WILL PUBLIC EDUCATION SURVIVE?: Part 3 and Part 4 (4 Part Series)

Click on Segment Links Below to watch online

Los Angeles, CA Full Disclosure Network presents Part three and four of the complete series covering the future of Public Education consisting of four half hour shows each with three segments. Here is an insiders view of Public Education featuring long-time Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Member David Tokofsky, who is a teacher and who presided over some of the most tumultuous and challenging years in the nations second largest school District. Presented here are six segments from Part 3 and Part 4 of the series on Streaming Video available here 24/7 and are featured on 47 cable systems in California, Washington D.C. and Massachusetts.

SEGMENT SEVEN: Politics, Power & Influence
(8 min)
According to David Tokofsky, Politics and education are inseparable. “Politics is the influence of other peoples behavior”. The Milken Institute estimates K-12 education in the United States is worth $250 billion. Billionaires Eli Broad, Bill Gates and Michael Milken are involved in Education and School Board governance, accelerating the struggle over power and control, efficiency, productivity, curriculum and instruction.

SEGMENT EIGHT:. “Belmont the Billion Dollar School”
(8 min)
David Tokofsky was a primary critic of LAUSD Belmont Learning Center, he describes how the school was not built to code with no accountability, no arbitration or litigation and acknowledges the same contractors have been rehired to build 170 new schools. Explains why Belmont was not funded by GO Bonds funds and struggles to explain how the District paid for books, desks, teachers and personnel after his parcel tax proposal did not fly.

SEGMENT NINE: “ District Flush With Billions in Bond Money”
(8 min)
David Tokofsky describes the LAUSD attitude toward the $20 billion school construction project as being “Afflicted with Comfort” and asked if the District is being ripped off by unscrupulous contractors once again. He describes the struggle within the District as to who will control the Office of Ethics. The Board has apparently decided the Ethics Office should be located in the Office General Counsel instead of the Office of Inspector General, opting to “build a culture of ethics” rather investigations.

SEGMENT TEN: “ What Is The Primary Mission of Public Education?”
(8 min)
According to Tokofsky, the Public Schools are providing much more than just education. Feeding children breakfast, lunch, counseling, health care, police protection. And, School Construction Program has been billed as an “Economic Stimulus” package to provide jobs, plus LAUSD owes billions for unfunded retirement benefits for teachers. He complains that schools are asked to do more that just educate, without funding.

SEGMENT ELEVEN “ Illegal Immigration Impacts Education”
(8 min)
For years the LAUSD has struggled with Immigrant Rights issues and student boycotts to demonstrate on such issues as their illegal immigration status. Tokofskysays students need to learn in class how to participate in the process and he points to the need to address other issues besides “status” there is the adult education issue.

SEGMENT TWELVE “What Is the Greatest Challenge to Public Education?”
(8 min)
Tokofsky feels that Term Limits should be changed to a rotation of office, that the Board Staff has marginalized the effectiveness of the Board Members. And, he points to “At Large” Districts that limit the scope of Members and result in “unintended consequences” (dilution of power). He feels his greatest accomplishment was instituting Full Day Kindergarten classes and laments that the City Developer Fees are not paid to the District.

SCHOOL BONDS FEED THE BEAST? Video News Blog (10 min)

Los Angeles, CA. The Full Disclosure Network® presents an exclusive video report on how California Taxpayers pay matching funds every time voters in Los Angeles approve billions in school bonds for the what is described as “the Beast” or an economic engine known as the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). And those bonds end up costing taxpayers double the amount with interest paid to bond holders

LAUSD officials describe in the video, how a new proposed $7 Billion dollar school bond, if it is approved by voters, should be considered an “Economic Stimulus Plan” for the region. They tout the bond will employ workers, generate construction of new schools during a time of economic slow down in the area.

Appearing the ten minute Video News Blog with comments pro and con are the following:

• David R. Hernandez, Exec. Director San Fernando Chamber of Commerce
• David Brewer, Superintendent Los Angeles Unified School District
• Monica Garcia, President Los Angeles Unified Board of Education
• Guy Mahula, Chief Executive of Facilities Division, LAUSD
• George Buzzetti, Los Angeles City Activist
• Keith Richman, Former California State Assemblyman
• Leslie Dutton, Moderator

At the end of the video viewers are asked to leave their comments and participate in an online survey by voting on the following questions:

• Should all Californians vote on the LA Bonds too, since they pay matching funds?
• Should the bond language disclose how much interest will be paid for the bonds?
• Which should be the priority of the school district be: 1) educating the children ? or 2) stimulating the economy?

Known as “the news behind the news” Full Disclosure Network® cable and Internet videos provide coverage rarely reported by the regular news media. The videos are also featured on the YOU TUBE at the following URL http://www.youtube.com/FullDisclosureNetwrk.

Cable TV Series: Video News Blog Specials....... on Foreign Student Visa Loopholes, School Bonds and LAUSD Audits & Investigations

The Full Disclosure Network® presents a Video Blog Special covering Foreign Student Visa Loopholes, School Bonds and the Audits and Investigations of the LAUSD, to be featured the Week End on Cable TV as follows:

L. A . Cable Channel 36 & LIVE on the Internet at URL: http://www.la36.org/ on

Sunday May 11th 8-9 pm.

