LAUSD School Board Member Follows Up To Candidate Forum

"I have fought long and hard to keep [Special education centers] open and fully staffed."

– Scott M. Schmerelson

Last month, the two candidates in November’s runoff election for the BD3 seat on the LAUSD School Board participated in a discussion of issues facing the children of Los Angeles. While there was not enough time to ask all the questions that had been prepared, the candidates were sent the remaining ones. As of publication, Dan Chang has not provided his answers. Incumbent Scott M. Schmerelson did send in the following answers:

• Question from a constituent: Have all school Administrators established a HIPAA compliant Health Office where the nurse has confidential work space to talk with students, parents, staff members, and doctors regarding students health needs, reporting abuse or neglect? Do they have a private area to do procedures, other than in a bathroom which is not appropriate to do give a Insulin Injection, or to do a Gastronomy Tube feeding or to put the tube back into a student in a space large enough and as sterile or clean as possible? Nurses need equipment and the proper size office to care for students. In some schools, it means giving the nurse all of the original office or a classroom that might have space to create confidential areas.

Included in all my visits to my 105 schools, I meet with the school nurse to inquire about health office concerns. Many of my schools do not have adequate and private areas for the nurse. I have advocated for my schools to have nurses five days per week. I am happy to say that most of my schools do have a nurse five days per week. When I see a Health Office that is not ideal for privacy, I speak to the school principal, the Region Superintendent, and the Director of Nursing to correct the situation. We are moving closer to that goal of 100% compliance on a very basic concept, privacy. Hard to accomplish at some sites, but it is necessary.

• Do Special Education Centers and special day classes have a place in the District’s continuum of services? If not, why? If yes, what will you do to ensure that families have an ability to choose them during the IEP process?

Special education centers and SDCs absolutely have a place in our continuum of services and on an individual basis, the I in IEPs, are appropriate placements for some. I have fought long and hard to keep these centers open and fully staffed.

• There is a wide consensus that the IEP process has become increasingly adversarial. How will you ensure that parents are equal partners in guiding special education services?

I really do believe that in almost all cases, people participating in the IEP process truly do have the best interest of the student at heart. There are times I agree that the process can become adversarial, but I don’t see data that says this is systematic versus individual disagreements on what is best for the student. My office and I are always available to help parents utilize resources offered by the district.

• Is information about IEPs being shared sufficiently with teachers, especially when a student transfers to another school?

For the most part, our MISIS system and Welligent have resolved many of those issues. Information is shared quickly and electronically as soon as the student enrolls at the new school.

Our email system allows Resource Teachers to quickly and easily make contact with the former Teacher.

When a student comes from another district, we are however at the mercy of that district.

• Question from a constituent: Will you renounce any affiliation with the California Charter School Association, a group whose goal is to break UTLA and privatize public education?

Oh heavens yes. The Charter School Association has spent millions trying to defeat me. I wear it as a badge of honor to be targeted by billionaires. This means I must be doing something right for the people.

• Question from a constituent: What are your endorsements?

I am endorsed by the Democratic Party of Los Angeles, the LA Times, the LA County Federation of Labor, UTLA, SEIU Local 99, AALA, CSEA, School Police, Planned Parenthood, Parents Supporting Teachers, Bob Blumenfield, Adrin Nazarian, Lindsay Horvath, and dozens of others.

I am also endorsed by the teachers and service workers at Madison Middle School, where my opponent works. I’ve included a picture we took together! Seems that those who know my opponent best, his co-workers, support me the most!

https://scottforlausd.org/endorsements/

• Will you support the LAUSD bond measure before the voters in November?

I do support the Bond Measure before the voters. We have critical maintenance and modernization projects that need to be addressed and we can utilize help from the state if we move now.

• Question from a constituent: It would be nice if the LAUSD school menu identifies Vegetarian menu items just like it identifies Vegan items.

I will pass that along to our Food Services Division. The Executive Director of Food Services and I communicate often to discuss menu items and student concerns. He is always willing to listen and implement suggested items on the menu.

• During the heatwave of the past couple of weeks, schools reported that air conditioning broke down. Should schools have gone online only during this crisis?

A few of our schools did utilize a minimum day schedule when there was no other option, however, for the most part, our teachers have been true champions in sharing their rooms during a prep period to allow classes needing AC to come into the room.

The real issue is that many of our air conditioner units are over 20 years old and need to be replaced. See the Bond Measure mentioned above. I also want to thank our school Teacher Librarians and Library Aides for opening their libraries for teacher use during the heatwaves

• Last year the Primary Promise program was eliminated after the District had previously provided evidence that it was successful. Do you agree with this decision?

I do not. Primary Promise was a program that was working and was addressing some of the issues our youngest learners were facing. Honestly, if we can address those problems when the kids are younger we can allow our students to achieve at a rapid rate.

• As a Board Member, how would you ensure that the replacement for Primary Promise is as effective as pledged?

This is one of my highest priorities.

• The previous iteration of the LAUSD School Board, led by its majority elected by the Charter School Industry, voted to reduce the size of the District’s School Police. Has this move hurt student safety? Was the reduction in the police force followed up with promised alternative ways to intervene before violence occurs?

I opposed cuts to School Police, in fact, I’m endorsed by LAUSD School Police, and LA Police Officers too, because I have long supported the role that School Police serve on our campuses. School Police protect property and lives! In addition to school police, I support our Campus Aides, Supervision Aides, and Climate Advocates. However, I am now and always have been a supporter of local control. I want to make sure that schools are provided the resources necessary to have School Police on their campuses if they choose.

• Despite the many questions surrounding the implementation of PROP-28, five of the seven LAUSD Board Members voted to approve the “Annual Report on PROP-28” on June 24. Can the voters trust you to ensure that arts education is funded according to the promises made to voters when they passed the proposition?

I have been consistently pushing the Inspector General to open an audit on this, THIS YEAR! After heavily pressuring the Superintendent, he has agreed to get the audit done THIS YEAR!

• What is your standing on using “The Great Big Book of Families” as a resource for teaching children about inclusivity?

I was present at Saticoy St School on the day of the protest over the reading of the book. I was present in the library with the students during the reading. What a marvelous book for our students to learn! I proudly support the use of this book in our classrooms!

• There have been complaints from all three parent committees (CAC, DLAC, PAC) that District staff interfere with their ability to provide unedited advice to the Board. How would you ensure the independence of these state-mandated committees?

I believe in the independence and the right of these committees to provide advice to the Board. I work with members of these committees to ensure their independence and to receive the necessary information to do their job. I have consulted with the superintendent to make sure that these committees are respected and given the necessary assistance.

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Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him “a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles.” For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.