The watchdog at L.A. Unified

Amid allegations of overbilling, environmental hazards and spiraling costs at the Belmont Learning Center in downtown L.A. in the late 1990s, the state Legislature created a separate investigative office within the Los Angeles Unified School District. The new inspector general was authorized to issue subpoenas, and charged with examining operations in the district with a piercing and unimpeded eye. But the position was authorized for only 15 years, until the end of 2014.

The first inspector general reported on serious shortfalls in accountability and oversight at Belmont. Four employees left the school district after he made his findings known, and five were placed on extended administrative leave. Subsequent audits and investigations that went beyond Belmont uncovered costly waste in the purchase of textbooks, misuse of federal money intended to feed students and the misappropriation of $200,000 that led to the criminal conviction of a charter operator.

The relationship between the inspector general and L.A. Unified leaders has at times been understandably tense; later legislation unfortunately weakened the investigator’s authority. Still, it’s to L.A. Unified’s credit that the district is backing legislation to extend the office for an additional 10 years. The need is ongoing: The current inspector general is now examining the district’s troubling decision to purchase hundreds of thousands of iPads without first resolving major concerns.

Jess Womack, who as inspector general from 2010 to 2012 oversaw the cafeteria, textbook and charter school probes, has offered wise suggestions for strengthening AB 1825. Because of the pressures the inspector general faces while investigating delicate or controversial topics that might reflect poorly on his or her bosses, Womack says the appointment should come with a three-year contract. That was the way the office was set up originally, but it was one of the aspects of the law that was later weakened.

Terminating the contract before those years pass should require a supermajority vote of the school board. The inspector general also needs clear subpoena authority for use in audits as well as investigations. Womack said his attempts to audit charter schools were hampered by the lack of clear legal authority.

These changes are not only reasonable but desirable. An inspector general with three years of job security is less likely to shy away from controversial investigations. And since the original legislation was written, the number of charter schools has grown astronomically; better oversight is a necessity.

The bill’s author, Adrin Nazarian (D-Sherman Oaks), should add these useful provisions to his worthwhile legislation.

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Amid allegations of overbilling, environmental hazards and spiraling costs at the Belmont Learning Center in downtown L.A. in the late 1990s, the state Legislature created a separate investigative office within the Los Angeles Unified School District. The new inspector general was authorized to issue subpoenas, and charged with examining operations in the Los Angeles Unified School District with a piercing and unimpeded eye. But the position was authorized for only 15 years, until the end of 2014.

The first inspector general reported on serious shortfalls in accountability and oversight at Belmont. Four employees left the school district after he made his findings known, and five were placed on extended administrative leave. Subsequent audits and investigations that went beyond Belmont uncovered costly waste in the purchase of textbooks, misuse of federal money intended to feed students and the misappropriation of $200,000 that led to the criminal conviction of a charter operator.

The relationship between the inspector general and L.A. Unified leaders has at times been understandably tense; later legislation unfortunately weakened the investigator’s authority. Still, it’s to L.A. Unified’s credit that the district is backing legislation to extend the office for an additional 10 years. The need is ongoing: The current inspector general is now examining the district’s troubling decision to purchase hundreds of thousands of iPads without first resolving major concerns.

Jess Womack, who as inspector general from 2010 to 2012 oversaw the cafeteria, textbook and charter school probes, has offered wise suggestions for strengthening AB 1825. Because of the pressures the inspector general faces while investigating delicate or controversial topics that might reflect poorly on his or her bosses, Womack says the appointment should come with a three-year contract. That was the way the office was set up originally, but it was one of the aspects of the law that was later weakened.

Terminating the contract before those years pass should require a supermajority vote of the school board. The inspector general also needs clear subpoena authority for use in audits as well as investigations. Womack said his attempts to audit charter schools were hampered by the lack of clear legal authority.

These changes are not only reasonable but desirable. An inspector general with three years of job security is less likely to shy away from controversial investigations. And since the original legislation was written, the number of charter schools has grown astronomically; better oversight is a necessity.

The bill’s author, Adrin Nazarian (D-Sherman Oaks), should add these useful provisions to his worthwhile legislation.