Schools scoop

The Jewish Journal has posted a story saying that charter schools entrepreneur Steve Barr will unveil on Thursday a proposal to take over racially troubled Jefferson High in South L.A. Howard Blume reports that "if the school board goes along—and Barr already has some civic and political support—Jefferson would be the first existing L.A. campus handed over to an outside company....If allowed to run Jefferson as he does his other schools, Barr would divide the campus into eight or nine schools. Teachers would lose tenure protection, but could not be fired without 'just cause.' Teaching staff also would have a central role in planning curriculum and purchasing instructional materials. The staff would not belong to United Teachers Los Angeles, the powerful L.A. teachers union, but could instead join the independent union that represents faculty at Barr’s other schools. Teacher salaries would be 10 percent higher. Parents would be required to volunteer at the school. Staff currently at Jefferson, including the principal, would be invited to reapply for their jobs."