Posted: June 26th, 2007

LAUSD is considering a budget that would require non-profit organizations to pay to play on school fields after school and on weekends and to otherwise use public school facilities.

This is particularly inappropriate because LAUSD does not enforce physical education requirements and does not provide the quality physical activity that students need.

There are unfair school, park, and health disparities in Los Angeles and a lack of places to play in LAUSD schools. The health implications of the lack of places to play in parks and schools are profound. In LAUSD, 87% of students were not physically fit in 2004 under minimum physical fitness standards. Yet in 2006 LAUSD did not enforce statutory physical education requirements.

LAUSD staff proposed this “Pay to Play” budget in 2005, with notice and a chance for the public to participate in the decision. Today, the proposal is buried in the budget and LAUSD has provided little opportunity for the public to be heard. LAUSD rejected the proposal in 2005 and should reject it today.

If the board approves this today, we will ask a new board that takes office on Tueday to reconsider the matter with full and fair public participation. At a minimum, LAUSD must provide exemption for non-profits that serve children who are least able to pay to play.

Please contact school board members and their staff as soon as possible to oppose this budget proposal:

Los Angeles Unified School District
Board of Education
333 South Beaudry Avenue, 24th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Telephone: 213-241-6389
General Fax Numbers for all Board Members: 213-241-8953 or 213-481-9023

MARGUERITE POINDEXTER LAMOTTE, Dist. 1
marguerite.lamotte@lausd.net
Phone: 213-241-6382
Fax: 213-241-8441

MONICA GARCIA, Dist. 2
monica.garcia@lausd.net
Phone: 213-241-6180
Fax: 213-241-8459

JON LAURITZEN Vice Pres., Dist. 3
jon.lauritzen@lausd.net
Phone: 213-241-6386
Fax: 213-241-8979

MARLENE CANTER President, Dist. 4
marlene.canter@lausd.net
Phone: 213-241-6387
Fax: 213-241-8453

DAVID TOKOFSKY, Dist. 5
david.tokofsky@lausd.net
Phone: 213-241-6383
Fax: 213-241-8467

JULIE KORENSTEIN, Dist. 6
julie.korenstein@lausd.net
phone: 213-241-6388
Fax: 213-241-8451

MIKE LANSING, Dist. 7
mike.lansing@lausd.net
Phone: 213-241-6385
Fax: 213-241-8452

JEFFERSON CRAIN, Executive Officer of the Board
jefferson.crain@lausd.net
Phone: 213-241-7002
Fax: 213-241-8443

Board of Education Public Hearing
Tuesday, 6/26/07
2- 5 pm

View the 2005 materials involving the Pay to Play proposal here:
PTSA Resolution
Daily News coverage
Daily Breeze coverage