angeles Unified race was portrayed throughout the two-month runoff campaign as a teacher vs. parent contest, it was also a competition between two powerful electoral forces: the teachers union and the Latino political machine.

A victory for Rivera, who was endorsed by most of the region's top Latino politicians--would be seen as a stark symbol of the waning influence of United Teachers-Los Angeles, which has funneled money and manpower to her opponent.

If Tokofsky wins, he would become the first white representative of the 5th District in 12 years--a blow to Latino politicians who have tried to create and preserve the seat for a Latino. But Tokofsky expressed optimism that supporters of both candidates will unite after the election, regardless of who wins."

Of course, Tokofsky is now a high priced lobbyist, and the union remains committed to running White candidates against Mexican-origin candidates since 1995. 

Considering Dr. Ref Rodriguez' recent electoral victory this history becomes prescient. Ethnicity is certainly no substitute for a clear political agenda. However Dr.Rodriguez is not only born of migrant, working class, Mexican parents - he was also raised in the Glassel Park neighborhood and remained committed to dedicating his education and resources to serve children and youth like him. Among other things, Dr. Rodriguez has committed to exploring a resurgence of Chicana/o Studies curriculum and policies in the LAUSD. If for no other reason, this alone is reason to support Ref. 

As with all electoral candidates, Ref will also have to be held accountable to the community base  that voted him into office. While any opposition to the conservative forces of institutionalized unions now costs millions of dollars, no vote was bought or paid for. That Ref's major campaign donors were also allegedly backers of the failed tenure of "Crooked" John Deasy, should be secondary to the organizational base of communities this elected board must be held accountable to.  

Deficit, dilapidation, recalcitrance and disfunction. Hardly anyone would argue with these descriptors of LAUSD. As first order of action I would call upon the new board members to engage in listening tours with students and parents followed by town halls and plebiscites with school community members in each district to engage community members in deciding upon strategic priorities. Before Ref's win, only Monica Garcia openly defended Mexican community based interests on par with the interests of all students. As of 2013, of the over 30,000 certificated teachers in LAUSD, over 60% were non-"Hispanic/Latino". In contrast, over 70% of LAUSD students are Mexican-origin. Exactly in whose interest the union operates is clearly racialized by the demographics of district's current credentialed workforce. 

Anglican Church Archives

Now more than ever, the over 200,000 Spanish speaking youth and over 650,000 mostly Mexican and Central American-origin students and their families must assert our collective majority prioritizing access to maternal language education, culturally relevant curriculum, and full support for college and career preparatory education. A new composition of the board should mean a new direction in  public education in Los Angeles. De facto apartheid classrooms must end. Allies should join proactive calls for community-based self-determination. Organized Mexican, Central American and Indigenous Peoples communities can speak for ourselves.