Melrose Elementary Teachers Get Pink Slips, School Seeks Help

Morning traffic was met with a throng of elementary students and parents from Melrose Elementary School Math/Science/Tech Magnet making their voices heard on Tuesday.

Protesting the pink slips recently delivered to thousands of LAUSD school teachers, these young children and their families were standing up for the teachers at their school, four of which were presented with walking papers last week. Doubly frustrating is the fact that this school in particular has achieved unparalleled success over the past year and are still met with sweeping budget cuts. 

Melrose M/S/T Magnet embodies the living vision of the future of public education. In a single year, and as a Title-1 school, these children have set the bar for all public schools in the district.

They achieved a 124-point increase in API score--the greatest gain for ALL schools in California (including middle & high schools). They were named an Apple Distinguished School (only 10 in California). They adopted the Singapore Math curriculum, in a single school year, that resulted in 75 percent of the students scoring advanced or proficient in math.

Their futures hold limitless possibilities, successes yet to be discovered, not only because they dream it, but because they are working hard to make it happen. It is tangible and very real.

Here it is, on a platter—an urban public school that the school district and the state legislature should point to and invest in as an example of why public school can work. Yet, instead of focusing on keeping together a staff of educators that has had proven results, they see these teachers as a line-item on a budget spreadsheet.  

These children and these teachers have answered every challenge they have been presented. They have performed beyond our wildest expectations. Upon learning that, they are threatened with losing the teachers that have fostered this success and opened their lives to endless possibility, the kids are making a stand.

If you are interested in supporting their voice, please go
to www.legislature.ca.gov and www.educateourstate.org, and let the
legislators know your position by sending an email.

Melrose Elementary School Math/Science/Technology Magnet
713 N. Detroit Ave. Los Angeles, 90038
323.938.6275