Compton : Schools Chief Explains Call to Remove Board Members

The acting Compton schools chief said this week that he has no plans to seek the removal of the current school board of the Compton Unified School District. State-appointed Administrator Stanley G. Oswalt clarified earlier statements in the wake of angry reaction from local officials.

In previous remarks, Oswalt had argued for legislation that would automatically remove board members who allowed their school districts to become insolvent. On Tuesday, however, Oswalt said he was not referring specifically to Compton Unified, but to future cases. Such a retroactive regulation for Compton would be unfair, he said.

Compton schools came under state control in July as a condition of a $10.5-million emergency loan.

“I was simply stating that I believe that it is critical to have a state administrator appointed with the necessary authority to remove all obstacles to governing the school district,” Oswalt said.

Board member Amen Rahh was among those dissatisfied with Oswalt’s explanation. “Not only does he want to dismiss the board, he wants to dismiss the community,” Rahh said.