Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 1, No. 11 - November 14, 2019
Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............5
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................6
Classifieds............................2
Entertainment......................2
Food.......................................7
Hawthorne............................3
Lawndale..............................4
Inglewood.............................5
Legals.................................6,7
Pets........................................8
Weekend
Forecast
Bio-Flex Graduates Recognized
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognized the first graduates of the South Bay Workforce Investment Board Bio-Flex Pre-Apprenticeship program at a special breakfast reception and formal
board presentation at the Hall of Administration. Photo: SBWIB
New Staff and Superintendent for
Inglewood Unified School District
By Haleemon Anderson
With the formal contracts and compensation
affirmed at last week’s meeting, the
transformation of the Inglewood Unified
School District Board is complete. All three
executive positions on the administrative
cabinet are now filled, as is the position of
State Administrator.
Chief Human Resources Officer Hedieh
Khajavi replaces Nora Roque. Dr. Bernadette
C. Lewis is Chief Academic Officer,
replacing Dr. Carmen Beck;, and Christine
Dacanay replaces Eugenio Villa as Chief
Business Officer.
The top position, vacated with the retirement
of Dr. Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana,
is being covered by Deputy Superintendent of
Los Angeles County Schools, Dr. Erika Torres.
Torres becomes the sixth state appointee to
helm the District in as many years.
Melendez’ exit, after two years, fell shy
of her stated goal of returning the District to
local control. While making some gains in
stabilizing budget deficits and a small uptick
in test scores, the District still faces challenges
-- including a shortage of credentialed teachers
and an influx of charter schools.
Torres announced a restructuring of the
organizational chart for District leadership,
and the creation of an executive position—
Director of Operations. “The position will
focus on safety in our schools and in the
community,” said Torres. “School safety will
be moved under Operations.”
Additionally, Torres talked about refocusing
efforts on enrollment. “We have to be strategic
in monitoring our charter schools,” she said.
“We want to find ways to reengage students
who have left our schools.”
The advisory wing of the Board is also
undergoing change, with Area 5 Trustee Dr.
D’Artagnan Scorza moving into the role of Board
President. The other continuing members include
Immediate Past President Dr. Carliss McGhee,
Trustee Area 2; Board Vice President Dionne
Faulk, Trustee Area 1; and Board Member
Margaret Evans, Trustee Area 4. Mrs. Alice
Grisby holds a provisional appointment to the
seat vacated by Board Member Melody Ngaue-
Tu’uholoaki, Trustee Area 3. Scorza thanked
Melendez for her service, saying, “We are on
the rise and have made significant progress.”
Board Member Evans announced a 5K Walk
and Run to be scheduled for the spring. “Our
goal is to get 100 participants from each school,”
said Evans. She said the event will be part of
an initiative to promote strong attendance as a
component of health and wellness throughout
the district.
Student representatives from City Honors
and Inglewood High gave updates on campus
activities. Montana Lemonious-Craig is
helping to organize a Blood Drive at City
Honors on Dec. 4. The senior wide receiver
and captain of City Honors basketball and
football teams, carries a 3.9 GPA. In his spare
time, he is involved with the Dodgers RBI
program and the Robotics Club.
Virginia Williams is ASB President at
Inglewood High. She reported on a successful
college and career fair last month, with over
45 colleges and companies participating. Williams
congratulated the Inglewood Sentinels
on their undefeated season (10-0) and their
drive to the playoffs.
The Inglewood Unified School District
Board meets once monthly. The next regular
meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec.11,
at 5:30 p.m. at 401 S. Inglewood Avenue, in
the Dr. Ernest Shaw Board Room. •
Dr.Erika Torres is the new State Administrator for Inglewood
Unified School District.
Friday
Partly
Cloudy
66˚/55˚
Saturday
Sunny
72˚/59˚
Sunday
Sunny
81˚/59˚
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