By Mary O’KEEFE

The much anticipated May 1 meeting of the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization [LACCSDO] has been cancelled. Normally these meetings are canceled without making a ripple in the community, but this cancellation has made a splash.

The May 1 meeting was to discuss the territorial transfer between Glendale Unified and La Cañada Unified school districts, otherwise known as the Sagebrush transfer. The petition from members of UniteLCF—chief petitioners Nalini Lasiewicz, Thomas Smith and Nick Karapetian—was received by LACCSDO on Nov. 23, 2015. On July 18, 2016, County staff received notice that there were sufficient signatures to move the petition forward.

Students who live in households in the far west portion of La Cañada known as Sagebrush attend GUSD schools. UniteLCF has petitioned to have those residents attend LCUSD schools. At present, students who reside in the Sagebrush area can request permits to attend LCUSD schools, according to the LACCSDO agenda statement.

Since the petition was first submitted, the two school districts have been working together in an effort to negotiate an amicable solution. As of mid-April, the districts were not able to come to a resolution.

Although representatives from both GUSD and UniteLCF, as well as community members and stakeholders, felt a vote and decision would be made on May 1 regarding Sagebrush, this is not the case according to LACCSDO.

“The [issue] is still under consideration and we are still getting more information,” said Margo  Minecki, spokeswoman for LACCSDO.

The cancellation of the meeting was the “decision of the Chairperson,” she said.

There was no other information shared regarding the cancellation of the meeting or when the meeting will be rescheduled.

“Obviously we were disappointed to hear that the May 1 meeting had been cancelled but we are not dismayed or will be deterred in any way. We will take this in stride and press on with our efforts in anticipation of the Committee decision being rescheduled,” said Thomas Smith, UniteLCF Chair. “As Petitioners, we were fully prepared to present further arguments to the County Committee in support of our Petition. Our community is energized and feeling confident in the arguments put forth to the Committee in support of this much-needed and permanent change to the school district boundaries.”

“We are looking forward to the County Committee making a final decision on the territory transfer and we appreciate the time and attention the Committee Members are dedicating to this important issue,” said Dr. Kelly King, GUSD interim superintendent. “There is no educational reason for the territory transfer. Our district proudly offers all students an exceptional education and programs that meet every student’s needs and interests, including exceptional arts and athletic programs, our dual immersion programs, our Visual and Performing Arts Magnet, our Computer Science Magnet, our Advanced Technology Magnet, our award winning CTE programs, and Clark Magnet High School. Furthermore, GUSD already offers a release for any student living in the Sagebrush area to attend LCUSD schools. This allows parents and guardians the opportunity to choose the program that is best suited to their student.”

  Mary Okeefe