THE LACOE AGENDA/Installment #1
Union Busting
I write to-each-of-you (with the exception of my CC to LACEA president, Brian Christian) out of shock and dismay at the new, anti-teacher (‘anti-union’?) culture that seems to have overtaken LACOE management: this after 25 years of give-and-take negotiations that had seemingly evolved into interest-based bargaining. The recent rounds of benefits negotiations (and I use ‘negotiation’ facetiously) — have apparently culminated in Dr. Delgado’s October 11, 2011 missive to LACOE’s rank-and-file. The tone and content of this memo seem designed to be both divisive and injurious to LACEA, CSEA and SEIU members who support families — in addition to pitting the unions against one another and undermining LACEA’s solidarity (I can only hope that the exact opposite occurs): with threats of large membership contributions before and during the upcoming holidays. The missive goes on to suggest that it was LACEA who is responsible for this situation – though LACEA has never stopped trying to negotiate with LACOE in good faith.
Charter Schools
As perhaps the largest intermediate school district on the planet; many-of-us know that LACOE has a very large operating budget — padded over-the-years by the budgets of the 81 school districts LACOE services (though I am aware that interest-bearing accounts do not presently have the yields they once did). I am also aware that there are strong interests within the present school board appointees to have charter schools take over LACOE educational services. But any rigorous research into charter schools will demonstrate that they will not produce long-term cost savings, indeed, such charter schools will probably produce a veritable flood of new lawsuits for LACOE’s community and court schools. To be continued…
October 23, 2011
Installment #2/Teachers Are Not the Problem
I am in receipt of Dr. Delgado’s October 21, 2011 missive in which some-of-the-content is qualitatively different from his October 11th missive which suggested that teachers (particularly teachers with families) were to be punished — with huge benefits contributions — before the upcoming holidays. The October 21st missive contains no such threat and suggests that interest-based bargaining may ensue.
The Intermediate School District
Anyone who pursues their education administrative credential learns about the function of the intermediate school district: in terms of disbursing monies/budgets to the school districts of the county the intermediate district oversees. So with 81 school districts in Los Angeles County, and each-of-them with a multi-million dollar operating budget, and each of them getting their monies through LACOE (as is the legal mandate of the intermediate school district), we know that funds earmarked for a particular school district that arrive to LACOE on a Thursday or Friday – and not released to the school district till Tuesday or Wednesday – accrue interest. We in LACEA are not privy to where this interest goes, but legend has it that LACOE maintains up to four ledgers of its accounting activities. I personally know superintendents and assistant superintendents of the 81 school districts whom LACOE services who have been trying (unsuccessfully) for years to get out from under LACOE’s fiscal yoke to secrete some of the aforementioned interest for their own school districts.
Where Does the Money Go?
One could also look at LACOE as a purveyor of cronyism, nepotism and a Santa Claus to all but the rank and file – what with rumors that there are 5-6 administrators per teacher. It is well known that many of the highly paid consultants on LACOE’s payroll are former administrators from the 81 aforementioned districts who get to pad their retirement with LACOE. Ironically, many of LACOE’s own teachers would better inform the district of its needs and possible solutions to ongoing problems. Many-of-us also know that people of influence in LACOE can lavish their friends with large “education-related” contracts. Since I have never been privy to specifics, I can’t give you numbers, but rumor has it that the Clark Building, er, the name has since changed – was purchased from the Court School budget! I have personally seen hundreds of computers (many in unopened boxes) stacked from floor-to-ceiling for months in the old North Area Office. So there is some doubt as to LACOE’s purported fiscal crisis – and while teachers haven’t caused the crisis – they are asked to bite the bullet.