LAUSD recommends Denial of Charter Renewal for Controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 is Charter renewal time for the controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School in El Sereno and the recommendation from the professional staff of LAUSD (like in 2007) is  ....

9. Board of Education Report No. 217 – 11/12   PUBLIC HEARING

Charter Schools Division

(Denial of the Renewal of the Charter for Xinaxcalmecac Academia Semillas del Pueblo and 

Amendment to Expand to Grades 9-12)  

Recommends the denial of the renewal of the charter petition and amendment to expand to grades 

9-12 for a K-8 grade, 311 student school located at 4970 and 4990 Huntington Drive in the City of 

Los Angeles and the adoption of the Findings of Fact.

But like in 2007, will the Latino Political Community seek to overturn the recommendation of the professional overseers of charter schools within LAUSD? Some thoughts ....... 

Controversial Academia Semillas del Pueblo Principal Marcos Aguilar and his followers have sought to maintain a close relationship with CD 14 City Councilman Jose Huizar. Aguilar and his followers were big supporters of the councilman's recent re-election, suppling voters and money for the campaign.

 Within the last few years, that relationship helped Aguilar gain access to the old El Sereno Library (yellow building) next to the decades old Hecho En Mexico Restaurant on Huntington Drive. Yet within the last several months, a feud over parking access has turned into a "war of defamation" between the two establishments. But one should note that the popular eatery (and its liquor license) were an established community dining destination long before Academia Semillas del Pueblo moved in on both sides of its location. Recently, Aguilar has asked his student parents to boycott the eatery over supposed "adult entertainment" (charges denied by the owners), to the consternation of many in the El Sereno Community.    

 In 2012 unlike 2007,  Marcos Aguilar and his followers will not have the likes of KABC 790 AM Talk Show Host Doug McIntyre, reporter Sandy Wells and White America to blame for its demise as a fail Charter School. If anything, Aguilar's Charter School has become just another political special interest that has put its leftist agenda before truly educating its student charges. Recently, Aguilar has been working with Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy/ Mountain Recreation Conservation Authority Ranger/ Strongman Joe Edmiston on "curriculum" for its "market-rate purchase" of "surplus city property" on Elephant Hill. Speculation has been rampant for years that Aguilar wants "open space acreage" somewhere in the El Sereno area to build his ideal campus /collective..     

For the students of Academia, the practice of learning the ancient ways still takes precedence over test scores.. As the LA Times reports, Academia is still ranked in the lowest ten percent based upon its most recent API scores. Meanwhile, some parents within the Academia Collective are opening questioning the finances behind Marcos and his wife Minnie Ferguson educational commune. In recent years, Academia open a supposed community coffee shop only to see it shuttered. Back in 2007, questions pertaining to the non-profit that oversaw the day to day operations of Academia, were raised by former LAUSD School Board member Mike Lansing and former Mayor Sam Blogger Zuma Dogg. Thus on Tuesday, while test scores and questionable business issues remain problematic some fives years later at Academia, the spotlight will on the Board of Education and its integrity to end this educational failure.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14