Latest news with #AlbertoCarvalho
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Los Angeles school officials say campuses will operate as normal amid immigration raids, violent protests
Violent protests over federal immigration raids erupted across the L.A. region over the weekend, and as the week begins and kids go back to school, Los Angeles school officials are looking to ease parents' concerns over ICE activity on campuses. All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District are expected to operate as normal on Monday, the district said. There are just two days left in the school year. LAUSD released a statement on Monday morning saying that officials are 'aware of the stress, disruption and fear recent immigration activity has caused' in school communities. Attendance is said to have dropped since the raids began. 'We recognize the emotional toll this has taken on many of our students, families and staff, particularly in areas directly impacted by these events,' the statement reads. On June 6, LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said he was 'dismayed' by the recent immigration activity occurring near schools; in April, Homeland Security agents tried to enter two LAUSD elementary schools but were denied entry by school administrators who were following district protocol. ICE agents were not involved in that incident, the district later confirmed. 'These actions are causing unnecessary fear, confusion and trauma for our students and families – many of whom are simply trying to get to and from school and work, and to live with dignity,' Carvalho said. 'Our schools must remain safe havens – places where every child can learn, grow and thrive without fear of being separated from their loved ones.' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks to KTLA on ICE raids, protests and federal response: 'This is just political' 'Children deserve support, not surveillance,' he added. A notable case involving a child deportation is that of Martir Garcia Lara, a 9-year-old elementary school student in Torrance who was detained and separated from his father after they attended a regular immigration hearing on May 29. Martir and his father were transported to a facility in Texas the next day and were eventually ordered to be deported to Honduras. LAUSD officials are slated to hold a press conference at 9:30 a.m. Monday to publicly address concerns and provide information to community members. In the coming days, the district will continue to monitor demonstrations near schools while offering mental health services and restorative justice activities. A hotline for LAUSD family members and staff has been set up to assist those who need it with resources, information and support: 213-443-1300. Additionally, United Teachers Los Angeles has released guidance for teachers and administrators in the event of ICE activity on school property, which includes school buses and also applies to students doing official school activities in public places, such as a field trip. Earlier this year, LAUSD began distributing 'red cards' — also known as 'Know Your Rights' cards – and other resources that reminded immigrant community members and their families what their legal rights are. The cards are available to citizens and non-citizens alike in 16 languages. The distribution of the cards was prompted by President Donald Trump's January announcement that his administration would allow ICE and CBP officers to conduct arrests in sensitive areas, including schools and churches. That policy change reversed a 2011 ruling that prohibited arrests being made in those places. Late last year, LAUSD, the nation's second-largest school district after New York City Public Schools, declared itself a 'sanctuary district' and safe zone for families threatened by immigration enforcement. California lawmakers, immigrant advocates denied entry to Adelanto ICE facility The opening of schools coincides with the fourth day of planned demonstrations over ICE raids that started taking place in downtown L.A. and the Westlake District on Friday. A large group of people quickly assembled and unsuccessfully tried to stop agents from detaining dozens of individuals at several businesses throughout those two neighborhoods. On Saturday, an ICE raid in Paramount spurred protests there, in neighboring Compton and in downtown. Late that night, President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard to be deployed, a move that angered both L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom and set off a chain of political back-and-forth between the two Golden State-based leaders and the president. Man protesting Paramount ICE raid added to FBI's 'Most Wanted' And while some property was set on fire and protesters threw projectiles at authorities on Saturday, these demonstrations were nowhere near as violent as the ones that took place Sunday. Sunday's protests in DTLA spun out of control as the evening progressed, with businesses being looted, cars being torched, law enforcement being targeted with projectiles, and even a driver going on a dangerous rampage. A total of 42 people were arrested on various charges by the Los Angeles Police Department, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol, an LAPD official confirmed to KTLA early Monday morning. A fourth day of protests is expected Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
L.A. Unified schools burned in Palisades fire hit milestone in their $600 million rebuild
The $600-million effort to rebuild the three L.A. Unified schools burned in the Palisades fire has hit an important milestone ahead of schedule — all debris has been cleared from the properties, Supt. Alberto Carvalho said Friday. Calling the debris removal a "pivotal moment for all of us," he detailed rebuilding plans that aim to get students back to campuses quickly. "Today we recognize that people of goodwill can carve out common ground to achieve great things together in unity," Carvalho said alongside Mayor Karen Bass at Palisades Charter Elementary School, one of the campuses that burned. About 70% of the school was destroyed by the fire that began Jan. 7. Now, nearly three months later, tidy expanses of soil are all that is left in spaces where structures once stood. Bass touted the speed of debris removal across the area scorched by the Palisades fire, which destroyed nearly 7,000 structures and burned more than 23,000 acres, saying, "We are absolutely committed to making sure that Palisades is rebuilt as fast as possible." Marquez Charter Elementary was also destroyed, and Palisades Charter High School was closed because of major damage. Students at the two elementary campuses have been relocated to