Magnolia Science Academy (Magnolia Public Schools) Conditional renewal to "REDUCE" enrollment

OVERVIEW OF TAPED SESSION 

TAPED SESSION HERE  http://lausd.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=149

The Armenian Genocide item starts at 01:53:40, followed by Magnolia's renewal starting at 02:07:55.
 

*AGENDA HERE http://laschoolboard.org/sites/default/files/03-04-14RegBdOBPost.pdf

Reviewing the tapes of the March 4, 2014 LAUSD board meeting, was quite interesting.  It seems the “boys” were not too happy with the outcome.  On the agenda was the renewal of Magnolia Science Academy #6 and 7.  Magnolia #6 was included in an audit 18 months ago that cited deficiencies in financial and poor record keeping of employees as well as student records.  (nothing new for the “boys”)  See copy of audit here: http://charterschoolscandals.blogspot.com/2012/11/magnolia-science-academy-charter-schools.html

Magnolia Science Academy now referred to as "Magnolia Public Schools"

http://magnoliapublicschools.org/
 

After the usual testimony of unvalidated supportive parents, who questionably read from pre coached testimony discussing how the “Magnolia Family” saved their autistic or failing child who is now “thriving”.  Parents touched on ESL, Special Needs and multiculturalism.  One parent boasting how for field trips my son gets to go to Turkey.   It was obvious from the recording these parents were from a lower social economic group and had a set of other issues they faced from drug addiction to unemployment which allowed them to be in the audience in the middle of the day.   Generally the Gulenists bus in the parents with a free lunch included and it might be noted that appeared to be the case as they sat huddled together with the boys in the first two rows.

 

It is unclear how these trips to Turkey are paid for, as the schools are in very low poverty, high unemployment crime areas it would be doubtful these parents would have an extra $2,000 to pay for their child’s trip to Turkey. Further questioning on this in light of the “financial issues” of Magnolia Science Academy should have been discussed.  These parents seem to be sold a bill of goods that the Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising of the “Gulen inspired” Schools is noted for.  The tape recording sounded like the Janissary style of the Ottomans who would indoctrinate children identified throughout Europe, middle east and north Africa into their customs to further the Ottoman era Turkification business agenda.   Promises of a college education and the usual Gulen mantras. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janissary

 

California State Assembly which passed the Armenian Genocide Educational Bill 659
The Turkish Islamic operated Magnolia Public Schools will be required to teach this.

The session was filled with other tributes and bills many honoring the cultural landscape of California.  One was for the great Cesear Chavez who led the human rights of UFW, (United Farm Workers).  However not mentioned in the presentation was how Dolores Huerta his right hand person led much of the rights and continued this vision after his death.  Watching the Gulenists in this tape, they must be thinking that one day they will get a tribute in California for Gulen for his unspecific work in peace and dialog building.

 

The other observation from the video session that was implementation of the Armenian Genocide AB1915 or referred to as Assembly Bill 659  that was supported by various California State Legislatures.   Whereas making the teaching of this genocide at the hands of the Young Turk regime of the Ottoman era would be taught in books and oral history.   It is obvious this piece of legistature, didn’t make the “boys” happy as they go along with the denialism that Turkey had no problems and continues to have no problems with it’s minorities who were the true indigenous people of the Republic of Turkey (ROT) implement by Ataturk’s Constitution in 1923. (ROT) was formed from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire of which Gulen professes to want to restore the glory days of the Ottoman Islamic Caliphate Janissary style with Turkification policies underhandedly restored.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janissary

 Given the sizeable community of Armenians out in California and many that have a strong foothold in politics (even the ex Governor of that state Deukmejian was of Armenian decent)  It is highly unlikely the Magnolia Science Academies will grow or ever have any kind of tribute to Turkish cultures contributions to the state.  It was put of record that the Magnolia schools would have to teach the Armenian Genocide.   It would be also appropriate to teach the Native American Genocides and the terrible incarceration of Japanese Californians during WW2.  In fact, one of the co authors Assemblymen of the Armenian Genocide AB1915 had sent various testimonies to board member Ratcliff who read them on the floor.  

 The gest of their approval was to ask for a REDUCTION of class sizes and class grades for Magnolia 6 and 7.  Whereas this is a departure from the regular ranting of the “boys” to grow share of POWER at all costs lying to parents and telling them their kids are geniuses when they are below average buys them a few short favors from the impoverished people they claim to serve.  Here is the Board Agenda with the request for REDUCTION by Magnolia Education foundation.  http://laschoolboard.org/sites/default/files/03-04-14RegBdOBPost.pdf

 After several testimonies of the regular “rah rah” Gulen school, it should be noted that one testimony brought up the fact that Mehmet Argin, current CEO of Magnolia Education  (formerly with the “GULEN INSPIRED” Arizona Schools – Sonoran Science Academy)  just failed 2 weeks prior to get a school via the San Diego Unified School District.  Additionally, the closure of their campus in Orangevale, CA and the many other unanswered questions regarding “their true agenda”  It was also noted that the Gulen Schools in Turkey have been ordered closed by the Turkish Parliament and there is civil unrest.  There was extensive discussion about the unstable enrollment numbers of Magnolia Science Academies. 

 

There was a question of whether the American children would even be safe in a country where there is a struggle between Islamic Gulenists vs. the status quo of the Secular Elite (Kemalist).  Also testifying was the auditing department citing ongoing issues and some issues that were corrected by Magnolia 6 and 7.  The principal of  #7 spoke, as the token female she was noticeable difficult to understand with a thick Asian accent, it’s unclear if she was from one of the Turkic Countries or simply part of the Gulen show of “diversity” But as we all know, the ultimate control of the school and the money is always in the Turk’s hands.  The auditor cited that he did noticed other deficiencies and the DENIAL of their school in San Diego as well as shuttering of their Orangevale, CA campus. The auditor spoke about the ties to the Gulen Movement that there was evidence that teachers were “followers” of the Gulen Movement this was validated by the OIG (Office of the Inspector General) that was also present. However, the school was not a Gulen School per se.

 

Audit was ordered pending outcome by June 30, 2014.  An updated audit would be conducted by the department and ongoing by the OIG.  The renewal was “conditional” based on further evaluation and outcome.  The API scores were questioned how it was not a clean sampling of all their students but rather the usual only scores of the top performing creaming out the undesirables (as usual).  This is an old trick by all charter schools to appear as though they are improving test scores but not reporting a true clean number from the ENTIRE sample pool or student body.