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Article courtesy of Inglewood Today.
For more stories, visit Inglewood Today online.
The Inglewood Teachers Association (ITA) represented by Aisha Blanchard-Young, President (IUSD) along with board members Arnold Butler and Johnny Young have called for an investigation into more than $3.25 million in questionable expenditures. Their call is also for the negligent management practices of the administration led by the previous Superintendent Pamela Short-Powell until November of 2008. The complaints were announced at a press conference held on Tuesday, March 10th in front of La Tijera Elementary School.
“This press conference action comprised of alleged accusations regarding Dr. Short-Powell will cost the district millions of dollars,” stated her attorney Joe C. Hopkins of the Law Offices or Joe C. Hopkins located in Pasadena. “These guys (Butler and Young) need to address the fact that test scores rose from the bottom to the top under the leadership of Dr. Short-Powell. While superintendent, the performance of students improved, community support also increased as did parent participation.”
Notably absent from the press conference were IUSD board president Carol Raines-Brown and board members Trina Williams and Alice Grigsby. Blanchard-Young stated that all board members were invited to attend the conference.
Inglewood resident Michael Benbow asked the panel, “How can you schedule a press conference addressing these serious matters without having the IUSD board president present?”
Board member, Trina Williams is currently campaigning for reelection of her school board seat her schedule prevented her from attending the press conference. “I also work,” she stated, “I was informed of the press conference but I cannot confirm or deny any of the concerns until I see the documentation. I just can’t make a comment regarding this matter,” Williams said.
Board president Carol Raines-Brown could not be reached for comment prior to this publication deadline.
Butler, Young and the ITA would like the District Attorney’s Office, to look into a laundry list of complaints – some already confirmed by auditors - which have placed the School Board in the difficult position of having to take unprecedented action to avoid teacher layoffs amidst dwindling state and federal resources.
Using strong terms alluding to theft, Butler called upon the District Attorney (D.A.) to review actions, already investigated and confirmed by LACOE in its audit dated March 6, 2009:
- The improper use of funds from a district revolving account. The account, mandated to provide extra personnel to schools and services, has been used for activities unauthorized by the Board.
- Improper use of more than $1 million in federal/state consolidated funds to pay the salaries of administrators and the possible failure to employ the 85/15 rule, requiring that no more than 15 per cent of selected funds be used for salaries.
- The $1 million purchase of the School Net software program, which was inoperable by the Information Technology Department and the schools. As a result, an additional software program was required for full utilization of the program.
Longtime Inglewood resident, Willie Agee asked the panel, “If you are so concerned about these allegations and believe there was a crime committed why haven’t you called the police?” Agee went on to say, “While I have respect for you, board members I strongly disagree with these actions. You both (Butler and Young) have shown disrespect for Dr. Short-Powell and others during board meetings and now.”
The group is also asking the District Attorney to investigate: More than $1 million in cost overruns at Crozier Middle School for the construction of the Fine Arts Building. Their concerns center on the bidding process, the use of insurance money and $450,000 in federal asbestos abatement funds.The internal audit also shows that district staff routinely moved large sums of money without Board approval. In some instances, the auditors could not determine where the money was booked.
“This excessive spending, lack of senior level management oversight and failure to improve previously evaluated areas during Ms. Short Powell’s administration contributed to our Board’s decision not to renew her contract and the contract of the General Counselor,” said Butler.
With a considerable number of building projects within the district, the group is also concerned with the construction bidding process and nearly $1 million in contractor costs associated with the development of a Learning Village at La Tijera Elementary School. According to Butler, the project was inadequately monitored by the previous administration and is beset with suspicious activity, including:
- The demolition of major buildings, without Board approval at a cost of $800,000.
- The unauthorized and unreported sale of scrap metal by staff at a net of $10,000, according to anonymous sources
- The “disappearance” of several district-owned bungalows
- The purchase of new, additional bungalows, many of which are in storage
“As a result of the questionable spending practices, our Board was forced to cut critical programs in order to balance the budget; something we did not want to do,” said Young. “We will weather the storm; however we must make sure that construction projects and administrative spending is monitored in a way that enables us to avoid the difficult decisions we had to make in our budget meeting last week.”
Teachers also support the Board’s action in balancing the budget. Aisha Blanchard-Young, President of the Inglewood Teachers Association, added, “We refuse to sit idly as district officials attempt to balance the budget on the backs of teachers and at the expense of students. The education of our students is too important to allow questionable practices to derail the progress we have made within our district. In this time of economic crisis and budget shortfalls, four of our Board members took the bold step of voting to refuse to send layoff notices to any of the district’s teachers, and we applaud them for their action.”
IUSD with a budget of $126 million in the general fund, has 21 schools, nearly 700 teachers and serves more than 14,000 students. Inglewood Unified School District, Interim Superintendent, Dr. Joice B. Lewis stated she had no comment as she did not attend the press conference.
Joyce Randall who attended the conference and is also running for a seat on the board stated the IUSD must still address the lawsuits filed regarding the early terminations of administration.
Attorney Hopkins office submitted a rebuttal statement to Inglewood Today in response to the press conference. An excerpt of the response states: The board of education must vote on items in order for contractors to be paid or for action to occur per the county office of education.
The County Office of Education (LACOE) is investigating the Board’s conference expenditures per a report, Preliminary Review of Expenditures of Member of the Board of Education, July 1, 2005-June 30, 2008. The review began in November 2008. The report addresses specifics expenditures by the Board members only. There are generally no concerns about the management of the district by staff. The Board was reported to LACOE for inappropriate expenditures and not repaying funds.
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