Educational Forum Sponsored by Marina Del Rey Booster Club Press Release

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2009

“Stay or Go: Can Recent Reforms Save Neighborhood Schools?”
Featuring LAUSD Board Member Steve Zimmer

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 7:15 pm – 8:30 PM


Los Angeles, Calif. – The Marina Del Rey Booster Club and Teach For America are proud to announce an evening of educational dialogue featuring Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Steve Zimmer. Focusing on the recent school choice resolution passed by the Board, Mr. Zimmer, and several other key educational voices, will discuss how these reforms impact neighborhood schools in Del Rey, Venice, Westchester, Mar Vista and other westside communities. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Marina Del Rey Middle School and Performing Arts Magnet at 12500 Braddock Dr., Los Angeles 90066.

The event will begin with comments from Councilman Bill Rosendahl before Mr. Zimmer delivers an address on his vision for neighborhood schools. A veteran classroom teacher for 18 years, Mr. Zimmer, who won election to the Board in January 2009, will then join the evening’s moderator, Eric DeSobe, a former teacher in Compton and current chair of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council Education Sub-Committee, for a discussion on how local schools are handling budget cuts, charter schools, and state testing. Questions welcomed from the audience during this time.

Following Mr. Zimmer’s comments and answers, Mr. DeSobe will moderate a panel discussion with Tommy Chang, principal of Green Dot Animo Venice High School, Tory Toyama, veteran teacher at Venice High School, and Elizabeth Campos Layne, Playa Del Rey Elementary Booster Club President, mother, and homeowner, on the future of neighborhood schools. Questions from the audience welcomed during this time.

“Educational issues affect all aspects of a community,” said Eric DeSobe.. “I am looking forward to engaging so many different perspectives on the possible solutions to the ever increasing challenges facing neighborhood schools.”

The Los Angeles Board of Education authorized a school-control plan in August; it applies to low-achieving existing schools and to 51 new campuses set to open over the next four years in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The nation's second-largest school system will invite bidders from inside and outside the district to run low-performing and new schools next year through a proposal process that is still being developed.

The event is free and open to anyone interested. For more information about the event, call (310) 936-4905.

The Marina Del Rey Booster Club represents students and families through fundraisers, event planning, and financial support. The Booster Club meets monthly and welcomes all Marina Del Rey Middle School parents. Teach For America is an independent nonprofit organization that works to close the educational achievement gap in urban and rural public schools. For more information, go to www.teachforamerica.org.


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