ONE UNION FOR THE TEACHERS, ONE FOR THE STUDENTS....:

Pulling the Trigger on Failing Schools: Parents aim for revolution -- again (Simone Wilson, December 01, 2011, LA Weekly)

Instead of pushing disenfranchised parents into battle under a shiny Parent Revolution flag, the organization has been fostering "parent unions" at schools across California. Of the 10 current chapters, most aren't interested in pulling the trigger. At those schools, Revolution is merely helping give parents bargaining power against the other unions on the block: the all-powerful California Teachers Association and, locally, United Teachers Los Angeles.

One of the parent-union chapters, however, has been itching for months to launch a full-scale "restart" of its struggling SoCal elementary school -- one of the trigger's four options. Organizers asked the Weekly not to name the campus in question, as doing so could create extra obstacles for the fledgling effort. Members planned to begin a signature drive this week.

The second trigger test run comes just as the law's regulations go into effect. "We actually had to say, 'Slow down,' " says Linda Serrato, deputy communications director for Parent Revolution.

If they wish to turn their school around by the start of the 2012-13 academic year, this small group of petitioners has until February to get signatures from hundreds more parents. From there, the district has 45 days to find something legally unsound with the petition -- or concede to the trigger.

Christina Sanchez, a Parent Revolution staffer, says the organization will be taking a back seat this time around.

"Our role has been fine-tuning their specific demands for change," Sanchez says.

Parent Revolution's roots in the charter-school industry -- and its wealthy donors, such as Bill Gates, Eli Broad and the Walton family -- have so far haunted every step of its education-reform crusade. Plus, by demanding teacher accountability, the organization has become a target of California teachers unions, which have been known to lobby and pay away any legislation that puts pressure on teachers.

...which group are the schools supposed to serve?

Posted by oj at December 3, 2011 7:02 AM
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