Los Angeles – Today, in a 4 to 3 vote, the Los Angeles Unified School District board voted to support Monica Garcia’s amendment to the District budget to redirect $25M in funding away from policing Los Angeles public school campuses. California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) President and CEO Myrna Castrejón issued the following response to the vote:
“Tonight, a historic coalition came together to fight systemic and structural racism and inequity within L.A. Unified by reimagining safety within our public schools. We commend Board Member Monica Garcia and Board Members Nick Melvoin, Kelly Gonez, and Jackie Goldberg who took meaningful action to move our public school system forward by investing in resources, services, and supports that both create safe school campuses and also promote the well-being and learning of every child.
“Our students, families, and communities-- especially our Black and Brown youth-- deserve so much more from us. The Board's vote to support Board Member Garcia's amendment is a meaningful first step but we must not let this be the last step. The charter public school community stands ready to do the necessary work both within our own schools and across the Los Angeles public school system to achieve the transformational equity in our schools we know is possible.”