Dispute Accompanies Inglewood Vote : Schools to Honor Ex-Trustee

After a debate charged with tension from past and present political conflicts, Inglewood school board members have voted, 3 to 1, to name their meeting room after former board member Ernest Shaw, who died last September.

Shaw was elected in 1985. He served as board president and vice president during a tumultuous period when he and other board members became targets of criticism and recall efforts.

Shaw had a 30-year career as a teacher and administrator in the Los Angeles Unified School District. His numerous community activities included service on the advisory council of the Nickerson Gardens housing complex in south Los Angeles. He died of a heart attack at 60, hours after attending an Inglewood school board meeting.

Opponents agreed that Shaw’s service should be recognized, but said naming the board room after him goes too far. The head of the PTA called the decision “a slap in the face” to her group, which often had been at odds with Shaw.

Critics Called ‘Petty’

But proponents said Shaw merited the honor and called critics “petty.”

Shaw’s board allies, supporters and family members have lobbied to have the room named for Shaw since the board first discussed the proposal last year. They cited his volunteer activities for Inglewood and Los Angeles schools, service organizations and neighborhood groups. His family prepared a list of Shaw’s honors, achievements, and commendations from area politicians, and said Shaw served school employees and parents as a “mentor and adviser 24 hours a day.”

Dissenting board member Zyra McCloud and community activists favored honoring him with a plaque and a photograph in the district central offices. They said naming the board room was too major an honor for someone who served only two years on the board and who was often at the center of political conflict.

At Monday’s meeting, board members Larry Aubry, Caroline Coleman and Lois Hill-Hale voted to name the board room for Shaw and install a plaque and photograph at the headquarters. (There is one vacancy on the five-member board.)

During his time on the board, Shaw voted with Coleman and William Dorn in a majority that critics accused of trying to control the district for political gain.

Majority’s Actions

In 1985, that majority abruptly voted to fire Supt. Rex Fortune; Fortune and his supporters said it was because the superintendent resisted pressure to make a political appointment. But after community uproar, Shaw cast the deciding vote to rehire the superintendent. In 1987, the three-member board majority also pushed through a major pay increase--14% over two years--for teachers, a decision that split the community and has been blamed for the district’s current financial woes.

At a board meeting earlier this month, Coleman and Hill-Hale urged the board to name the board room after Shaw. Board member McCloud, whose opposition to Shaw and Coleman dates back to her days as a PTA activist, opposed the proposal, as did Aubry.

But Aubry changed his position Monday, saying he had held off because he hoped conflict over the proposal would be resolved.

“I would hate for this decision to be made in an atmosphere of acrimony,” Aubry said, adding that he had heard praise of Shaw from parents throughout Los Angeles County. “You cannot please all of the people all of the time.”

As members of Shaw’s family murmured in assent, Hill-Hale said: “ A plaque does not go far enough for a man who has done so much for the district. We have to honor people who go beyond the call of duty.”

Objections Documented

McCloud said the decision ignored board policy. She submitted a package of documents to board President Caroline Coleman detailing her objections, and said that all past board members deserve recognition, including one--Ted F. Merrill--who served 20 years.

PTA President Rosalyn Miller said the decision goes “against most of the wishes of parent and PTA community” who, she said, had been in conflict with Shaw throughout his tenure.

“I felt like it was a slap in the face,” she said. “Our thing was, yes, you should give him recognition, but what has he done? They should have consulted further with the community. Nobody had any feelings against giving him a plaque.”

The district will hold a formal ceremony commemorating Shaw Sept. 13 at 4 p.m.