LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Schools

A version of this letter was sent to Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and has been reprinted here with permission.

I’m a parent at both Palisades Charter Elementary School and Paul Revere Charter Middle School in LAUSD’s District 4. I’d like to paint a picture for you of the two schools and the drastic contrast in safety issues. As a resident of Mandeville Canyon and a parent of LAUSD, it is beyond my comprehension.

I’d like to understand how Pali Elementary’s enrollment is less than 500 students but superior to PRMS in appearance and safety. Pali Elementary, with the assistance of parents and led by an unwavering long-haul commitment, was able not only to finance cameras but also partnered with Palisades Patrol. The parent group purchased and installed an enclosed opaque fence to secure the student playground from the public.

In contrast, Paul Revere Middle School, with a student body of 2,600 has an open field, no campus cameras and no on-site security guard. They experience break-ins and theft of equipment at least one a month. The loss and impact to the school’s discretionary budget is mounting. The most recent theft of $60,000 in Apple TVs was seemingly mishandled. Parents have no access to the budget, and this lack of transparency has brought to the surface many issues between administration and parents’ efforts to improve the school.

I write to request that something significantly change in the financial investment coming from LAUSD or the school’s discretionary funds. I am concerned about PRMS’ security and safety.

At the moment, PRIDE (parent board fundraising committee) is exhausting all avenues to install cameras at PRMS. The out-of-pocket expense of $80,000 is an investment long overdue and one we are willing to make. While efforts have been made on the part of the parent group to secure the campus, no one can explain why not one cent is offered from the school’s discretionary funds. What is going on here?

District employees from various levels and on many occasions have acknowledged that PRMS is “dated,” “neglected” and “in need of repairs.” I am pleading with you, our new Superintendent Carvalho, to require that all schools be given the funds to cover the installation of cameras, a security guard and 24-hour film of campus public grounds. And a coat of paint!

If you want to increase student enrollment, start by showing LAUSD parents that you care about all students who are currently enrolled in all districts.

Johanna Minassian