(See pdf below)
Re “ACLU Enters the Case of Culver Parking Lot High School”
Exactly on time, the School District responded yesterday to a voluminous July 23 Public Records Act request from the American Civil Liberties Union regarding the status of preparations for the new parking lot home of Culver Park High School.
Contents were not disclosed.
It is not known whether the message was a down payment on a subsequent letter that would more fully comply with the ACLU’s quest for eight separate, detailed responses.
According to state law, the District has up to 14 days, from the date of receipt, to answer.
In the opening paragraph of his three-page letter, Brooks Allen, Director of Education Advocacy for the ACLU, was clear about why he believed the latest message was necessary:
“On June 21, 2012, I wrote the enclosed letter to former Superintendent Jaffe requesting information about the steps Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) has taken to ensure all Culver Park High School (CPHS) students will attend a school in 2012-13 that meets all applicable health and safety standards. Superintendent Jaffe replied on June 27 and described some “refurbishing and remodeling” projects that are scheduled for this summer. While I appreciated the quick response, critical questions remain unanswered.”
Ever since the School District announced, softly, unobtrusively, last spring that Culver Park, a continuation school for 16 to 18 year olds, was being evacuated – seemingly against the will of all Culver Park-pertinent parties – and shifted to the glamour-deficient parking lot behind Farragut School, specific information from the District has been scanty.
Why the ACLU Is Trying Again
Practically all actions involving Culver Park have been off-stage, sotto voce.
Plans for and descriptions of the strongly needed upgrades for the parking lot bungalows have been sealed inside vague comments.
This was the motivation behind the latest letter from the ACLU, on the case since the school term ended in June.
The prickly nature of the correspondence scarcely could have been timed worse for the School District, in the midst of a steady shuffling of administrators at the top.
The ACLU’s first letter was addressed to now-retired Supt. Patti Jaffe. The most recent, to Asst. Supt. Eileen Carroll, who was in charge of the District on July 23, with the title Interim Superintendent. She has returned to her assistant super role since new Supt. Dave LaRose arrived two days ago.
Ms. Carroll promised that yesterday’s response carried “more details” than the last correspondence with the ACLU.
Yesterday morning at 9 o’clock, Mr. LaRose, Ms. Carroll and others toured the parking lot – possibly the first time that phrasing has been put together.
Monday will mark 14 days, a deadline, since the ACLU’s letter was sent.
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