Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............3
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................7
Classifieds............................3
Entertainment......................2
Pets........................................5
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Lawndale..............................4
Legals.................................4,6
Looking Up...........................7
Weekend
Forecast
LA Stadium Gets Topped Out
Last week was the topping out ceremony for the LA Stadium commemorating the placement of the highest steel beam on the structure. Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, project principals and LA Rams
and Chargers officials were among those in attendance. The final beam for the stadium bowl is 42 feet long and weighs 12,000 pounds. Tradition calls for an evergreen tree to be placed on the beam to
symbolize good fortune, continued growth and a safe work environment. Photo by Hiro Ueno, LASED. •
School Police Get Positive Report
at End-of-Year Board Meeting
By Haleemon Anderson
Inglewood School Board President Margaret
Turner-Evans opened a reception prior to
the regular meeting last week, recognizing
members of the school police force. “I appreciate
this job is not easy, so we honor you
today,” she said.
Officer Roger Minor (ret.) received commendation
for 38 years of service. Minor has
served the last six years as a reserve, having
retired in 2012. Lieutenant Timothy Marks
was honored for eight years with Inglewood
Unified School District.
In a presentation during the meeting, Chief
of School Police William Carter, along with
the president of Inglewood Rotary, honored
the officers. Carter lauded Officer Minor, saying,
“He has given his heart and soul to the
District.” Carter said Minor was instrumental
in keeping the District going during accreditation.
“The officers do a lot of coaching and
mentoring,” he noted. “The work we do is
significant to the development of our kids.”
Staff presented the 2018-’19 adopted budget.
Board members D’Artagnan Scorza and Carliss
McGhee thanked staff for working to deliver
a balanced budget. Chief Business Officer
Eugenio Villa indicated that priorities for the
coming year include spending Los Angeles
World Airports (LAWA) funds on facilities
and renovation, and leveraging other external
funds from developer fees, redevelopment
funds and Measure GG to complete projects
already underway.
“Our focus is on breaking even and starting
to build our reserves by next year,” said
Villa. The budget for the coming year includes
no fiscal relief or investment from the State
of California, according to the report. The
District had been able to reduce a looming
deficit by several million dollars by reducing
management and staff positions and using
health benefit savings.
In public comments, union members objected
to agenda items renewing contracts for State
Administrator Dr. Thelma Melendez de Santa
Ana; Director of Human Resources Nora
Roque; Chief Academic Officer Dr. Carmen
Beck; and Chief Business Officer Eugenio
Villa. Union representative Chris Graeber
objected to the action, saying it could cause
instability and financial waste, as there is likely
to be a new state superintendent of education
with the November election.
John Hughes from the teachers’ union objected,
saying the Brown Act prohibits salary
discussion or action at a special meeting. “You
cannot approve salaries,” he said. Melendez
clarified that the meeting had been on the
calendar for a year and did not constitute a
special meeting (one called within a 72-hour
window).
In other action, the Board approved the
renewal of charter status for Wilder Academy
Charter schools. The organization runs an
elementary and middle school in Inglewood.
Board member D’Artagnan Scorza pointed
out that Wilder was the first charter school
to be approved in the district. “We want to
commend them on the work they’ve done in
the district,” he said.
At a previous meeting on June 20, Villa
reported the results of a district-wide survey
to determine if voters would support a parcel
tax on the upcoming November ballot. The
survey polled 400 households by phone in
May and June. Leadership has been floating
the idea of a parcel tax, said Villa. He noted
that 22 of 24 such measures on last year’s
June ballot were successful. “That tells you
voters are still supportive of education and
tax measures to support it,” he said.
The report, by ISOM Advisors, indicated
See School Board, page 3
Inglewood School Board honors officers at pre-meeting reception. Pictured left to right: State Administrator Thelma Melendez de
Santa Ana, Chief William Carter, Lieutenant Timothy Marks, Officer Roger Minor, Incoming President Margaret Turner-Evans, Outgoing
President Carliss McGhee.
Friday
Sunny
89˚/76˚
Saturday
Partly
Cloudy
91˚/72˚
Sunday
Sunny
81˚/69˚
The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
Daily News on a Weekly Basis - Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - July 5, 2018