LAUSD BD1 School Board Endorsement: Sherlett Hendy Newbill

“This community deserves more than this”

– The late Marguerite LaMotte

LAUSD’s Board District 1 was previously represented by the late Marguerite LaMotte. While her tenure predates my time as an LAUSD watchdog, she is remembered by many as a passionate leader who fought hard for the students she referenced as “my babies.”

After LaMotte died in 2013, Dr. George McKenna won a special election the following year against Alex Johnson, a lackey of the Charter School Industry associated with Mark Ridley-Thomas. McKenna’s victory provided an important voice against failing charter school operators, but his understated style sometimes caused him to be pushed aside on a Board full of vultures. His office also developed a reputation for having poor constituent services.

Early in the election cycle, McKenna filed to run for re-election but later decided that he would retire. This late change of plans has introduced chaos into the transition with seven people qualifying for the ballot and pro-public education forces failing to unify behind one candidate.

After years of timid leadership, BD1 deserves a Board Member who can step up immediately and strongly represent the interests of the constituents. Are any of the candidates up to the task?

Kahllid Al-Alim - Concerning

I wrote the original draft of this article making the point that both Sherlett Hendy Newbill and Kahllid Al-Alim are capable of fighting for the families of BD1. I noted that they bring different qualifications to the table and that either of them would have made an excellent Board Member. However, based on the need for an activist parent's voice on the Board’s dais and his willingness to call out the Superintendent’s failures, I planned to endorse Al-Alim for the primary.

Those plans changed when I was forwarded the following screenshot on Twitter:

The book that Al-Alim thought should be mandatory as part of the Black Student Achievement Plan is published by the Nation of Islam and is “widely criticized for being antisemitic.” Henry Louis Gates, Jr., head of the Department of Afro-American Studies at Harvard University, called the book "The Bible of new antisemitism" and added that "the book massively misinterprets the historical record, largely through a process of cunningly selective quotations of often reputable sources".

After I asked Al-Alim to address the issue, I was provided with the following statement:

I want to apologize for my posts about the Farrakhan book. I was wrong. I have connected with educators and community members and have since learned about the issues. I fully rescind that post. It has no place in our schools.

I also apologize for my likes on social media of graphic content. It was inappropriate. I will never do that again.

I have spent my life fighting against antisemitism, anti-arab hate, Islamophobia, and all forms of oppression. I have spent my life fighting for the equality of all people. There is a very long history of Jewish and Black people backing each other and working in solidarity for justice. I want to continue that important work.

Just as when I condemned the Charter School Industry’s use of anti-Semitism against Scott Schmerelson in the 2020 election, I will say that the endorsement of a book that promotes bigoted tropes disqualifies Al-Alim now. While I do appreciate that he admits that he was wrong and rescinds the post, the fact that he once advocated making the book part of the LAUSD curriculum is still concerning and cannot be ignored.

It is commendable that Al-Alim dedicates himself to the important work of continuing the “very long history of Jewish and Black people backing each other and working in solidarity for justice” and hope that he follows through. However, from day one, all the students of the District deserve to know that they are represented and Al-Alim’s Tweet has put that in jeopardy. Hate might not be what is in Kahllid's heart, but that will certainly be the perception for many.

Al-Alim responded to questions about PROP-39 Co-Locations, Special Education, and Governance. While his answers showed a command of the issues and a willingness to fight for public school students in South Los Angeles, they cannot compensate for the recent revelations. That is unfortunate for the children of the LAUSD because his long history of parent activism showed that he could have provided a voice that is sorely needed on the Board.

Didi Watts - No

The only two people listed as endorsees on Watts’ campaign website are LAUSD Board Members Nick Melvoin and Tanya Ortiz Franklin, leaving no doubt that she is in the race to regain the majority for the Charter School Industry. She has also been the beneficiary of $280,514.64 of independent expenditures from a group supporting her and the ethically challenged Graciela Ortiz, who was recently sued by a former student alleging that she did not take the steps necessary to protect the minor from a sexual assault by gunpoint.

Watts is currently the Chief of Staff for Franklin, an office that was silent as the District put forth a plan to evict the students of Orville Wright STEAM Magnet, 60% of whom are black or African American, from their newly renovated campus so that a charter school could move in. She is now asking to represent these same South Los Angeles students.

The candidate’s failure to answer any of the questions in the LAUSD Candidate Forum deprives the voters of knowing her views on important issues facing the district. This failure to engage provides a final reason to look elsewhere on the ballot.

Rina Tambor - Who Knows?

Tambor was also unresponsive to the questions in the LAUSD Candidate Forum series. Her website is also sparse on details, though it does say that she was a teacher in New York City. Tambor did not participate in a candidate forum last week that was attended by all of her opponents except for DeWayne Davis. How does she expect anyone to feel that they have enough information to vote for her?

Christian Flagg - Probably Not

Flagg is the final candidate who did not respond to any of the Candidate Forum questions. That is unfortunate because his performance at the candidate forum showed that he has the fight that the BD1 needs. His website promises that he “will UNAPOLOGETICALLY fight for Black and Brown students and families to protect them in the short term and empower them for the long term” and includes lofty goals. What is missing is specifics. There is just not enough meat on the bones to support Flagg’s candidacy.

John Aaron Brasfield - Probably Not

Brasfield was a frequent participant in the LAUSD Candidate Forum, answering questions about PROP-39 Co-Locations, Special Education, Governance, and Student Safety. The only subject that he skipped was the Budget. He was strongest when responding to questions about Special Education, though I was perplexed by his wanting to start a charter school to specialize in serving these students. Why wouldn’t this be a District school?

I was concerned by his performance at the candidate forum as his answers did not always make it seem that he had a firm grasp on the issues. His demeanor was also too laid back to build confidence in his leadership abilities.

DeWayne Davis - Maybe

Davis answered the questions about PROP-39 Co-Locations and Special Education. Unfortunately, he did not answer additional questions because his answers displayed his experience as an LAUSD administrator, even if some of them, especially the ones about charter schools, seemed like he was playing it too safe. He was also not a participant in the online candidate forum which would have given him another opportunity to show his aptitude for issues facing the District.

Sherlett Hendy Newbill - Recommended

At the online forum, Newbill probably had the strongest performance. Her experience as a policy advisor in Dr. McKenna’s office was on display as she was the only candidate to mention the reason for the District’s sudden suspension of contracts with outside agencies. In my opinion, her biggest misstep was not recognizing the damage the Superintendent has caused with his lack of transparency.

I have also met with Newbill in a small group setting with other activists and was impressed with her confidence and knowledge of issues facing the district. Unfortunately, she has only responded to the LAUSD Candidate Forum questions on Special Education, and these answers were terse. She missed an opportunity to show her stuff.

PROP-39 Co-Locations:

Special Education:

Governance:

Safety:

The Budget:

There is a reason that Newbill has racked up endorsements from the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Diane Ravitch, and Parents Supporting Teachers; she is well qualified and would make an excellent Board Member. I join them in urging the voters of BD1 to support her candidacy.

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Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him “a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles.” For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.