Del Rey

Zimmer to speak at education forum

Los Angeles Unified School District board member Steve Zimmer will be the featured speaker at an educational event scheduled from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 6th at Marina del Rey Middle School and Performing Arts Magnet, 12500 Braddock Drive, Del Rey.

The forum, entitled, “Stay or Go: Can Recent Reforms Save Neighborhood Schools?” will be hosted by the Marina del Rey Booster Club and Leadership for Educational Equity.

Zimmer, who was elected in March to succeed Marlene Canter in District 4, will discuss how new reforms approved by the LAUSD school board in August will impact neighborhood schools in Del Rey, Venice, Westchester, Mar Vista and other Westside communities.

The board authorized a “school choice plan” that will allow charter schools and other independent operators to bid on assuming control of the management of “low-achieving” existing schools and 51 new campuses set to open in the next four years.

City Councilman Bill Rosendahl will give an opening address at the meeting.

Eric DeSobe, the current chair of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council education subcommittee, will moderate a discussion panel featuring Green Dot Animo Venice High School Principal Tommy Chang, Tory Toyama, a teacher at Venice High School, and Playa del Rey Elementary Booster Club President Elizabeth Campos Layne on the future of neighborhood schools.

Zimmer, who has been an LAUSD teacher for 18 years, will deliver an address on his vision for neighborhood schools and lead a discussion on how local schools are handling budget cuts, charter schools and state testing. The audience will be allowed to ask questions.

The event is free and open to the public. Information, (310) 936-4905.