This post was originally published on this site
Last year, I wrote an editorial about my concerns that the dysfunction on the Los Alamitos Unified School District (LAUSD) board of education and their agenda with ethnic studies, social justice standards, and socially inclusive instruction that many believe include critical race theory (CRT) could lead to reputational damage, declining enrollment, and ultimately hurt our property values. I was ridiculed by a vocal minority, angered that I dared to criticize our own school district. They shouted the false claim that there is no CRT in the ethnic studies curriculum, despite evidence to the contrary.
I take no pleasure in reporting that many of my predictions are coming true. LAUSD is seeing dramatic declining enrollment, as are almost all of the 28 Orange County independent school districts. Residents used to take great pride in LAUSD. While many districts were struggling, we maintained and grew enrollment which allowed us to reduce our dependence on interdistrict transfer students, particularly in Rossmoor.
A growing concern is that Long Beach school districts are considering no longer allowing students to transfer out of the Long Beach system as their enrollment has declined for the seventh year in a row. This could put further pressure on LAUSD because a significant percentage of Long Beach transfers come to Los Alamitos. Meanwhile enrollment in homeschooling and charter schools are increasing as more parents pull their children out of traditional public schools like Los Alamitos. Orange County Classical Academy, in Orange, entering only its third year has over 1,000 children on its waiting list as do many other Orange County charter schools.
The solution to this problem is simple. LAUSD must be more responsive to the parents who have had enough with political correctness and want the school board to get back to the basics of a solid academic education without indoctrination. This can only be accomplished with new school board leadership.
This November the citizens of Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, and Seal Beach will have an opportunity to put new leadership on the Los Alamitos Unified School District board of education. If you are happy with the status quo, then re-elect those school board members that have gotten us into this mess. Otherwise, choose the kids over special interests and progressive politics and elect new members to the Los Alamitos Unified School District board of education.
