Education

By Alex Padilla

On the Los Angeles City Council, Alex has been a leader on education issues and serves as Chair of the Council's Education and Neighborhoods Committee, which he created as Council President to provide greater focus on our schools. He has consistently worked to improve resources and programs that serve young people and their families.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND YOUTH CENTERS

Alex Padilla worked to expand the nationally-recognized LA's BEST after-school program to serve more students and more schools in the San Fernando Valley. LA's BEST provides students with a safe and educational place to go during the crucial after-school hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Studies show that LA's BEST students achieve higher test scores and that they like attending school more than students who do not participate in the program. Today, LA's BEST serves 16 schools in Alex Padilla's district.

Alex also worked with the Boys and Girls Club of the San Fernando Valley to secure funding to help expand its Pacoima facility to give more young people a safe, supervised, and positive place to spend time.

BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING

To help reduce overcrowding and class size, Councilmember Padilla has worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District's school construction team to help the district acquire sites for new schools in Pacoima, Panorama City, North Hills, Van Nuys and Arleta. Under Councilmember Padilla's leadership, new schools are opening throughout the San Fernando Valley.

MODERNIZING AND REPAIRING OUR SCHOOLS

Alex Padilla authored city legislation that established campus safety inspections at public schools in Los Angeles. The spot inspections prompted the school district to focus more attention on restroom sanitation, seismic and fire safety, and cafeteria cleanliness. Research shows a direct link between the condition of school facilities and student academic achievement.

Alex has also actively supported school construction and repair bonds, which are being used to repair outdated fire safety, plumbing and electrical systems at aging schools, build new neighborhood schools to reduce overcrowding, and upgrade technology available to students.

SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS

Alex Padilla has played a key role in improving and supporting schools in his Northeast Valley Council District, including bringing a flood control project to Arminta Elementary School, providing buses to local schools for field trips, and working with city departments to address traffic and parking issues around schools.

Alex was also instrumental in bringing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's Cool Schools program to five elementary schools in Sun Valley. Through this program, the Department of Water and Power and the Southern California Air Quality Management District have replaced paved areas with greenspace and trees. The trees were planted with the help of local students, parents, teachers and community volunteers. These new green areas not only help create a nicer environment for students to learn, the shade helps decrease air conditioning costs.

Alex worked with TreePeople to bring a storm water management system to Broadus Elementary School in Pacoima to help protect the school from flooding during major storms. The system also allows the school to retain storm water for landscaping use.

MAKING OUR SCHOOLS SAFER

Alex Padilla worked to secure "safe routes to school" funding, which is being used to improve lighting, sidewalks, and walkways around schools.

Working with Women Against Gun Violence, Alex helped to implement a program to inform and mobilize parents and students at Broadous Elementary School to end gun violence in the community. As part of the program, Councilmember Padilla donated more than 350 anti-violence books to the school.

PROVIDING COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATION PROGRAMS FOR VALLEY STUDENTS

Alex Padilla secured funding for a Youth Opportunities (YO!) Movement program in the Valley. YO! Valley is now one of only 36 sites in the country and provides job skills training and career preparation programs to local middle school and high school students. Students and their families can also receive college and financial aid counseling through the program. The program is funded as part of a $44 million five-year federal grant and the U.S. Department of Labor has rated the Los Angeles program as "exemplary."

Renovating and Building New Neighborhoods Libraries Under Alex Padilla's leadership, the city opened its first-ever library in Lake View Terrace and rebuilt local library branches in Sylmar, Pacoima and Sun Valley on expanded sites to provide improved service for the local neighborhoods. The new libraries are equipped with computers that have Internet access, offer adult literacy services, and provide activities to encourage children to read. The Sun Valley Branch Library transformed the site of a former crack house into a safe place of learning for children and families.

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Alex Padilla has been the primary supporter of the Valley Family Technology project, which provides computers and computer training to young people and their families in Pacoima. He helped to secure both public and private sector funding for the Center, which has provided more than 350 families with brand new computers, printers, software, Internet access and technical support. The program is designed to involve parents to help them become more involved with their children's education.

Bringing the Children's Museum of Los Angeles to the Valley Some are calling it the "Disney Hall of the Valley," Alex Padilla calls it a promise kept. Alex worked with civic leaders to organize support for building the new Children's Museum of Los Angeles at Hansen Dam Recreation Center in the San Fernando Valley. In October 2005, the community celebrated the Museum's groundbreaking. When completed, the interactive exhibit space will focus on the relationship between humans and their environment. The landscaping around the Museum will incorporate a "boundless playground" with access for children with disabilities and a garden-discovery space of flora and fauna native to the Valley.

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND

Alex Padilla donated $10,000 from his Council Office funds to Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills for its tattoo removal program. Removing the tattoos affiliated with gang membership is often the final step for young people who are trying to make a fresh start in life.

Expanding the Ernani Bernardi Scholarship Fund Alex Padilla increased the number of scholarships given to Mission College students through the Ernani Bernardi Scholarship Fund by including funding for the program as part of the mitigation requirement for the Lopez Canyon Landfill.

OPPOSING MAYORAL CONTROL OF LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Alex firmly opposes the vision of unilateral mayoral appointment of the School Board and Superintendent. Mayoral takeover of Los Angeles Unified School District will not address the challenges facing our schools. In addition, Alex believes that any LAUSD reform needs to involve the people who know our school district best + our teachers.