nearby public schools. The next steps in the rebuilding effort include contracting architects and engineers, Carvalho said. He added that there will be ongoing environmental testing of the soil and remaining structures at the three sites. Officials are also taking steps to put portable classrooms on one of the sites. It's part of a plan that aims to get students back to their campuses "as soon as possible" — but "no sooner than the community wishes for it to happen," he said. It will cost about $150 million to rebuild each elementary school, Carvalho said, and about $300 million to rebuild a significant portion of Palisades High. The school's 2,445 students, who have been online for classes since the fire, will soon relocate to the former Sears building in downtown Santa Monica. Only about 30% of Palisades High's campus was damaged or destroyed — including some classroom buildings and athletics facilities — but it is a much larger site than the two elementary schools, Carvalho said. Read more: Santa Monica offices get unexpected tenants: Children from five fire-ravaged schools Carvalho said the district would tap the $9 billion construction bond that voters approved in November to launch the construction. It "could not have come at a better time," he said. The district will also use about $50 million from its insurance policies. Then, it will turn to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "We're going to front load the financial liability with our own dollars approved by the people of the good city of Los Angeles, and then seek a reimbursement from the federal government," he said. But Carvalho also addressed questions about the federal government's support of projects such as LAUSD's rebuilding effort. In recent months, the Trump administration has cut billions of dollars in funding across many areas, including public health and education. "I think it would be the understatement of the decade if we said that we have concerns about the expediency of federal support, not only here in California, but across the country," Carvalho said. "We hope that the issue of rebuilding the Palisades, or any part of our country impacted by fires, natural disaster, storms, hurricanes or the like ... will not [be] politicized. We certainly hope that there is no weaponization of disasters for political benefit. Shame, shame on anyone who would do so." A representative of FEMA told The Times that L.A. Unified's request for assistance has been approved, and the "exact amount of funding and reimbursement will depend on the eligibility of the facilities, work performed, and associated costs as assessed through the [agency's Public Assistance funding] process." "Specific dollar amounts have not yet been determined, as LAUSD is still in the process of submitting its damage impact lists and project details," said FEMA spokesperson Brandi Richard Thompson. At least four private schools burned in the Palisades, including St. Matthew's Parish School and the Village School, both of which have relocated to office buildings in Santa Monica. And several public and private schools were destroyed by the Eaton fire, including Pasadena Waldorf School and Eliot Arts Magnet Academy. Carvalho said that the speed of the cleanup at his district's properties in the Palisades could bode well for other campuses aiming to reopen quickly. "The process that we're currently utilizing for debris removal, soil testing, environmental mitigation, as well as the reconstruction process — we are literally reducing the timeline of rebuilding by as much as 50%," he said. "That bodes well for the entire community, if not the entire state, in terms of embracing better, faster processes to rebuild better, faster, stronger than ever before." Also on Friday, Bass announced that a Palisades playground damaged in the fire would be restored thanks to a nearly $1 million donation from benefit concert initiative FireAid, and contributions from others. In all, support topped $1.3 million, Bass' office said in a statement. The private funding will allow the playground to open earlier than expected. Once it is remodeled, it will include a play fire truck that will stand in tribute to first-responders who fought the blaze. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
05-04-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
L.A. Unified schools burned in Palisades fire hit milestone in their $600 million rebuild
The $600-million effort to rebuild the three L.A. Unified schools burned in the Palisades fire has hit an important milestone ahead of schedule — all debris has been cleared from the properties, Supt. Alberto Carvalho said Friday. Calling the debris removal a 'pivotal moment for all of us,' he detailed rebuilding plans that aim to get students back to campuses quickly. 'Today we recognize that people of goodwill can carve out common ground to achieve great things together in unity,' Carvalho said alongside Mayor Karen Bass at Palisades Charter Elementary School, one of the campuses that burned. About 70% of the school was destroyed by the fire that began Jan. 7. Now, nearly three months later, tidy expanses of soil are all that is left in spaces where structures once stood. Bass touted the speed of debris removal across the area scorched by the Palisades fire, which destroyed nearly 7,000 structures and burned more than 23,000 acres, saying, 'We are absolutely committed to making sure that Palisades is rebuilt as fast as possible.' Marquez Charter Elementary was also destroyed, and Palisades Charter High School was closed because of major damage. Students at the two elementary campuses have been relocated to nearby public schools. The next steps in the rebuilding effort include contracting architects and engineers, Carvalho said. He added that there will be ongoing environmental testing of the soil and remaining structures at the three sites. Officials are also taking steps to put portable classrooms on one of the sites. It's part of a plan that aims to get students back to their campuses 'as soon as possible' — but 'no sooner than the community wishes for it to happen,' he said. It will cost about $150 million to rebuild each elementary school, Carvalho said, and about $300 million to rebuild a significant portion of Palisades High. The school's 2,445 students, who have been online for classes since the fire, will soon relocate to the former Sears building in downtown Santa Monica. Only about 30% of Palisades High's campus was damaged or destroyed — including some classroom buildings and athletics facilities — but it is a much larger site than the two elementary schools, Carvalho said. Carvalho said the district would tap the $9 billion construction bond that voters approved in November to launch the construction. It 'could not have come at a better time,' he said. The district will also use about $50 million from its insurance policies. Then, it will turn to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 'We're going to front load the financial liability with our own dollars approved by the people of the good city of Los Angeles, and then seek a reimbursement from the federal government,' he said. But Carvalho also addressed questions about the federal government's support of projects such as LAUSD's rebuilding effort. In recent months, the Trump administration has cut billions of dollars in funding across many areas, including public health and education. 