Monday May 12th 4-5 p.m.

or

WATCH these short video news blogs 24/7 from title links below:

Terrorist Visa Loopholes (8:21 min) Covering the crossroads battle over immigration and how the powerful education lobby influences U. S. Immigration Policy and student visa policies. Featuring:

• Jim White, Legal Counselor UCLA International Student Services
• Richard Knickerbocker, Constitutional Attorney
• Georgie Anne Geyer, Syndicated Columnist & Author

Secret School Bonds Create Billions Public Debt. (7.30 min)
LAUSD School Bonds issued without voter approval approach a billion
dollars in outstanding debt, features:

• Edwin Meese, III , U.S. Attorney General (1985-88),
• Kathleen Connell, California State Controller (1995-2003)
• Anthony Patchett, Special Assistant D. A., LAUSD Belmont investigation
• Jim Mc Connell LAUSD Chief Facilities Executive
• Don Mullinax, former LAUSD Inspector General
  
  

IRS Relents to School District Clout (9.30 min) IRS waives
penalty and sanctions for school district’s illegal use of non-voter
approved bonds. Features:

• Dominick Shambra, Director of Planning & Development for LAUSD Belmont project
• David Cartwright, Sr. Partner, O'Melveny & Myers, outside legal counsel on Belmont
• Anthony Patchett, Head of Belmont TASK FORCE Investigation for D. A. Cooley
• Edwin Meese, III former U. S. Attorney General and Chief of Staff to Calif. Governor Reagan
  

Prosecutor Attacks FDN on School Bond Cover-up Blog. (8.23 Min)

The truth is revealed from all perspectives on the questionable financing on Belmont.

• Anthony Patchett, Former Special Assistant D.A. Prosecutor on Belmont
• David Cartwright, Sr. Partner OMelveny & Myers LAUSD Outside Counsel
• Dominick Shambra, LAUSD Director and Planning & Development (Belmont project)
  

School Auditors & Investigators Speak Out on Lack of Prosecution (9 min)

for big dollar crimes in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Features:

• Don Mullinax, LAUSD Inspector General
• Anthony Patchett, Special Assistant D.A., Belmont Task Force Investigation
• Jerry Thornton, Acting LAUSD Inspector General
• Bob Williams, Acting Deputy Inspector General, LAUSD OIG
• Karen Sexton, Investigator OIG

The Full Disclosure Network Video News Blogs on the Internet are produced by host Leslie Dutton and T. J. Johnston and are presented in half hour format and distributed to 45 cable tv channels.

Fiscal Emergency & "The Bondage of Bonds": Exclusive Internet Video Preview (3 min)

Los Angeles, CA The Full Disclosure Network® is releasing a three minute video preview of a special DVD Collection of Videos examining the use of non-voter approved and voter approved government Bonds in California over the last decade. The collection is entitled “The Bondage of Bonds…..The Taxpayers Burden” featuring government officials and experts directly involved in the issuance, expenditure and oversight of billions in government indebtedness . (Watch preview)

STATE OF EMERGENCY: FISCAL CRISIS
The release of this new collection coincides with the announcement on Friday, December 14, 2007 by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that he will declare a “fiscal emergency” in January 2008. In his announcement, Schwartzenneger pointed to a dramatic escalation in the budget deficit (40 % or $14 billion) over previous projections by economists just a few weeks ago. Associated Press reported that state spending has increased by 40% since Schwarznegger took office in 2004. And according to the Reason Foundation and California Debt Advisory Board, bonded indebtedness has dramatically increased over the last decade.

REVEALING HOW STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDS BOND $$ BILLIONS:
Videos on Bond issues in the Full Disclosure® Collection:
* Secret School Bonds Create Billions in Debt
* Mysterious School Financing Revealed
* Budget Buster Bond Defended
* Bond Brokers Bilk Taxpayers for Billions
* News Blackout On School Bond Vote
* Auditors Speak Out on Lack of Prosecution
* Voters Fooled by Bogus Bonds
* Bonds: Government’s Credit Card
Click here to watch 3 min video
Officials and experts appearing in the video collection:
* Senator Don Perata California Senate President Pro-Tem
* David Tokofsky, LAUSD Board Member
* Kathleen Connell, California State Controller (1995-2004)
* Don Mullinax, former Inspector General L.A. Unified School District
* B. Scott Minerd, CEO Guggenheim Partners, Asset Management
* Edwin Meese, III, Former U. S. Attorney General & Chief of Staff Governor Reagan
* Jon Coupal, President Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
* James Mc Nulty, Chairman of the Board, Parsons Corporation
* Dr. Adrian Moore, V.P. Research of the Reason Foundation
* Keith Richman, Former, Legislator & Pres. Calif. Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility
* Carl DeMaio, President Performance Institute
* Jerry Thornton, Inspector General Los Angeles Unified School District

Known as “the news behind the news” Full Disclosure Network® cable television programs are featured on 45 cable systems and the Internet since 1992 and produced by host Leslie Dutton and Producer T. J. Johnston. In 2002 the Full Disclosure® special series “L. A.’s War Against Terrorism” was recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a local Emmy Award for public affairs, informational series. Channels and airtimes can be found on the website at http://www.fulldisclosure.net/ . #####

Media Ethics, School Bonds & More: Sunday On L.A. Cable Channel 36

Los Angeles, CA Full Disclosure Network® presents a special two-part Video News Blog series on “Hot Button” issues this Sunday on L.A. Cable Channel 36 and on 45 cable television systems, please check dates and times by community.


