We will meet in front of the school main office at 1PM to form a caravan/carpool.
We realize that most of you are busy and have other job responsibilities, but this is important as it will affect your child's school and the education he/she will be receiving.
Please join us in making our voice heard. George Simpson will be presenting before the financial board and then subsequently we can ask to be on the agenda to speak in support of the school.
Parent Council has met earlier this evening and formulated the following points that we'll be presented at tomorrow's LACOE Board meeting (by one designated person):
1. LACHSA is a shining example of success for the county, indeed for the state -- we are among the 5 best Arts High schools in the country; we have a 98% of our students attend higher learning institutions; we have low drop out/attrition rates, and draw students from all over the greater LA area and beyond.
2. Arts programs are intrinsically more expensive (which is why many districts are cutting their programs). This school's purpose is as an Arts School, so while we are committed to financial responsibility, it is not reasonable to compare its operating costs and budget challenges to the schools for whom academics is their main focus.
3. The school provides benefit to the county as a whole, economically. We live in a area where 1 in 6 jobs are related to the entertainment industry. Our graduates attend universities, such as Cal Arts, Art Center, USC and alike and continue to contribute by joining the LA Philharmonic, by contributing to the film industry, graphic game design, etc.
4. LACHSA, under the leadership of George Simpson, has taken an aggressive, proactive approach to meet budgetary goals --specifically to reduce the deficit and increase revenue to support the arts programs. Parent volunteers and the Foundation are working to put into place structures which would reduce the deficit. Significant gains have been made, however we need more time to consolidate those efforts and further reductions at this point in the school year would seriously jeopardize the integrity of the Arts programs.
We will meet in front of the school main office at 1PM to form a caravan/carpool. We realize that most of you are busy and have other job responsibilities, but this is important as it will affect your child's school and the education he/she will be receiving.
Please join us in making our voice heard. George Simpson will be presenting before the financial board and then subsequently we can ask to be on the agenda to speak in support of the school. |
