The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board has voted to deny the charter renewal for Green Dot Locke High School. This decision, made during a contentious meeting on Tuesday, means the Watts-based school faces closure at the end of the current academic year if the ruling is not overturned at the county level. The vote was 4 to 3 against renewal, aligning with district staff recommendations.
Key Takeaways
- LAUSD board denied Green Dot Locke High charter renewal by a 4-3 vote.
- The decision could lead to the school's closure at year-end if not reversed.
- Board meeting was the first since an FBI raid on Supt. Alberto Carvalho's home and office.
- Four labor contracts with smaller unions were approved.
- A resolution against vendors tied to immigration enforcement passed unanimously.
Charter Renewal Denied for Locke High
The denial of Green Dot Locke High School's charter renewal was the most debated issue of the day. Over 100 supporters of the school attended the meeting, cheering for speakers who advocated for its continuation. Green Dot Public Schools, which operates Locke High, has indicated it will appeal the decision to the county board.
Locke High reopened as a charter school in 2008 following a significant political struggle. It serves a community in Watts with substantial socioeconomic challenges, including high poverty rates and limited access to healthcare and education. The district's oversight division recommended against renewal based on student performance data.
Fact Check
Green Dot Locke High School enrolls approximately 1,000 students. About 750 of these students come from the immediate Watts neighborhood.
District staff highlighted that students who would have attended other neighborhood schools, if not for Locke, showed better academic performance on key measures. Green Dot acknowledged the lower absolute scores but emphasized the significant progress Locke students made during their enrollment. They reported that students improved at a faster rate than the LAUSD average and the state as a whole.
"Today was not the outcome we expected," stated Cristina de Jesus, president and chief executive of Green Dot. "But I think Locke and all of the community showed up in the way they always do, which is full of strength. We’ll see at the county board in a month, and we’re ready to fight."
Locke High's Unique Charter Model
Green Dot established Locke High with a different mission compared to many other charter schools. Founder Steve Barr insisted that all employees would be unionized, a practice that continues today. Locke High employees are affiliated with the California Teachers Association, not the United Teachers Los Angeles.
The school also committed to serving as a neighborhood school, automatically accepting all students who applied. This contrasts with some charters that attract motivated families, which can sometimes lead to an advantage in student performance, according to some education experts.
Board Addresses FBI Investigation Fallout
The board meeting was the first public gathering since FBI raids on the home and office of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho in late February. Carvalho was placed on paid leave February 27, two days after the raids. The investigation is linked to a failed artificial intelligence project and a company called AllHere.
Background
Federal investigators have not charged Carvalho with any wrongdoing. However, sources indicate he is a target of their investigation into the now-bankrupt startup, AllHere, which developed a chatbot initiative for LAUSD.
Acting Superintendent Andres Chiat, a long-time district administrator, presided over the meeting but spoke infrequently. Carvalho issued his first statement since the raid, asserting his innocence and expressing his desire to return to work as soon as possible. The board did not publicly discuss Carvalho's situation during the meeting.
New Labor Contracts and Immigration Resolution
In addition to the charter school decision, the school board approved four labor contracts with some of the district's smaller unions. These agreements were reached while negotiations continue with the larger teachers' union and service workers, who collectively represent over 60,000 employees.
The approved contracts include deals with Teamsters Local 572, representing cafeteria, office, and plant managers; Local 500 of the California School Employees Association, representing elementary school library aides and clerical staff; and two unions representing school police officers. The terms of these deals vary and do not necessarily indicate what the district's final offers might be for the remaining unions.
Union Negotiations Update
Both United Teachers Los Angeles and Local 99 of Service Employees International Union have authorized their leadership to call a strike, giving them the power to initiate work stoppages at their discretion.
The board also unanimously passed a resolution aimed at ending business ties with vendors who have connections to federal immigration enforcement. This resolution passed with a 7-0 vote.
"This resolution ensures that the district has the information needed to understand those kinds of relationships when evaluating vendors," said board member Rocio Rivas. She clarified that the resolution does not ban vendors outright or disrupt essential services.
Instead, senior administrators must develop guidelines to evaluate vendor disclosures. The resolution is strongly worded but includes caveats, noting the district will comply with existing contracting and procurement laws. The superintendent's office is expected to present a plan for implementing the resolution's intent.
Looking Ahead
The future of Green Dot Locke High School now rests with the county board. The coming weeks will be critical for the school and its community as they prepare to appeal the LAUSD board's decision. Meanwhile, the district continues to navigate its leadership crisis and ongoing labor negotiations, all while addressing complex community issues like immigration policy.
