LA County BOE Conditionally approves Magnolia Science Academy after 3 hours deliberation

It was the COUNTY of Santa Clara BOE that held Caprice Young and Magnolia Schools accountable.  Eventually the Magnolia Science Academy in Santa Clara closed they failed to meet many standards including a location.  Better the county overseeing than the State.

"The county’s Board of Education, which is now the authorizer of these charter schools, acted against the recommendation of the L.A. County Superintendent of Schools and her staff as well as LAUSD on Tuesday." 

"“Overturning the superintendent and staff is not something that I take lightly, but here we had a situation where the admittedly serious fiscal problems were under resolution under (Magnolia Public Schools’ CEO and Superintendent) Caprice Young,”

"County staff recommended denying the petitions for a series of reasons, including “potential civil liability for the county board” as a result of Magnolia Public Schools’ “clear pattern of poor fiscal management” and a “pattern of failing to respond in a timely manner to its (previous) authorizer,” which was LAUSD."

"not all student subgroups at the schools have shown increases in academic achievement over the past two years, according to the L.A. County Office of Education staff. County staff also noted at Tuesday’s meeting that enrollment has been declining at the three schools and called the attrition rate of African-American students at the Magnolia Science Academy 3 in Carson “alarming.”

3 Magnolia charter schools facing closure ‘vindicated’ after winning appeal

A sign at the Magnolia Science Academy 2 campus in Van Nuys on Thursday, December 22, 2016. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los AngelesDaily News/SCNG) 

By Brenda Gazzar, Los Angeles Daily News

POSTED: 12/22/16, 8:31 PM PST | UPDATED: 3 MINS AGO

0 COMMENTS

A man rides his bicycle past Magnolia Science Academy 1in Reseda on Thursday, December 22, 2016. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los AngelesDaily News/SCNG) 

Three Magnolia Public Schools, including two in the San Fernando Valley, were spared from potential closure after a county board voted this week to renew their charter school petitions on appeal.

The Los Angeles County Board of Education voted 4-1 Tuesday to renew the charters of Magnolia Science Academies 1, 2 and 3, located respectively in Reseda, the Lake Balboa area and Carson through June 2022. Two months ago, the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education denied their renewal. The three college preparatory schools, which are part of a network of 10 public charter schools in Southern California that emphasize math and science, serve about 1,400 sixth- through 12th-grade students in economically disadvantaged communities.

The county’s Board of Education, which is now the authorizer of these charter schools, acted against the recommendation of the L.A. County Superintendent of Schools and her staff as well as LAUSD on Tuesday.

“Overturning the superintendent and staff is not something that I take lightly, but here we had a situation where the admittedly serious fiscal problems were under resolution under (Magnolia Public Schools’ CEO and Superintendent) Caprice Young,” said Doug Boyd, president of the county board who voted in favor of renewal, on Thursday. “Since she got here in January 2015, we’ve seen major improvement in every single area questioned or the problem has been completely resolved.”

• RELATED STORY: Magnolia charter schools fight to stay open after LAUSD ‘death sentence’

Boyd said he was impressed by the “very strong” academic performance of the schools’ students, including high graduation and college-readiness rates.

County staff recommended denying the petitions for a series of reasons, including “potential civil liability for the county board” as a result of Magnolia Public Schools’ “clear pattern of poor fiscal management” and a “pattern of failing to respond in a timely manner to its (previous) authorizer,” which was LAUSD.

In addition, not all student subgroups at the schools have shown increases in academic achievement over the past two years, according to the L.A. County Office of Education staff. County staff also noted at Tuesday’s meeting that enrollment has been declining at the three schools and called the attrition rate of African-American students at the Magnolia Science Academy 3 in Carson “alarming.”

In October, LAUSD’s Charter Schools Division cited the Magnolia schools’ “failure to timely respond” to document requests from LAUSD’s Office of Inspector General, which has been investigating Magnolia Public Schools since September 2014, and the Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team, an external state agency that provides financial oversight. District staffers said that Magnolia Public Schools’ “repeated failure” to respond in a reasonable time frame to information requests “limited the district’s ability to fully oversee the fiscal and business operations” of the nonprofit.

