United Teachers Los Angeles has launched a new phase of the “We Are Public Schools” campaign that includes more than 75 billboards across LA. One prominently placed billboard features Donald Trump and was posted the same day he attacked teachers and called public schools “failed government schools” in his State of the Union speech.
The billboard overlooks Highway 5 heading into downtown LA – one of the most viewed billboards in the country.
“Billionaires and corporate special interests are not a part of our school communities, yet they have an undue influence on our elections and the direction of our neighborhood public schools,” said Kimberly Hinkston, an early childhood educator at Wilton Place Early Education Center. “It’s time to stand up against privatization and vote for the needs of our communities over the politics of fear and hate.”
Dozens of other billboards highlight the needs of students and real-life stories of UTLA members —including classroom teachers, arts teachers, teacher librarians, nurses, counselors, psychiatric social workers, pupil services and attendance counselors, academic counselors as well as adult and bilingual education professionals.
UTLA is also calling on communities to elect pro-public education candidates on March 3 to the LAUSD School Board. The union is supporting Jackie Goldberg in BD5, Patricia Castellanos in BD7, Scott Schmerelson in BD5 and George McKenna in BD1.
UTLA is back at the bargaining table, asking for more special education staffing and support, including lower caseloads and more school psychologists; more resources for bilingual education; a fair and competitive salary for educators; and increased mental health staffing and resources for all students.
Although California is the wealthiest state in the nation, it ranks 39th out of 50 in per-pupil funding.
