Judge Bars Hiring of Inglewood School Chief

A judge issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday that prevents three Inglewood school board members from seeking to hire a new superintendent but expires in two weeks, just days before the terms of two of the board members end.

The Inglewood Unified School District board called a special meeting Wednesday to consider hiring a new superintendent, but board members were forced to call a recess pending the outcome of the Los Angeles Superior Court injunction sought by board members Thomasina Reed and Loystene Irvin and embattled Supt. McKinley Nash.

A court hearing has been scheduled for June 18, but that may become moot once a new board is in place. Plans to hire a new superintendent have also been preempted by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, which on Tuesday appointed a fiscal advisor to the district to halt efforts to hire a new superintendent while the district undergoes an audit.

About 150 Inglewood residents and school district employees along with the two new school board candidates attended the hastily called meeting to voice concerns about the outgoing school board’s plans. Board members traded insults, occasionally mocking one another while dozens of people addressed the board about its proposal.

Many of the speakers criticized Inglewood High School Principal Kenneth Crowe, who several believed would replace Nash as superintendent. Board members would not confirm whether Crowe was a candidate for the job, but said their plan did not exceed the $50,000 contractual limit imposed by the county while officials review Inglewood’s finances.

“Bringing Nash back would absolutely be a disaster for this district,” said Larry Aubry, who on Tuesday lost his bid for a third term to newly elected member Eveline Ross. “I’ve been looking for alternatives. This [restraining order] is so sad and unfortunate for Inglewood.”

Nash supporters sought to bring him back. Area ministers voiced their support of Nash and members of the Inglewood Teachers Assn. threatened to take legal action if the board hired someone new.

The teacher’s union has vehemently criticized board members Gloria Gray, Dexter Henderson and Aubry for ousting Nash in April. In Tuesday’s election, the organization endorsed newcomer Ross, who said she would vote to bring back Nash as superintendent if elected. They have also supported newcomer Alice Grigsby who also supports Nash.

Teachers union President Shirley Mims threatened to seek a recall of board President Gray, who lost a bid for City Council Tuesday. She also said the union would march into Henderson’s workplace and publicize his school board decision if he tried to hire a new superintendent during his last three weeks on the board.

“You need to know teachers make a difference in the district,” Mims said.

Not everyone at the meeting was concerned about the fate of the superintendent. In their remarks, non-teaching employees focused on the county intervention and expressed concerns about a 6% raised approved by the board, which has been stalled by the county’s audit and could be rescinded.