Dear 2UrbanGirls,
I’m writing in response to your article about the Inglewood communities fight in regaining local control of Inglewood Unified School District, and although I appreciate the job of you as a writer, in your earnest attempt to find a fair balance in presenting both sides, but truth is truth and the “top two” candidates to replace Autumn Burke are providing nothing but lip service to the voters.
But, since we are approaching the 10-year anniversary of the district being in receivership, I think it’s very important to understand that although Robert Pullen – Miles response, asking Gavin Newsom to use the state surplus to forgive the district’s emergency loan, appears to serve as a solution to returning Inglewood Unified to local control, but clearly shows he hasn’t read the most recent FCMAT report which details what is really going on.
According to FCMAT, much of the funding they received under LCFF (Local Control Formula Funding) was lost because nonpublic school students were in the attendance software system.
Was Kent Taylor their consultant on this? Wasn’t he under investigation for enrolling nonpublic school students in Lennox School District in exchange for laptops? Why aren’t heads rolling in Inglewood?
Related: L.A. County to investigate public school system’s enrollment of Catholic school students
I’m sorry but his response was a “feel good” statement, akin to what you tell a chick you’re stringing along before the big “let down”.
I don’t want to feel good, and that’s what Pullen-Miles’ response felt like. Like he’s using buzzwords to corral votes.
His statement did acknowledge a lot of success that IUSD has made, but he has glossed over the horrible job they are doing with special education which could also lead to the mass exodus of students. Don’t get me started with students with IEP’s.
Once again low birthrate isn’t the end all of Inglewood Unified’s troubles, although one shouldn’t dismiss the notion completely.
Clearly there are other mitigating factors that made Inglewood Unified School District undesirable to send their children to beyond their primary education.
I’m willing to bet that historically, documented mismanagement of IUSD by administrator’s, picked by the state and Los Angeles County Board of Education contributed to the mass “exodus” of children, as opposed to this ridiculous notion of low birth rate, and Pennywise abducting kids from out of our sewers with balloons.
As I’ve said in previous letters, and I’ll say it again, any legislation, independent of a third-party legislative investigation of what went right, and what went wrong at IUSD, would be a missed opportunity and horrendous mistake by the community as a whole.
The current narrative, and the protests alike fails to folks accountable, and instead of asking people like Mayor Butts, Brandon Myers, Dionne Faulk, Margaret Evans, Carliss McGhee what’s going on, they having private phone conversations out of the public eye. This does nothing but deepen the mistrust between school officials and the community alike, because you only hear from them when they want something. OUR VOTE!
Returning IUSD to local control, ultimately begins with transparency and unfortunately Robert Pullen-Miles response, fills the void of silence of frontrunner and top vote getter Tina McKinnor.
Marvin McCoy can be reached at therealmccoymarketinggroup@gmail.com.
1 Comment
Again Marvin thank you for putting truth out there in a way we can only hope all residents begin to understand!!
What was that bullet point at the end LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY ? Yep that is pretty simple. In a Nutshell no Accountability!!!
The IUSD Receivership concept was a well orchestrated joke from the beginning.
The bottom line has always been blame someone else…the parents, the homeowners, the kids themselves but rarely those who get the salaries or the contracts!
There HAS NOT been financial accountability since MEASURE K.
The over zealous Construction Companies saw an uniformed community and with the help of those seeking the political limelight sold BOTH property owners and the parents a crock filled to the brim and overflowing with misinformation, less than truthful pipe dreams that construction fills students brains with knowledge and a host of unrealistic expectations.
As an example why did we pay for the consultants and architects to provide blueprints for the old Warren Lane Campus (not the formerly known as Daniel Freeman Campus) and then stop using the School altogether after going through the revolting TREE KILLING process? Yep – our dollars in their pockets, for what a treeless rental campus. While we are not using it for our kids that once beautifully shaded campus is utilized by another entity rather the surrounding students who have been told to find another school – yeah they did – outta the district ! Yep those dollars went up up and away and with any luck the unused blueprints are stuffed in a corner unless of course they disappeared as a means of disposing evidence of mis-management.
Indeed the debt to the State should be retired ! Completely ! In truth it should have never been needed or loaned, but alas the then administration would have had to do the unthinkable bring up teaching standards so as to attract students with the hope of proficiency in all aspects of basic standards for college readiness.
Looking back the entire concept of State Control has similarities to the Walmart now Stadium thing- float an idea that sounds beneficial for Schools – Quick money to cover expenses of fool hearty expenses – in the Walmart plan- lower everyday prices. But a cautious look at the fine print of the Walmart initiative included Stan and Company having total control- free of city restrictions- once that failed it was time to readjust and then….. once the (s)elected team was in place. waaalaaa. As for the School loan yes no doubt a change was needed in administration ie accountability not rotating faces …and as we were distracted almost without notice, the deeds is done – Local control has all but Vanished into thin (although much more polluted) Air.
And of course no need for that pesky pain in the butt concept of community/ resident involvement.
As for those foolish residents who think community matters ie McCoy, 2 Urban Girls, Tixiera, Treasurer Brown, and way back the Morningside Chronicle reporters…..THE ADMINISTRATIONS have attempted to SILENCE ALL WHO RAISE QUESTIONS by intimidation, threat, restraining orders, frivolous lawsuit, and then the tried but it works well “technical difficulties” of zoom or conference calls.
Here we are… look at that calendar …..we are just 3 years shy of the 60th anniversary of the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT and WE have decided to let the Politicians (in our local case – most who “look like us”) tell us essentially Our kids do not deserve a good education in a local school, and when it comes to city matters basically to get our selves “outta the office” and back where we belong on the outside looking in (or to be more brutal and graphic back in the fields where we can’t be heard).
Will we/ have we betrayed those who fought for our rights by our silence ? Is it Our fear of being called out or publicly humiliated with untruths designed to attack our character so significant we let our schools/ city be trampled?
When did we forget those we elect should work FOR US? It is they who we should expect to do as we wish ! Yes that means all those Senators (Bradford) and Assembly Members who ask for your vote!
Why do we somehow accept being told we must accept what no other community (not of minorities) would tolerate?
Let’s learn that debate and questions are good – even admiral. Let us ponder together and acknowledge/accept differing views, working together for our collective benefit rather than letting a few far away snatch our hard earned resources and quality of life away from us ….our ancestors fought and worked hard FOR OUR HAVING BETTER (not just stuff but standing to be heard) not for having their hard work be bulldozed to benefit those who disregard us.
Consider all those relationships and voting records before casting your vote in November!
Ya gotta wonder, where did all those hands in our cookie jar learn that the lid got lost ?
Will there even be any crumbs left ?