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Had the L.A. County Board of Education rejected renewal of the schools this week, the nonprofit charter school group could have appealed the decision to the state. The state appeal would have been its last recourse to avoid closure other than pursuing litigation, Young said.

“We were given a real opportunity to refute the misstatements and to add in the facts that were in our favor that had been left out, such as the fact that we have a near 100 percent graduation rate and our students graduate college ready,” Young said Thursday.

Each of the three schools has at least a 98 percent graduation rate and among the students who do graduate, more than 80 percent meet University of California and Cal State University eligibility requirements, according to the national nonprofit GreatSchools.org.

Young, a former LAUSD school board president, called the concerns of the county’s Office of Education and LAUSD staff “unfounded” but said the group will “continue to provide information to any oversight bodies and overseers that they request.”

The governing board of Magnolia Public Schools currently has three vacancies that it hopes to fill with community members, Young said.

The affected Magnolia schools in Reseda and Van Nuys were in the top 3 percent of all high schools in the nation, according to an April issue of U.S. News & World Report. The Magnolia school in the Lake Balboa area was also identified at the time as the top-ranked charter high school within LAUSD boundaries.

The government of Turkey has alleged that Magnolia Public Schools has inappropriate ties to a Turkish national Fethullah Gulen, who has been charged in absentia there for allegedly trying to destabilize the Turkish government. Young, who called Turkey’s allegation a “frivolous political vendetta” that has nothing to do with the local students, said the L.A. County Office of Education staff and its board “were smart enough” to realize that was not a real issue.

“We feel vindicated and just happy to be able to educate our kids,” Young said of Tuesday’s decision. “The county recognized that we’re doing a great job in collaboration with our families.”

Magnolia Science Academy Conditional Approval from County     <----CLICK HERE

MSA 1, 2, & 3 All Renewed by LACOE Thank you MSA 3 Family! The holiday season is a little more bright with our recent news of the Los Angeles County Office of Education voting 4 to 1 to renew our school for five more years! 2017-2022 is solid and we say thank you for al of the parent, student, faculty/staff and the community. A big shout out to Carson City Council Juwane Hilton for speaking on our behalf! We are asking him to serve on our MPS Board! More details tomorrow but please visit our website for the updated academic calendar for the spring semester! Gracias MSA 3 Familia! La temporada navideña es un poco más brillante con nuestras recientes noticias de la Oficina de Educación del Condado de Los Angeles votando 4 a 1 para renovar nuestra escuela por cinco años más! 2017-2022 es sólido y decimos gracias por todos los padres, estudiantes, profesores / personal y la comunidad. Un gran grito a Carson City Council Juwane Hilton para hablar en nuestro nombre! Le estamos pidiendo que sirva en nuestra Junta de MPS! Más detalles mañana, pero por favor visite nuestro sitio web para el calendario académico actualizado para el semestre de primavera! MSA 3 Vipers

Magnolia Science Academy 3 1254 E. Helmick St. Carson, CA 90746 USA  THE SCHOOL THAT HAS AN  "Alarming" attrition rate of African American students. http://us13.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0d77908cc700f77c0469ede0d&id=943704748a A little-known county board overruled its own staff and the powerful Los Angeles Unified School District this week to allow three embattled charter schools to remain open. The reprieve represents a full turnabout for Magnolia Public Schools, which faced the shutdown of its campuses after L.A. Unified moved against them in October.

READ LA TIMES ARTICLE HERE LA TIMES MAGNOLIA

: Magnolia Varol Gurler- Second Gulen private school to sell Amity School o...

Gulen Charter Schools in the USA: Second Gulen private school to sell Amity School o...: Is money tight in the USA for the Gulen Network? Amity School the Gulen operated private school in Brooklyn, NY .   The Gülenist Terror Gro...

