As demonstrated, there are several LBUSD Title 1 Schools that have been failing now for 6 consecutive years, yet when it comes time to close a school, they select one that was not failing (Tucker) and permit those that are failing to continue to do so.

In any failed organization, I look first to the leadership. Thus I lay the primary responsibility for this current public school mess squarely at the feet of our school board. It is they that permit individual failing schools to exist within their jurisdiction. Our School Board should be correcting these failures because it is their job to do so, not because the State or the Fed steps in and tries to make them.

But then again, this is also not surprising, on a School Board where someone like Michael Shane Ellis is permitted to remain a member and THAT is no one's fault but our own, for failing to remove him when we could have.

As demonstrated, there are several LBUSD Title 1 Schools that have been failing now for 6 consecutive years, yet when it comes time to close a school, they select one that was not failing (Tucker) and permit those that are failing to continue to do so.

In any failed organization, I look first to the leadership. Thus I lay the primary responsibility for this current public school mess squarely at the feet of our school board. It is they that permit individual failing schools to exist within their jurisdiction. Our School Board should be correcting these failures because it is their job to do so, not because the State or the Fed steps in and tries to make them.

But then again, this is also not surprising, on a School Board where someone like Michael Shane Ellis is permitted to remain a member and THAT is no one's fault but our own, for failing to remove him when we could have.

I know that overall, nationwide the population is increasing, however the most current data available (the 2000 census) demonstrates my point.
for reference, please review http://www.hellolongbeach.com/Census.Cfm
An excerpt from their data shows the following:
Under 5 years 38,587 8.4% of population
5 to 9 years 41,349 9.0%
10 to 14 years 35,641 7.7%
15 to 19 years 33,542 7.3%

As you can see, there was a “baby boom” in the early/mid-nineties of people in the Long Beach population, with the largest group of children in Long Beach falling in the 5-9 age group in 2000. The under five group is nearly 3,000 less potential students. It will be interesting to see in 2010 how this pans out, perhaps you are correct and the number does raise dramatically. There was an article about this very topic recently– I am looking for it for you.

The schools do need to contract the facilities accordingly.

I personally have two children in LB schools and am very happy with their schooling–but you should know that I have figured out that the best way to get good service for my children in LBUSD is to transfer them to a school of my choosing. It is a simple matter to do the paperwork. Both of my kids score high and go to the highest scoring schools–Parents need to use the system this way. It sends a loud and clear message to the district as to which schools are doing a poor job and should be downsized.

Still, I agree with you on many points. I know quite a few people who use private schools over public. There can be no doubt that affects student enrollment.
Also, it is terribly frustrating to have to do fund raising to pay for basic programs that the district should pay for. It does seem at times the district's priorities are messed up.

I'd rather see my kids get the best teachers in a temporary classroom (heck one local private school is just this!) than spend a bunch of money on fancy buildings with mediocre teachers, or on new corporate digs for admin.

In fact I've noticed that several private schools seriously lack decent facilities, and yet in many cases, their students manage to score higher on tests. What is up with that?