L.A. school board president to host TV show
Los Angeles school board President Monica Garcia, an occasionally elusive interview subject, is turning the tables and interviewing others on a new TV show.
She has launched "Reform the L.A. Way," which can be viewed on district-operated KLCS and on YouTube.
Her first guest is retired U.S. Rep. Esteban Torres, and the interview includes a discussion of the new Eastside high school complex named after him.
According to her news release, in future shows Garcia will highlight "innovative school models developed by teachers, principals and community members" and "how important choices about school budgets, work rules and instructional approaches are being made from the bottom up, not the top down."
Must-see TV? Time will tell.
Besides airing school board meetings and district events, KLCS offers more traditional fare, such as homework help and cartoons with educational elements.
The station has been an occasional target of the teachers union, which has suggested selling the operation to raise funds during tight budget times.
That seems unlikely as long as Garcia is determined to feature, as her release put it, "the Next Best Ideas for school reform."
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-- Howard Blume
Photo: Monica Garcia in 2007. Credit: Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
I won't be watching!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | March 24, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Will she be sharing with us how to make high school school drop-out rates over 50%?
Posted by: steve rodrigueze | March 24, 2011 at 12:13 PM
so is this funded thru the school district? If so, is this really the best use of school funds?
Posted by: Redrider63 | March 24, 2011 at 01:44 PM
She found a back up position after she finally realizes she is not the person who can fix our low graduation rate at LAUSD. She needs to leave her post and LAUSD needs to find the right person to help with the crises we have now!
Posted by: mce101087 | March 24, 2011 at 04:34 PM
The TV station is yet another example of LAUSD waste - all for those vanity projects no one could give a s&*t about. Laying off 7300 teachers, counselors, custodians, etc. will decimate and impact student learning. Class sizes are already upwards of 35 - 40 in MS and HS. These layoffs will bring that number between 40 and 50. Garcia and all other board members (save La Motte and Zimmer), as well as the mayor have set schools up to fail - both with curriculum that is not aligned with the CST and overcrowded, unsafe classroom conditions.
UTLA has asked them to sell the station for years - Vladovic stated a few years ago that it only costs 5 million or so to run and such a pittance wouldn't make a difference.
This is the idiot board voters fell for - brought to you and paid for by Eli Broad and pushed by the mayor - who also owes his allegiance to Broad.
If District 5 votes for Sanchez (also brought to you with Broad Foundation money), the incompetence and graft of the giveaways will only further destroy our schools.
Posted by: Care | March 24, 2011 at 07:47 PM
I don't think anybody cares what this lying puppet board member has to say. You never get a straight answer from her.
Posted by: Gee | March 24, 2011 at 08:48 PM
Give me a break!
Posted by: Fernanod Panseco | March 24, 2011 at 08:59 PM
This lady has no shame.
Posted by: Jen Dymas | March 24, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Rumor has it if you contribute to her or any of her close friend's campaign you can be co-host for an episode.
Posted by: A humble teacher.... | March 26, 2011 at 09:18 PM
really? while our teachers are loosing jobs, and the magnet coordinators got riffed, you have time and money for this? please get real! Education does not equal to spot lights and Hollywood, take your reality tv somewhere else! or donate her income to fund a teacher position!
Posted by: frustrated parent | March 28, 2011 at 09:17 PM