Statement from Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines
15 Dec 2015
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| America's Superintendent: Ramón C. Cortines |
Today has been a difficult day, with L.A. Unified schools closed
for the first time in decades. Thanks to the extraordinary effort by Los
Angeles Unified School Police and law-enforcement partners, all L.A.
Unified schools and charters have been inspected and Chief Steven
Zipperman has given the all-clear. Classes and after-school activities
will resume on Wednesday. The District will have crisis counselors
available for students and employees who may need additional support.
I decided to close schools, and this choice was not made lightly. It disrupted the lives of our students, our employees and their families. Based on recent events, I took this precaution out of an abundance of caution and to ensure safety and security in our schools.
We now must get back to the business of educating our kids. Our local districts will be supporting school and maintaining consistency. I have asked state Schools Superintendent Tom Torlakson to allow us to count today as an instructional day and reimburse the District for funds we will otherwise lose.
I want to thank our L.A. Unified families for your support and your sacrifice as we worked through a very difficult day. I am also very grateful to my colleagues on the Board of Education and to our principals, plant managers and police officers who played a pivotal role in securing our schools.
In addition, I want to express my appreciation to Superintendent Torlakson and to Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles City Council, and to Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck for their unwavering support. We also owe our thanks to the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and to a host of law-enforcement agencies that came to our aid. They are: the Los Angeles Police Department; Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; California Highway Patrol; the Departments of Police Services at the University of California and Cal State-Northridge; and the police departments from Long Beach, San Fernando, Bell, Gardena, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood and South Gate.
Finally, this event underscores the need for everyone to remain diligent and serves as a reminder -- if you see something, say something.
###
I decided to close schools, and this choice was not made lightly. It disrupted the lives of our students, our employees and their families. Based on recent events, I took this precaution out of an abundance of caution and to ensure safety and security in our schools.
We now must get back to the business of educating our kids. Our local districts will be supporting school and maintaining consistency. I have asked state Schools Superintendent Tom Torlakson to allow us to count today as an instructional day and reimburse the District for funds we will otherwise lose.
I want to thank our L.A. Unified families for your support and your sacrifice as we worked through a very difficult day. I am also very grateful to my colleagues on the Board of Education and to our principals, plant managers and police officers who played a pivotal role in securing our schools.
In addition, I want to express my appreciation to Superintendent Torlakson and to Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles City Council, and to Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck for their unwavering support. We also owe our thanks to the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and to a host of law-enforcement agencies that came to our aid. They are: the Los Angeles Police Department; Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; California Highway Patrol; the Departments of Police Services at the University of California and Cal State-Northridge; and the police departments from Long Beach, San Fernando, Bell, Gardena, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood and South Gate.
Finally, this event underscores the need for everyone to remain diligent and serves as a reminder -- if you see something, say something.
###
Declaración del Superintendente Ramón C. Cortines
Hoy ha sido un día difícil por el cierre de las escuelas del Distrito Escolar Unificado de L.A. por primera vez en décadas. Gracias al esfuerzo extraordinario de la Policía Escolar de Los Ángeles y de nuestros colaboradores de las fuerzas del orden público, ya se han inspeccionado todas las escuelas del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles, y también todas las escuelas autónomas Charter autorizadas por el distrito, y el Jefe Steven Zipperman nos ha dado luz verde. Se reanudarán las clases y las actividades extraescolares el miércoles. El Distrito tendrá disponibles a los consejeros de crisis para los estudiantes y los empleados que puedan necesitar apoyo adicional.
Tomé la decisión de cerrar las escuelas el martes, y esta no fue una decisión hecha a la ligera. Creó interrupciones en la vida de nuestros estudiantes, nuestros empleados y sus familias. Basándome en los acontecimientos recientes, tomé esta decisión colmada de precaución y en un esfuerzo para garantizar la protección y la seguridad de nuestras escuelas.
Ahora debemos volver a la labor de la educación de nuestros niños. Nuestros distritos locales apoyarán a las escuelas y mantendrán la solidez. He pedido al Superintendente de Educación del Estado, Tom Torlakson, que nos permita contar el día de hoy como día de instrucción y que reembolse al Distrito por los ingresos que, de lo contrario, perderíamos.
Quiero agradecer a nuestras familias del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles por su apoyo, y por su sacrificio mientras trabajábamos en conjunto en este día tan difícil. También, estoy muy agradecido con mis colegas en la Junta de Educación y nuestros directores, gerentes de planta y agentes de la policía que desempeñaron un papel fundamental para la seguridad de nuestras escuelas.
Asimismo, quisiera expresar mi agradecimiento al Superintendente Torlakson y al alcalde Eric Garcetti, al Consejo Citadino de Los Angeles, y al Jefe de la Policía Charlie Beck por su inquebrantable apoyo. También extendemos nuestro agradecimiento al FBI, a la Oficina de Bebidas Alcohólicas, Tabaco y Armas de Fuego, y a una gran cantidad de agencias de las fuerzas de seguridad que vinieron en nuestra ayuda: el Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles, el Departamento del Sheriff del Condado de Los Ángeles; la Patrulla de Carreteras de California; los Departamentos de Servicios Policiales de la Universidad de California y de Cal-State -Northridge; y los departamentos de policía de Long Beach, San Fernando, Bell, Gardena, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood y Southgate.
Por último, este caso pone de relieve la necesidad de que todos estemos al pendiente y nos sirve como recordatorio - si ves algo, repórtalo.
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