LAUSD MAY PICK ARMENIAN LIAISON
By George B. Sanchez
Los Angeles Daily News
Oct 28 2008
CA
The Los Angeles Unified School District could appoint its first-ever
official liaison to the Armenian community by next week.
The district’s personnel commission is looking at the issue after
a public outcry from the Armenian community over the decision to
cut eight parent-community facilitators in local District 2, which
covers part of the San Fernando Valley. Among those laid off is Shakeh
Ayvazian, who worked with Armenian families in the East Valley for
four years.
Nearly 6,500 LAUSD students come from homes where Armenian is the
primary language, according to a district survey. More than half of
those – 3,338 students – are in local District 2.
Nearly two dozen people urged the commission at its meeting Monday
to create an Armenian-speaking parent-community facilitator position
to help with meetings and family issues.
Board member Tamar Galatzan wrote a letter in support, stating
that the district has a duty to help families overcome language and
cultural barriers.
"Given that there are 3,338 Armenian students and parents within local
District 2, the absence of such position would create a huge void,"
Galatzan wrote. "In addition, the district would be sending a message
to the Armenian community that their needs are not important."
The commission postponed its vote.
Only a representative for the California School Employees Association
asked to wait for more information before the three-member commission
votes.
Liza Go, the union representative, said she is not against creating
the position, but asked that district officials review reports on
recently laid-off facilitators as well as the legality of the layoffs
before a new position is created.
Alma Pena-Sanchez, superintendent for local District 2, said the
union’s concerns were unrelated to the new facilitator, which she
said she would fund with her own discretionary money.
Currently, parent-community facilitators aren’t required to speak a
language other than English, though more than half of all facilitators
are bilingual.
District officials considered using an Armenian translator to serve
as a parent facilitator, but translators are not expected to respond
to immediate issues nor do they have established relationships with
the Armenian community, according to a district report.