The Anaheim City Council voted 3-2 to approve a Mayor Pro Tem Lucille Kring’s resolution of support for Palm Lane Elementary parents working to convert their school into an independent public charter school. Mayor Tom Tait, Mayor Pro Tem Lucille Kring and Councilwoman Kris Murray voted in support, while Councilmembers Jordan Brandman and James Vanderbilt voted in opposition.
There was a weird moment when Vanderbilt proposed language to “put more teeth” into the resoltuon by calling for the Orange County Department of Education to serve as a sort of UN observers to watch the Anaheim City School District’s petition verification. Kring declined the amended language, and at the end of the day Vanderbilt (after asking the City Attorney if the resolution could come back later if it lost tonight) joined Brandman in voting “no.”
“As representatives of Anaheim, we have an obligation to support the parents of Palm Lane Elementary School. Our residents should be free to address their concerns, whether it’s to the city council or school district, without fear of harassment or retaliation,” said Councilwoman Kris Murray.
“From the beginning, I championed these families’ right to be heard in a fair and open dialogue with respect for all points of view – which is why I am supporting tonight’s resolution.”
“Our state government has afforded families the right, by law, to seek alternatives for their children’s education. As their elected representatives, we must have the courage to defend and support their rights even if some do not agree with their choice.”
A steady stream of speakers came to the podium at tonight’s Anaheim City Council to speak to the resolution.
The speakers in favor of the resolution included many Palm Lane parents, as well as Assemblyman Travis Allen, former state Senator Gloria Romero, representatives from state Senator Bob Huff and Assemblywoman Young Kim, Orange Councilman Fred Whitaker, OC Board of Education Trustee Robert Hammond, Teresa Fernandez and Mark Bucher from the Lincoln Club of Orange County.
Speaking against the resolution were school union representatives. One parent sort of spoke in opposition, but also said she wasn’t really concerned about whether Palm Lane was a charter school or a regular public school. [Public comment had already begun when I arrived]. And there was also a marijuana legalization advocate who vocalized his belief that the Parent Trigger Law is a right-wing conspiracy to privatize public education.
It was a striking difference from the crowd of school union members from a number of school districts who packed the boardroom at last week’s ACSD Board of Education meeting. Again and again, I have heard union leaders and activists claim there are all these Palm Lane parents who oppose the Parent Trigger petition or signed it but are now recanting. But we never see them or hear from them. The great preponderance of parents who do show up and speak are in favor of converting Palm Lane Elementary into a charter school – and we saw it again tonight.
How ironic: It was the two members of the Anaheim City Council with the most experience in public education, both former members of boards of education—Jordan Brandman and James Vanderbilt—who voted not to support the ill-conceived resolution to support Palm Lane parents to pursue a legal right. The next time I want to pursue a legal right, I will draft a resolution and ask the city council to support me. The council’s vote in this case set a bad precedent, supporting a resolution that has nothing to do with the legitimate work of the city council.
Hugh – I cannot imagine anything more legitimate for the city council than the welfare of hundreds of children who are trapped in a school that has been designated as failing the state of California for 12 years.
It is far past time for everyone to put politics and personal interests aside, and come together to help the kids at Palm Lane get a fair shot at a good education.
“Trapped” Interesting since every year all of the families receive a notice that the students in their school are underperforming and they have the right to go to any other school in the district. That makes it a CHOICE to stay.
Although parents are given a choice to change schools each year not all families can afford transportation to send their children to a different school. Some of us are “trapped” due to economical reasons. Nobody wants to continually see their child fail in school month after month year after year. It’s time for a change the old way wasn’t working why not try something else!!!! #mychilddeservesbetter
PRO CHARTER FOR PALM LANE
I disagree. There are other schools very close to Palm Lane. If it was important enough, you would figure it out.
Funny how many argue that Palm Lane is under achieving yet my child is consistenting achieving and exceling academic standards. Funny how those pro- charter parents never show up at school to observe what is going on in their child’s education nor do they attend school site council mertings, parent training work shops or engage in PTA activities. However, pro charter parents are all so quick to blame the district for poor academic achievement. Wake up people. Education starts in the home; parents are our childrens first and most omportant teacher. It is not the district responsibility to do what you are not doing at home.
