REPENNING REACTS TO TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN UTLA AND LAUSD
LOS ANGELES – Today, active public school parent and former Vice President on the Los Angeles Board of Public Works Heather Repenning released the following statement in light of the news that LA teachers and LAUSD officials have reached a tentative deal to increase resources for local schools and end the teachers strike.
“Today I share a sense of relief that our students and teachers will be back in LAUSD schools tomorrow, and a sense of optimism fueled by the incredible outpouring of support for public education that we have witnessed over these past days.
I want to thank our teachers for their courage in speaking out against the lack of critical resources in our schools. I have proudly stood with other parents in support of our teachers and of their call for reinvesting in public schools.
I also want to thank Mayor Garcetti for bringing LAUSD and UTLA together to find common ground to make progress for our students and our schools.
I believe that today is just the beginning. We have much more to do to ensure that we support public education and that all of our students succeed. On the School Board, I will make the most of this powerful moment to continue to invest in our schools with the resources and programs our students deserve.”
Heather Repenning is an LAUSD parent with over 15 years of experience working in local government and solving problems that face everyday Angelenos. She’s been a fearless leader and a role model for young women. Heather has dedicated her career to issues of empowerment, equality and building healthier neighborhoods for Angelenos. Repenning has helped bring more parks, cleaner water, an increase to the minimum wage, and better school campuses to neighborhoods across Los Angeles.
Heather wants to bring her back-to-basics experience to help lift up our school communities, to bring innovation, resources, and partnerships to support what is working for our kids and to take on the challenges that we face in providing a great education for every child.
Heather has been part of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s work in our City for over a decade, serving as his Field Deputy for Echo Park, Silver Lake, Elysian Valley and Glassell Park and as his District Director while he represented Los Angeles’ Council District 13. She served as Director of External Affairs for Mayor Garcetti where she oversaw intergovernmental relations, community and constituent services, and immigrant affairs.
Heather has also worked for LAUSD, involving parents and communities in the process of building new schools to address overcrowding. Most recently, she served as the Vice President of the Board of Public works where she provided oversight and transparency over Sanitation, Street Services, Street Lighting, Engineering, and Contract Administration to ensure that City services are cost efficient, equitable, and environmentally-friendly.
For more information please visit www.HeatherForSchoolBoard.com or www.facebook.com/heatherepenning4lausd.
