Report 2015-101 Recommendation 4 Responses

Report 2015-101: Inglewood Unified School District: The State Superintendent of Public Instruction Needs to Better Communicate His Approach for Reforming the District (Release Date: November 2015)

Recommendation #4 To: Education, Department of

To provide the public an opportunity to fully understand the requirements for and the progress made toward restoring local control to the district's governing board, the state superintendent should direct his state administrator to establish regular advisory board agenda items to answer the public's questions concerning the efforts made toward achieving the exit criteria.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2018

At the January 24, 2018 Special Board Meeting and Workshop, a mid-year review report was provided for each operational area in the July 2017 FCMAT comprehensive follow-up review. This meeting served to update the public regarding the status and progress made by the district.

On September 17, 2018, the Governor signed Assembly Bill 1840, Chapter 426 (2018) that shifted duties and revised statutory provisions relating to oversight of school districts with emergency loans, including the Inglewood Unified School District (Inglewood). Education Code, Section 41320.1 now requires the following:

The administrator shall serve under the direction and supervision of the county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from both the Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee, until terminated by the county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from both the Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee, at their discretion.

As a result of this change in law, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction is transitioning direct oversight for Inglewood to the Los Angeles County Office of Education effective September 17, 2018.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Resolved

Although not fully implemented, we agree that the reassignment of responsibility for Inglewood's state administrator to the county superintendent does "resolve" our recommendation.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2017

Education has directed the State Administrator to establish regular advisory board agenda items to answer the public's questions and concerns. The district has agreed to provide regular advisory board items to provide the public and the board with updates on progress being made in implementing the FCMAT recommendations and standards.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

1-Year Agency Response

As previously reported as an update to the CSA, the district's school board agendas now tie most of the board actions to one or more FCMAT standards. In addition to demonstrating to the public how the district is moving towards recovery, related discussions are promoted at the board meetings. Furthermore, advisory board members are able to pull items from the agenda for discussion and public comment regarding any item or strategy the district is undertaking towards recovery.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken

As we stated in our assessment of Education's six-month response, we do not see evidence of the state administrator creating a regularly-occurring board agenda item to discuss efforts made toward achieving exit criteria.

6-Month Agency Response

As included on the February 2016 board agenda, the State Administrator presented and approved the district recovery plan. The district's school board agendas now tie most of the board actions to one or more FCMAT standards. In addition to demonstrating to the public how the district's actions are moving the district towards recovery, this promotes discussion about recovery at the board meetings. Furthermore, advisory board members are able to pull items for discussion from the agenda and the public is able to comment regarding any item or strategy the district is undertaking. This continually allows board members and the public regular information regarding the district's strategies towards recovery. Education will continue to work with the State Administrator to ensure that the public is provided opportunities to discuss the district's progress for regaining local control at board meetings.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

We did not see evidence of the state administrator's effort to establish regular advisory board agenda items to answer the public's questions concerning the efforts made toward achieving the exit criteria.

60-Day Agency Response

Education has discussed the recommendation with Dr. Matthews. After he has identified the district's strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, as described in his 60- and 90-day entry plan, Education will meet with him to discuss how the district could periodically place an item on the agenda to share information related to the district's progress for regaining local control.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken

All Recommendations in 2015-101

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.