Revocation of NVMI Charter Is "In Process"

“Like passengers on a bus that’s low on gas with failing brakes on a downhill trajectory, the students recently removed from NVMI and those still aboard deserve truthful alerts and all the help they can get, without delay.”

– Cheryl Ortega

A well-functioning organization led by strong leadership would have never purposefully put itself into a position where it did not have the facilities it needed to operate. Yet, that is precisely where the North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) finds itself now.

As early as January, NVMI complained publicly that they could not afford the space that the LAUSD was offering in response to the school's demand for space using PROP-39. Instead of immediately finding a workable solution, “Superintendent” Mark Ryan spent months chasing the possibility of moving the charter school to the grounds of the National Guard in the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin. It was only after this plan failed that NVMI turned its attention to leasing space at the LACCD’s Los Angeles Mission College.

When the deadline arrived for NVMI to give a final answer about the PROP-39 offer, a lease had still not been finalized with the LACCD. Without a signed document, the school should have accepted space on the VOCES campus to ensure its continued existence, but NVMI opted instead to reject the LAUSD’s offer and bet it all on being able to persuade the LACCD to let it move in.

The flaws in NVMI’s plan became obvious when the matter was presented to the LACCD’s Board of Trustees on June 7, 2023. Despite “Superintendent” Mark Ryan’s claim that the lease had to be approved at that meeting in order for the school to open in time for the new school year, the Trustees delayed a decision until they could get additional information and then consider the lease at a special meeting later in the month.

Concern among board members seemed to deepen during June amid further evidence of chronic mismanagement and misconduct at NVMI. Also questioned was the lack of any detailed preparation to feed, instruct, transport, or properly supervise hundreds of high-school students on the Mission College campus. Even the propriety of the special consideration given to NVMI by scheduling the special meeting came into question and it was canceled just prior to its scheduled occurrence.

Instead of concentrating on assisting its students to find new schools, NVMI scheduled a protest at the July 5, 2023, LACCD Board meeting. In anticipation of comments by the charter school’s stakeholders, I sent the following letter to the trustees in advance of their meeting:

I appreciate your continued vigilance as the North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) continues to request a lease for space on the Los Angeles Mission College campus. What has been proposed would be significantly different from how this school presently operates on campus and requires a thorough evaluation of how it would affect your students.

In my past correspondence with you about this matter, I have shared my concerns about how this school is managed. The lease that is being proposed requires close cooperation between the LACCD and the charter school to handle issues that might arise, including student discipline, the sharing of space, and how students with Special Education needs will be taught. Looking at past behavior by NVMI management can give important insight into how successful this partnership can be.

Unfortunately, in the time since you last considered NVMI's request, the conduct of its management has continued to be chaotic:

• “Superintendent” Mark Ryan has said that his position is not covered in the current budget and he would resign as of June 30, 2023. However, he is still representing himself as holding this position. Additionally, the Board of Trustees has not designated a replacement, a violation of its charter with LACOE.
• As of June 30, 2023, the Board of Trustees does not have enough members to meet the requirements of its charter. Numerous vacancies exist due to resignations and the expiration of terms.
• The Board of Trustees neglected to hold elections for officers. These positions became vacant on June 30, 2023.
• There are reports that the Director of Special Education and Assistant Director of Special Education positions are now vacant. This will not only affect their ability to remain compliant with reporting requirements and keep current with IEPs but will hamper the ability to work with Mission College to integrate the 20.6% of its student body with disabilities into the new program.
• The NVMI Middle School closed down at the end of the 2023 school year. The Board of Trustees has still not voted on a Material Revision to cover this change. A material revision to the charter is required whenever the grade levels serviced are dropped from a charter school program.
• NVMI has also not submitted a Material Revision to cover the move from the VOCES campus and the change to an “Early College” program. This revision would be required before NVMI could begin operations on the Mission College campus. By Ryan’s own admission, approval of this change will take at least 60 days from the time it is submitted, so it is bewildering that the management did not submit one as soon as the change became the only way it can continue to operate.

I urge you to continue asking NVMI’s management hard questions. They are the ones who created the current situation and you should not feel pressured to bail them out.

Sincerely,

Carl Petersen

As the LACCD’s meeting progressed, it became apparent that the staff at the county had also taken note of these issues. According to a source at LACOE, efforts to revoke the NVMI charter are in process. It is not yet clear how far along in the process this revocation is, but hopefully, it will bring some order to a closedown process that has the potential to be extremely chaotic.

As of this morning, the NVMI website does not provide any updates on the revocation or the inability to secure a facility for the school year that will begin in just a few weeks. In fact, the site still offers the ability to enroll in the charter school. The students of this charter school deserve to know the truth and the ability to transfer smoothly to a new school. LACOE needs to act expeditiously to ensure that current and potential students are not harmed anymore.

Update: NVMI’s Mark Ryan provided this response when asked about the report that LACOE has begun the process of revoking the school’s charter: “NVMI is unaware of actions by the Los Angeles County Board of Education to revoke its charter petition. NVMI has not received a Notice of Violation, which is the first step to begin revocation procedures.”

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The following letter was sent to the LACCD Board by veteran educator Cheryl Ortega:

Dear Board Member:

Having taught students for more than 50 years, including many with special needs, I write with concern for the well-being of pupils previously or still enrolled in the North Valley Military Institute (NVMI).

It appears that representatives of NVMI continue to put pressure on LACCD to grant this charter corporation a new lease to relocate alongside adult students on a college campus.

This comes despite the depletion of the NVMI board, management, and instructors and the sudden, wholesale removal of hundreds of middle-school students.

The troubles surrounding this school raise alarms for me as an educator, parent, and grandparent.

Students age 12 to 14 who were recently cut off peremptorily by the school deserve help in locating suitable education.

The students who remain enrolled, ages 14 to 18, based on reports I have read, appear to be in need of similar attention and assistance.

Steep budget and staffing cuts take a toll on the learning and lives of students. I know this from decades of experience. At NVMI, according to letters from the L.A. County Office of Education (LACOE), it seems students have been denied Individualized Education Program (IEPs). It also appears, due to staff terminations and resignations, they have lost access to special-education services and the professional guidance necessary to thrive under deteriorating conditions.

Like passengers on a bus that’s low on gas with failing brakes on a downhill trajectory, the students recently removed from NVMI and those still aboard deserve truthful alerts and all the help they can get, without delay.

This is July. The new school year starts in just 5 weeks. I know that good opportunities await the students displaced from NVMI if they are duly informed and provided guidance for suitable placement starting now. They don’t have a moment to waste.

Cheryl Ortega

Bilingual classroom teacher for 51 years

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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.