LA(Needs More)USD

Alissa, Godfrey, and Loraine go deep on LAUSD’s many changes and challenges as this new school year begins. LA’s City Council is set to make big shifts on how to address homelessness, but the hardest part might be getting everyone to agree. And what will actually get Angelenos out of their cars? Andres Chait has been officially appointed LAUSD superintendent and has some plans to address the slew of issues ahead Declining enrollment is creating a big financial challenge for LAUSD. One new income supplement: using vacant classrooms as childcare centers If the budget deficit isn’t resolved, the county will step in Some good student transportation news: speed cameras are being installed around schools More students are taking the bus to school, which is helpful amid continuing ICE raids Newly approved screen time reforms are in place, eliminating digital devices for first graders and younger, setting age-specific time limits on older students, blocking YouTube access, and more Unfortunately, Boyle Heights kids have more grounds than most to say going back to school stinks — the odor of rotting food is not going away anytime soon (Relatedly, Lineage will fail to meet Mayor Karen Bass’s 45-day clean up deadline, so she is directing city lawyers to pursue civil litigation — but Lineage claims the city has the deadline date wrong) LAUSD says schools near the Lineage fire are safe from contaminants, though two tested positive for above-average levels of lead Councilmember Nithya Raman has been removed as chair of the Homelessness and Housing committee, which was then split into two separate committees Raman and Bass will surely discuss housing among other issues during their debate hosted by the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association on Wednesday evening  Many councilmembers made rather, er, harsh comments about this, which happened to coincide with news of Bass and Councilmember Imelda Padilla’s tiny home village opening Speaking of scathing remarks, Judge David Carter didn’t mince words as he blocked Trump’s attempt to take over LAHSA, criticizing both HUD and LAHSA Councilmember Hugo Soto-Ma