Islamic Charter School in California CLOSED

Turkish Gulen Schools DENIED RENEWAL - 3 Magnolia Schools cite "politics" and "ethnicity/religion" Caprice Young fraud FBI -ATTORNEY GENERAL

Aside all futile attempts by expensive mouthpiece lawyer from Minny, Young & Corr, and a last ditch attempt to use ethnic and religion as a reason for denial the proof is in the fiscal management and overstatement of SBAC scores.  2 years ago Magnolia was pushing API scores but the new and improved testing...something pushed by the gaggle of boards that CEO Caprice Young serves on (profits disguised as non-profits) like Fordham Institute <---which is nothing but a group of profiteers that want educational reform aka privatization of public schools.

Hey its called "ACCOUNTABILITY" Asswipe Jerry Simmons, Magnolia Science Academy has lied about finances and about achievements for 14 years.   Caprice Young may be delusional and believes she can play to the media with her expensive Larson Communications.  Caprice can bark all day long that Magnolia answered all the CDE, OIG and FCMT inquiries but the proof is in the documentation, Caprice & Co., was spared the testimony of 4 more departments because the real 1,000 lb gorilla in the room was the fact that Magnolia Science Academy is and has been a troubled organization from the get go.  Frankly, Caprice Young is a horrible speaker and lacks the training in education to actually know what she is speaking about.  Another overpaid profiteer that should clean up her act and stop lying to media not everyone is for sale like she is.  Magnolia Science Academies are not the vehicle for CCSA to grow the charter movement in California no matter how much Lira the Gulen Movement pays to California Charter School Association.  Criminal crime cartels that smear, vilify and damage candidates that are perceived as pro public education will not be tolerated by the American people.

CCSA tactics are the same as the Gulen Movement no wonder they share the same address and are cozy roommates at 250 E. First St., Los Angeles, CA.  Hey Attorney General you reading?  Nothing like collusion and co- mingling of profit with non-profit funds not to mention all that generous government money bonds, grants, title I-V - DO WE SMELL ANOTHER FBI RAID on Gulen operated charter schools?
http://abc7.com/education/5-lausd-schools-lose-charter-status/1562886/

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) --

Five schools have lost their charter status after the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education voted to deny their renewals Tuesday night.

The five schools include Magnolia Science Academy 1, Magnolia Science Academy 2, Magnolia Science Academy 3, Celerity Dyad and Celerity Troika.

The board could have revoked El Camino Real Charter High School's authority to operate, but decided to stay the action, as long as the school agrees to the district's terms.

The Los Angeles Daily News reported El Camino Real Charter High School's Executive Director David Fehte would resign under a tentative agreement that stops the charter revocation process started by LAUSD.

Under the agreement, Fehte would step down effective Oct. 26, according to The Los Angeles Daily News.

A review by the district found several problems with the high schools including alleged inappropriate spending, claims of importing foreign teachers and having possible conflicts of interest with corporations.

Tuesday's board meeting drew a large crowd of parents and teachers in downtown Los Angeles.

"I believe it's all about LAUSD trying to regain control of all the charters because our kids excel. We have great donors. We raise a lot of money as parents and as a community for our children," El Camino Real Charter High School parent Erin Sanchez said.

LAUSD has the highest number of independently operated charters in the U.S. school system.

http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-edu-la-charter-renewal-votes-20161017-snap-story.html

The L.A. school board’s vote was 6 to 0 against a five-year renewal for three schools operated by locally based Magnolia Educational and Research Foundation. Board member George McKenna abstained.

Magnolia came under widespread scrutiny after the Turkish government accused it and other U.S.-based charters with Turkish governing boards of helping foment a failed July coup in Turkey. The schools’ leaders denied any involvement.

A more direct concern for L.A. Unified was Magnolia’s importing of Turkish nationals and their families for teaching and other staff positions. That past practice is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the district’s inspector general. 

Magnolia operates 10 campuses, including eight in L.A. Unified; the ones up for renewal were Magnolia Science Academy 1 in Reseda, Magnolia Science Academy 2 in Van Nuys and Magnolia Science Academy 3 in Carson. 

