Schools

New LAUSD District 5 Scrutinized by City Council Committee

Splitting John Marshall High from its feeder schools and sharing Echo Park between two trustees were concerns.

A City Council committee said Wednesday that it would consider "changes but not a full redrawing of maps" drafted by the LAUSD Redistricting Commission.

The City Council's Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee on Wednesday began deliberating new district boundaries for seven Los Angeles Unified School District board seats.

The committee is considering a map of the seven districts drawn by a 15- member redistricting commission appointed last fall by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti and school board members.

Find out what's happening in Echo Park-Silver Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Los Angeles Times reports that splitting some high schools from so-called "feeder" elementary and middle schools was a top concern.

For example, the new maps put Los Feliz's John Marshall High School at the northwestern edge of District 4, just a few blocks from the edge of newly redrawn District 5.

Find out what's happening in Echo Park-Silver Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A number of Echo Park-Silver Lake public schools just east--including Thomas Starr King Middle School--remain in District 5.

City Councilman Tom LaBonge said such a split would confuse parents about where to go for help and should be avoided.

He told Echo Park Patch that he believes Marshall should remain in District 5. He said he is also asking his legislative analyst to redraw the district 4 and 5 boundary "straight up Western" to the Glendale and Burbank borders, to include Atwater Village.

Maps provided by Echo Park's Advancement Project show that Echo Park Neighborhood Council District is split between District 5 to the west and District 2 to the east.

District 5 trustee Bennett Kayser has said for many months that he wants one trustee to represent Echo Park.

LAUSD board chair Monica Garcia currently represents the area's eastern edge including Elysian Heights Elementary.

Supporters of the split say it addresses the priority of uniting communities of interest.

Deputy City Attorney Harit Trivedi told the council committee that the commission's decision to dramatically rearrange board member Bennet Kayser's  District 5 could draw scrutiny from a judge in the case of a lawsuit.

The City Council is expected to finish its review before the end of April, with two community meetings planned for next week.

See maps of new and old District 5 in the media gallery.

Related:

City Council Takes First Look at Proposed LAUSD Districts

ReDrawLAUSD.org


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