Meeting to Focus on Breakup Issue

Arguments for and against breaking up the Los Angeles Unified School District will be discussed during a special community meeting of the Tarzana Chamber of Commerce tonight.

The meeting “should be of interest to anyone with children in the public school system, present or future, because it’s [breakup] not going to happen overnight,” said David Jacobs, president of the chamber.

Speaking against the breakup of the LAUSD at the meeting will be Edward Kaz, union representative for United Teachers-Los Angeles and a teacher at Reseda High School.

Kaz’s counterpart will be Stephanie Carter, co-chairwoman of Finally Restoring Excellence to Education, a Granada Hills-based organization that has pushed for the breakup of the LAUSD.

“[Kaz] is going to argue why the LAUSD should stay together as one unit while Stephanie’s argument is that it’s too big, too bureaucratic and not akin to taking into account the interest of Valley students,” said Jacobs, who will moderate the discussion. “Should it come to a vote, it will help people make a decision.”

A question and answer session will follow the discussion, Jacobs said.

The public meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Tarzana Park Recreation Center, 5655 Vanalden Ave.

For more information, call the chamber at (818) 343-3687 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.