'I think it would be the understatement of the decade if we said that we have concerns about the expediency of federal support, not only here in California, but across the country,' Carvalho said. 'We hope that the issue of rebuilding the Palisades, or any part of our country impacted by fires, natural disaster, storms, hurricanes or the like ... will not [be] politicized. We certainly hope that there is no weaponization of disasters for political benefit. Shame, shame on anyone who would do so.' A representative of FEMA told The Times that L.A. Unified's request for assistance has been approved, and the 'exact amount of funding and reimbursement will depend on the eligibility of the facilities, work performed, and associated costs as assessed through the [agency's Public Assistance funding] process.' 'Specific dollar amounts have not yet been determined, as LAUSD is still in the process of submitting its damage impact lists and project details,' said FEMA spokesperson Brandi Richard Thompson. At least four private schools burned in the Palisades, including St. Matthew's Parish School and the Village School, both of which have relocated to office buildings in Santa Monica. And several public and private schools were destroyed by the Eaton fire, including Pasadena Waldorf School and Eliot Arts Magnet Academy. Carvalho said that the speed of the cleanup at his district's properties in the Palisades could bode well for other campuses aiming to reopen quickly. 'The process that we're currently utilizing for debris removal, soil testing, environmental mitigation, as well as the reconstruction process — we are literally reducing the timeline of rebuilding by as much as 50%,' he said. 'That bodes well for the entire community, if not the entire state, in terms of embracing better, faster processes to rebuild better, faster, stronger than ever before.' Also on Friday, Bass announced that a Palisades playground damaged in the fire would be restored thanks to a nearly $1 million donation from benefit concert initiative FireAid, and contributions from others. In all, support topped $1.3 million, Bass' office said in a statement. The private funding will allow the playground to open earlier than expected. Once it is remodeled, it will include a play fire truck that will stand in tribute to first-responders who fought the blaze.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LA schools superintendent says closing of DOE would bring 'catastrophic harm'
With mass layoffs taking place at the Department of Education, the superintendent for the nation's second largest public school system says the closure of the department would bring "catastrophic harm" if there is any reduction to the federal funding that students in his district receive. In a video statement, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the county receives hundreds of millions of dollars for low-income students and others. MORE: Department of Education lays off nearly 50% of its workforce "We receive an excess of $750 million earmarked for poor students, English language learners, students with disabilities, and connectivity investments so that students can be connected with their learning, breakfast and lunch programs," Carvalho said. The Department of Education initiated mass layoffs on Tuesday night, reducing its workforce by nearly 50%, sources told ABC News. The "reduction in force" notices began to go out Tuesday at about 6 p.m. ET Some 1,315 employees were affected by the RIFs, leaving 2,183 employed by the department, according to senior officials at the DOE. "Any reduction at the federal level, specific to these investments will bring about catastrophic harm in Los Angeles and across the country," Carvalho said. A statement released Tuesday from the Department of Education said that the DOE will "continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency's purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking." "This is primarily a streamlining effort for internal facing roles and not external facing roles," a senior DOE official said of the layoffs. LA schools superintendent says closing of DOE would bring 'catastrophic harm' originally appeared on
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LA schools superintendent says closing of DOE would bring 'catastrophic harm'
With mass layoffs taking place at the Department of Education, the superintendent for the nation's second largest public school system says the closure of the department would bring "catastrophic harm" if there is any reduction to the federal funding that students in his district receive. In a video statement, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the county receives hundreds of millions of dollars for low-income students and others. MORE: Department of Education lays off nearly 50% of its workforce "We receive an excess of $750 million earmarked for poor students, English language learners, students with disabilities, and connectivity investments so that students can be connected with their learning, breakfast and lunch programs," Carvalho said. The Department of Education initiated mass layoffs on Tuesday night, reducing its workforce by nearly 50%, sources told ABC News. The "reduction in force" notices began to go out Tuesday at about 6 p.m. ET Some 1,315 employees were affected by the RIFs, leaving 2,183 employed by the department, according to senior officials at the DOE. "Any reduction at the federal level, specific to these investments will bring about catastrophic harm in Los Angeles and across the country," Carvalho said. A statement released Tuesday from the Department of Education said that the DOE will "continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency's purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking." "This is primarily a streamlining effort for internal facing roles and not external facing roles," a senior DOE official said of the layoffs. LA schools superintendent says closing of DOE would bring 'catastrophic harm' originally appeared on
