Carl J. Petersen
Bio
Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for students with SpEd needs and public education. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Opinions are his own.
Stories (313)
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And The Lesson Today Is How To Hate
“Some children have two mummies or two daddies.” – The Great Big Book of Families This innocuous (and accurate) sentence set off a firestorm culminating in a violent protest outside Saticoy Elementary School last Friday morning. A group claiming to represent parents at the LAUSD school had spent the previous weeks distributing flyers expressing “outrage” that “K-12 [SIC] students [would] be taught about LGBTQ+ during an assembly” including the showing of a video that says “some kids have 2 mommies, some have 2 daddies.”
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in Families
Community College Board To Consider Lease To Charter School
“We write to exert warning about the pattern of fraud, gross mismanagement, and waste of taxpayer money perpetuated by the North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) a rogue charter school here in L.A. on the brink of collapse.” – East Area Progressive Democrats
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
School District Tries To Silence The Voices Of SpEd Parents
“I do share the concern of several of the officers that we are being told what to do, and specifically what not to do; and at the last minute, especially. [This is] highly unusual.” – CAC Parliamentarian, Paul Robak
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in Education
Will The LAUSD Board Restore Promise To The District?
“Primary Promise, unanimously supported by every board member in 2020 when it started, is the most promising early literacy program in the nation. This is not only backed up by data, but with abundant anecdotal evidence from teachers, parents and students.” – Parents Supporting Teachers
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in Education
Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200
“Based upon our review of receipts and internal documents of NVMI’s recent leadership retreat, there is reason to believe that fraud, misappropriation of funds, or other illegal fiscal practices may have occurred that merit examination.” – Los Angeles County of Education
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
Will LACOE Pull The Plug?
“North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) has failed to respond to all reasonable inquiries, failed to provide prior written notification of any source of additional funding that may result in incurring additional debt, failed to provide evidence that the school fully met all payroll obligations since February 16, 2023, and currently has not maintained the required minimum three (3) percent reserves of the Charter School’s Adopted Budget for the fiscal year.” – Los Angeles County of Education
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
The Building Boom Continues Despite A Loss Of Students
“The bill would authorize a chartering authority to deny renewal of a charter school upon a finding that the school is demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program set forth in the petition due to substantial fiscal or governance factors, or is not serving all pupils who wish to attend, as specified.” – AB 1505
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
When Will A School Board Hold Its Superintendent Accountable?
“The Members of the Board have been elected by the communities to provide leadership, policy-making, and citizen oversight of the policies and practices that affect the students, families, and schools within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Unified School District.” – LAUSD Board Rules
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
A Charter School Board Member Says The Quiet Part Out Loud
“Let’s look at performance too with the kids that we keep.” – Julie Ward, NVMI Board of Trustees As recipients of public funding, charter schools are supposed to accept all students who seek to enroll. In the increasingly rare event that demand exceeds capacity, a random lottery is supposed to give all applicants an equal chance of attending. Any preference based on ability or performance is supposed to be expressly forbidden. Screening prospective students based on a need for services is also against the law.
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
Tanya Who?
“GET ON BOARD Take A Stand For Educational Equity” – Tanya Ortiz-Franklin During her 2020 campaign, LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz-Franklin presented herself as someone who would be singularly focused so as not to be distracted from addressing issues affecting the students of the District. For example, when I asked her for a statement on an article I was writing about an education issue, she admonished me for asking anything besides “Black lives mattering and…racial justice” in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder. Also when she was asked for comment on a revelation that she had been kicked off the Del Rey Neighborhood Council for being absent for 61.5% of the meetings, her campaign stated that “she left the neighborhood council regretfully” because she was unable to “commit the time and still fully serve the students of the LAUSD”.
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
Has This Charter School Met The End Of The Road?
“Start looking for a new school.” – Teacher’s advice to NVMI Student The North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) was running on borrowed time even before it enrolled its first student. Dubious of the chances for its success, the LAUSD Board was set to reject its initial charter until Jerry Brown stepped in with some high-pressure lobbying. When the first years of operations fulfilled the District’s predictions of failure, the Board took the rare step of rejecting NVMI’s renewal. The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Board, then led by Mark Ridley-Thomas’ appointee, overturned the LAUSD’s decision over the objections of its own staff.
By Carl J. Petersen3 years ago in The Swamp
