Schools

Franklin Teachers Oppose Co-Location Effort

UTLA rep. says teachers don't want to share their campus with charters.

Should Los Angeles International Charter High School (LAICHS) succeed in its effort to co-locate at , they won't be welcomed by the existing teaching staff, said Franklin UTLA representative Monica Whalen.

The Hermon-based LAICHS is currently in the process of applying to use 12 open classrooms at Franklin High School through Proposition 39, a state law which allows charters to make use of public school facilities.

According to Prop 39 law, the district is required to make an offer of facilities to LAICHS by April 1. The terms of that offer are not subject to public comment.

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In response, Whalen has authored a petition expressing the union's opposition to the possible co-location.

The petition, which had 253 signatures as of 4 p.m. on Monday, can be found here.

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"We want to make them know they're not going to be welcome," Whalen said.

Whalen said the co-location of LAICHS students onto Franklin's campus would limit student access to gym and library facilities, burden staff with added administrative tasks and open the school to increased competiton from the charter.

Patch was unable to contact LAICHS Executive Director Clifford Mosely on Monday afternoon, but hopes to follow up on Tuesday.

LAICHS enrolls about 250 students per-year.

Asked if she feared that her petition might create a hostile environment for charter students, Whalen said she did not wish violence on anybody.

"I don't want anything hostile to happen to the kids," Whalen said.

She added: "You have this group, they're coming to our campus and they are not welcome. They are forcing themselves on us."

Check Patch tomorrow for continued coverage of this story.


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