Has anyone bothered to try and get to the root of the problems that may cause Palm Lane’s test scores (in math and English, the only scores that are taken into account) to lag? Is there a high student turnover? Are there large numbers of non or limited English speakers? Special Ed? The only thing this trigger appears to look at is test scores. I was surprised at how many of the pro-trigger parents who spoke at the school board meeting talked about how much they support the Palm Lane teachers. It sure doesn’t appear there is agreement that its somehow the teachers’ fault. And another thing, parents are being asked to replace the school and staff with a complete unkown. Absolutely no one can make any claims about how much better (or worse) a charter is going to be because absolutely no one knows which charter, if any, is willing to take over the school. Parents are being asked to scuttle Palm Lane for the “mystery school” behind the curtain. So it was very intriguing to see so many OC electeds and other non-Anaheim power players out in force to “support” the Palm Lane parents (who at this point are apparently a minority of the Palm Lane parents). What is their interest in having this go one way or the other? Especially since what they are seeking is so unkown at this point?
“And another thing, parents are being asked to replace the school and staff with a complete unkown.”
That is an outright lie, and one that has been repeated over and over by the school unions (not to mention the administration of ACSD) to Palm Lane parents in a cynical attempt to panic them.
If it’s not an unknown, what exactly is it being replaced with?
I was referring to the repeated claim being made to parents by the unions that conversion to a charter school would result in all the Palm lane staff being replaced. There is no basis for this claim, and yet they make it repeatedly.
There is a basis for this claim. If they close the school and reopen it as a charter school, they will have to hire all new teachers. The current teachers are employed by Anaheim City School District. The charter would hire their own teachers.
They have to hire teachers – and they could hire the as many of the current teachers as they wanted, if those teachers want to remain at Palm Lane. Palm Lane’s present teaching staff isn’t owned by the ACSD.
They way the unions phrase this talking point, they mislead parents into thinking Palm Lane’s teachers will be barred from teaching there after the charter conversion. You guys know exactly what you’re doing.
It’s a fair statement to say that the staff being employed at the (proposed) charter school is not known.
You’re equivocating on the word complete.
I’d suggest that labeling it an outright lie wasn’t your best choice.
But hey, back to the melee.
“It’s a fair statement to say that the staff being employed at the (proposed) charter school is not known.”
It may be fair, Ryan, but that is not what union activists are telling parents. They are telling them the Palm Lane teachers they know and like>will be let go and replaced with other teachers.
Interesting that you’re beef is with me rather than the untruth “Rosie” is telling.
I haven’t been following these threads closely, and I have no idea if Mike and Rosie are the same people– but all Mike said replacement is an unknown, which is definitively true.
You said that’s an outright lie. That’s definitively false.
Just sayin’.
I confused another commenter with “Mike,” but my point remains. Telling someone an untruth is…telling them an untruth. If you want to quibble about my using the adjective “outright,” then quibble away, Ryan. Again, it’s interesting and revealing that you are more focused on my word choice than on the falsities being peddled to Palm Lane parents by the school unions.
Dude, read carefully.
I’m focusing on you calling a guy a liar.
He’s clearly NOT a liar.
Whatever, Ryan. I don’t know what you call someone who says something that is demonstrably untrue and has been show to be untrue.
Ask yourself.
Dude says, and I kid you not, that teachers are being replaced with an unknown.
THIS IS COMPLETELY TRUE.
]Look man, you made a mistake. Quit being a [expletive deleted] and own it.
Ain’t that hard, brother.
Very grown up, Ryan. That’s why you find yourself in the blog version of time out.
Mike said converting Palm Lane into a charter school would lead to replacement of the staff. That’s what he claims. And it is not true. As in, “false.” You can shimmy and dance and make all the excuses you like for his claim, but that doesn’t change the fact that is a false claim.
Are you implying that teachers should give up their retirement to work for a charter school? Would you give up your retirement and longevity to work for an unknown?
No, but you ARE claiming they would have to give up their retirement – a claim you have no basis for making.
Not to mention, the salary may be greatly decreased……
Well, well — at least you’re attaching qualifiers to your scare claims.
Why would teacher salaries be “greatly reduced”?
Look at local charter schools….they have a different contract than the district teachers, different benefits and decreased salaries. Please do your research!
Really? Teachers at KIPP charter schools typically are paid more.
Unfortunately, our school has been neglected for many years. Converting our school will bring a new start and new ideas for our children. It will also set an example so everyone can see that Anaheim students deserve better.
Rosie—neglected how? Explain please. Looks like great gains were made on the API over recent years. In fact, if you look at Palm Lane’s SARC report, you will find that Palm Lane was actually above the state average in Mathematics when they were tested in 2011. The state average was 50% proficient and Palm Lane was 59%. They were lower than the state average in Language Arts, but they made great gains. The average overall API for the state was 778, and Palm Lane was 779. They met their AYP goals because of the gains. Palm Lane was on their way to becoming a better school. What is the complaint here?