Say Yes to Children Network
Say Yes to Children Network
Building Bridges, Not Walls.
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
John Jackson
June 29, 2006
Say Yes to Children Network
(213) 272-1120
Parents and Civic Leaders are Denied 1st Amendment Rights at LAUSD Board
Meeting
Parents are told they cannot speak at the Special LAUSD Board Meeting.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. - Parents, community groups and civic organizations
are denouncing the LAUSD school board for not allowing public comment during
their special board meeting today.
Over the last year, LAUSD and the Board of Education have engaged in a secret
manner that denies parents a chance to speak and be heard regarding their
children's education.
"LAUSD told me I couldn't speak today because I didn't call them yesterday to
be on the agenda," said Nikki Louis, a mother and community activist with Say
Yes to Children Network. "We got word of the meeting yesterday at 2pm and we
didn't know we had to register within 3 hours to be heard."
Although the LAUSD did not leave time for Nikki Louis or other parents in their
agenda to speak out, ACORN member Martha Sanchez demanded to be heard. She
spoke out and addressed the members of the board that it was simply un-fair
that parents like her were not given the consideration or respect by the LAUSD
board that they deserved. Ms. Sanchez called out to several individual board
members and reminded them that they would not have the seats that they were
sitting in today without the parents that she represented. As apart of the
community group ACORN Martha said that the families and the communities needed
to be given more consideration and taken more seriously in such matters like
the one being addressed in today's meeting. Ms. Sanchez even singled out David
Tokofsky, LAUSD board member, and complained that every time she tried to speak
with him he was busy on the telephone, and never responded to her parental
concerns. In the end, Ms. Sanchez was able to speak out for the parents who
were not given the opportunity or informed about this session and meeting by
the LAUSD.
Today, Superintendent Romer and the LAUSD school board took an opposition
position to the Mayor's School Reform Legislation AB 1831.
The Say Yes to Children Network is committed to working with all parties to
find a common ground on school reform. Serving as an umbrella group for faith
based organizations, civic groups and civil rights organizations the Say Yes to
Children Network is committed to fully funding education, reforming our public
schools and ensuring that all parties are able to speak.
"If the district can't even allow for parents to be heard, how does it expect
for us to have faith in their work?" Said John Jackson Director of the Say Yes
to Children Network.
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