Formal or Informal?
The root problem appears to have been that the widow at the helm may have been running the Star Academy with lofty educational ideology transcending hardheaded business sense on the priority list. The accent, says the city, was on casual. Hence, at the end of the past summer, the school was saddled what amounted to an eviction notice. It was delivered poignantly, however, with a heavier-than-usual heart. The Academy was not likely to be forced into the street. But it would be nudged. That seemed to be City Halls message. This plunged the families of the several dozen students enrolled in the six-upper-grades Academy into crisis mode. Were their children going to be stranded in the middle of a term?
Former Mayor Intercedes
As Nov. 5 a Sunday of all days drew closer, Ed Wolkowitz, not incidentally a lawyer as well as former mayor of Culver City, began scootching around in his Century City office. Mr. Wolkowitzs wife, Marla, a member of the School Board, is an employee of the next-door Star Eco Station, widely regarded as a cultural and educational asset to the community. As Mr. Wolkowitz noted this afternoon for thefrontpageonline.com, the two institutions are owned by the Bozzi family, in addition to sharing living space. They are inextricably linked, he said. This is a connection the school does not seem keen to acknowledge. In the recent past, the relationship, as perceived by the community, has been clouded. The two facilities have existed behind a veiled philosophy featuring a tension between interlocking purposes and separate operations. The perhaps self-evidently named Eco Station is described as a wildlife refuge for exotic animals while also serving as an environmental classroom. The Star Academy emphasizes environmental values and student independence. Anyone who has been to the Eco Station, said Mr. Wolkowitz, could see what a jewel it is. The Eco Station is one of Culver Citys primary destinations. It may not be on the order of the Fox Hills Mall. But people dont come to Culver City to see trucks drive in and out of Moldex (neighbor to the two Star operations.)
Postscript
One recent quiet and sunny afternoon in his high-rise office, Mr. Wolkowitz was ruminating about the troubled state of the Star family. Surely, he reasoned to himself and others, City Hall has a cure within its grasp. Lifting his favorite telephone, he dialed City Hall to see whom he could interest in resolving what Mr. Wolkowitz views as a vexing dilemma for the whole community. Remaining off-stage, he has been talking. Embryonic momentum appears to be under way to stave off the eviction. According to City Hall sources, The Academy wishes it had done some things differently. Can the Academy be saved at its present address? The calendar says that the Star Academy has 18 days left at 10101 if City Hall is motivated to enforce the City Councils ruling.
What can other citizens do? Said Mr. Wolkowitz: We have a City Council whose members say they are accessible. Perhaps people should access the Council, see how accessible they are, and see if they can interest them in taking some action.