DON'T BE TOO CONFIDENT CAPRICE YOUNG....There are no favors left for you at the County and State.  You have no clout or credibility, without an expensive publicist you are nothing but a fraud.  

http://patch.com/california/northridge/leader-embattled-charter-schools-confident-shutdowns-will-be-avoided

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CA -- A leader of two independent charter schools in the San Fernando Valley said in remarks published Friday that she's "very confident" they can avoid shutdowns by appealing their denied renewal petitions to the county and possibly the state.

The Los Angeles Unified school board Tuesday refused to renew three Magnolia schools serving 1,400 sixth- through 12th-grade students, including Magnolia Science Academy campuses in Reseda and Van Nuys, as recommended by district staff.

"I feel angry and frustrated and concerned, but I'm also very optimistic because I think we're going to be successful at making our case at the county level or the state level. We've done that before,” Caprice Young, CEO of Magnolia Public Schools and a former president of the LAUSD school board, told the Los Angeles Daily News.

The district cited the Magnolia schools' failure to timely respond" to document requests from LAUSD’s Office of Inspector General, which has been investigating Magnolia Public Schools for more than two years, and the Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team, an external state agency that provides financial oversight.

LAUSD board member Scott M. Schmerelson, who voted against the renewal, said Magnolia appears to have a great educational program but called it "the most secretive school" he has seen, the Daily News reported.

Why Does Caprice Young make false claims? SBAC scores and denial

Upon watching the video live of Caprice Young performance at LAUSD.  Why does Magnolia lie about SBAC scores?

It's clear that Magnolia is not high performing but performs adequate in some areas and others below standard.  

Smarter Balance- Violation of Williams Act threatening to withold 

school field trip if tests not done

Magnolia Science Academy, denial and statement of facts from Gulen Cemaat

Caprice Young User, Loser, Abuser- race baiting manipulations Caprice answer to NAACP moratorium

Caprice Young's salary is over $230,000
Caprice and her CCSA which share an address with Magnolia Schools have spent an excess of $8 million on campaigns to put pro charter people in office.
Magnolia and Caprice have spent millions that last 4 years on immigration, legal fees, and public relations.

More money out of the communities that Caprice professes to serve.
Helping "browns and blacks"

http://www.lawattstimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3841&catid=21&Itemid=114

October 13, 2016 

By Jennifer Bihm 

Assistant Editor 

Despite what they are deeming unnecessary opposition, officials of the Magnolia Charter Schools in Los Angeles said they will fight to keep their doors open and that they want to ensure that the battle doesn’t overshadow what they’ve achieved over the last 15 years. Since 2002 MPS has cultivated a learning environment within their 10 schools in L.A. and Orange counties, that has fostered growth and viable achievements among some of the area’s neediest students. Now, they said, because they have a significant number of staff who are Turkish and Muslim, they have become the victims of strong arm tactics by the ­current Turkish president who feels the schools have been in cahoots with one of his challengers.

 The charter school entity is reported to be among a variety of targets between Turkish President Recep Tayyip and his political nemesis Fetuhullah Gulen, a respected Muslim cleric. Tayyip has set out to prove that at least one hundred U.S. schools have given millions of dollars to Gulen and are supporting him. Reportedly, Magnolia Schools were co-founded by a group of Gulen’s supporters who are from Turkey.

 MCS officials said they feel it’s largely the reason they are now being challenged by LAUSD and government officials, with audits and questions about the renewability status of some of their schools. They’re not giving in to any of the pressures they said, because their main focus is continuing to make sure that LAUSD’s kids are getting a quality education, one that is preparing them for university life and subsequently the real world.

 Their main focus is improving students’ performance in reading, writing and math, reducing dropout rates and increasing the number of students who pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEAM).

 “Almost all of our students are UC (University of California) ready when they graduate,” said Chief Academic Officer, Kenya Jackson.