Please note the air times and dates on L.A. Cable Channel 36

• PART 1 8 p.m. Sunday, December 2, 2007
  4 p.m. Monday, December 2, 2007
• PART 2 8:30 p.m. Sunday, December 3, 2007
  4:30 p.m. Monday, December 3, 2007
  
  Videos available here on Internet click on the title links below.
  
  PART 1
  News Black Out Bond Vote Scam Jarvis Taxpayers & David Tokofsky (LAUSD)
  Concealed Weapon Permits? Sheriff Leroy Baca vs Sheriff Mike Carona
  Left vs Right Journalism Brent Bozell vs Murray Fromson (CBS retired)
  
  PART 2
  Bob Woodward vs Edwin Meese, III on use of un-named Sources
  School Corruption Sparks Citizen Revolt in California
  Mini Documentary on the "FULL DISCLOSURE NETWORK"
  

Full Disclosure Network® has been billed as "the news behind the news" for the past fifteen years and is produced by Leslie Dutton & T. J. Johnston. In 2002 the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded a local public affairs Emmy for the Full Disclosure® Series “L.A.’s War Against Terrorism” featuring LAPD Chief Parks, Lt. Ken Hillman, Sheriff Baca and Councilman Mark-Ridley Thomas.

Belmont: the Black Hole of School Construction

Los Angeles, CA. A FREE three (3) minute video presentation of the Full Disclosure Network™ series entitled, “Belmont: The Black Hole of School Construction” will be available starting Monday; January 23, 2006 on the Internet at the URL: http://www.fulldisclosure.net/flash/444-5_belmontblackhole_preview.php and can be accessed “On Demand” 24/7, as a public service. This preview of a new two-part series, features exclusive video footage of all the major players involved in the planning, development, financing and investigations of the notorious Belmont Learning Center, in the L. A. Unified School District, they are:

• Steve Cooley , L.A. County District Attorney
• Jim McConnell, LAUSD Cheif Facilities Executive
• Anthony Patchett, Belmont Prosecutor, Special Asst. D.A. (ret)
• Don Mullinax, Inspector General L.A. Unified School District
• Roger Carrick. Special Legal Counsel to Inspector General
• Scott Wildman. Chair. CA Legislative Audit Committee
• Dominic Shambra, Dir. Planning & Development LAUSD
• David Cartwright, Sr. Partner O'Melveny & Myers
• Dr. Kaye Kilburn, USC Keck School of Medicine, Edgington Chair

The still incomplete public school is now estimated to have cost almost a half a billion dollars after seven years of investigations, lawsuits and controversy. When the Los Angeles news media ceased covering the Belmont Learning Center debacle the Full Disclosure Network™ (FDN) jumped at the opportunity to cover the story, on videotape, as a PUBLIC SERVICE. Belmont was only 60% complete and had an estimated cost of $175 million to $228 million. Most public officials and the news media had pronounced the project a “dead issue". That could not have been farther from the truth.

Following the LAUSD Board vote to complete the Belmot project costs continue to escalate. Demolition of the new and never occupied buildings located on an earthquake fault and costly re-reconstruction began in December of 2004. A one hundred-thirty-two million dollar million remediation for the methane and hydrogen sulfide gases has been planned but as of December 2005, not yet approved by the State of California.

Just fifteen days after the 2005 Full Disclosure Network™ series entitled “Belmont: The Black Hole of School Construction” was shown on Southern California Cable channels, Jim Mc Connell announced his intention to leave the LAUSD. As Chief Executive of the Facilities Division Mc Connell was featured in the FDN series saying, “the days of Belmont are over”. However, mistaken he was, as the days of Belmont were far from finished.

Here are a few of the revelations in Belmont: The Black Hole of school construction:

• What lawsuit blocked BB Bond funds from being used to build Belmont?
• Why was the site (an old oil field) purchased “as is”?
• How did LAUSD Raise the first $92 million to pay for Belmont?
• Why was construction on Belmont stopped when only 60% complete?
• Who stopped the construction?
• LAUSD had to change State laws to win approval for Belmont, why?

Full Disclosure network™ produces public affairs programming, billed as “the news behind the news” since 1992. In 2002 the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented a public affairs Emmy to host Leslie Dutton for the special series entitled “L. A.’s War Against Terrorism. Featured on over 40 cable systems and the Internet, worldwide on http://www.fulldisclosure.net/ , Channels and air times are listed on the website