 “Magnolia schools don’t have barriers to education for some students and not others. Like being tested for ‘gifted’ for instance or. These students already face barriers. Why add more by telling them, ‘you’re not ready for robotics,’ or ‘you’re not ready for AP computers in 9th grade…’”

 Officials like Jackson and CEO Caprice Young are doing everything they can, they said, to shield their learning communities from the challenges they are facing and to ensure that these students who need it most are getting a quality education comparable to their counterparts in more affluent schools.

 “None of these [political] issues are present in our schools,” said Jackson.

 “The point is,” said Young, “that these schools are valuable for Black and Brown students and shutting them down would take away that quality education.”

Two Magnolia schools, this year, were named among the top high schools in California and the nation.

 “We’re proud to have our schools recognized as among the best in the state,” said Young.

 “It’s further validation of Magnolia’s track record of ensuring that all students regardless of their socioeconomic or cultural background are prepared. Our results are a testament not only to our hard working students but also to our committed teachers, committed to seeing every student succeed.”

Super Counselor = Gulen Cult member 

Gulen Inspired-Magnolia Science Academy California

Gulenist Matt (Umit) Yapanel removed as Magnolia board president after revealing to LA Times he is GULEN INSPIRED

Days after Umit (Matt) Yapanel admits to the LA times they are"Gulen Inspired"
he steps down and black transgender person is put in as board president.

LONGTIME FINANCE EXECUTIVE SELECTED TO LEAD MAGNOLIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD

Noël Russell-Unterburger, VP of Finance and IT for YWCA of Greater Los Angeles and Magnolia parent, to continue to strengthen organization’s operations
LIPSTICK ON THE PIG- NICE TRY CAPRICE YOUNG
YOU STILL OINK LIKE A PIG AND BATH IN MUD. 

 Los Angeles, CA – Magnolia Public Schools announced today that successful business and financial executive and Magnolia parent Noël Russell-Unterburger was unanimously voted the new chairperson of the board for Magnolia Public Schools, a network of 10 high-performing public charter schools that serves close to 4,000 students throughout Southern California.

Russell-Unterburger’s immediate goals are to ensure that the organization’s operations and existing systems stay strong. An accounting and finance expert, she has worked on developing and strengthening internal controls at different organizations throughout her career. The California State Auditor formally closed in July its exhaustive review of the schools concluding that they are operationally sound and financially responsible with taxpayer funds.

“I have watched Magnolia go from an organization that started out on multiple QuickBooks accounts to one that is now operationally strong and with systems in place to ensure accountability and transparency,” said Russell-Unterburger, who has served on Magnolia’s board since 2012, and has had two children attend its schools. “I’m proud and excited to now serve as board chair of a school network that has such committed teachers, staff and families, and to work with the leadership team to support these amazing schools into our next level of growth and success.”

Magnolia has made significant improvements in fiscal controls, compliance and accountability since longtime education leader Caprice Young was named CEO in January 2015. They hired a widely respected third-party auditor and educational services provider and engaged the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) to provide fiscal oversight. They also put controls and third-party check and balances in place to prove that the organization’s finances and operations are transparent and fiscally sound.

The nine-member Magnolia board mostly includes engineers and finance experts, but Russell-Unterburger will make it a priority to continue to diversify the board. They are actively searching for two new board members to bring in new and different backgrounds, perspectives and expertise.

“Over the past 18 months, Magnolia has strengthened its internal and financial controls, making it a highly accountable operation,” said Young. “Noel’s experience will be a tremendous asset to our organization, helping it strengthen and grow, as we work to meet the growing demand for our program.”

Russell-Unterburger brings 18 years of financial management, leadership and advisory experience to the board. Before taking on the role of Vice President of Finance and IT at the YWCA Greater Los Angeles in 2013, she served for eight years as CFO for People in Progress, Inc., one of the city’s leading providers of substance-abuse treatment plans.

“I strongly believe in the importance of having people with different skillsets to not only lead, but be a part of our board,” said former board Chairman Umit Yapanel, who as a board member will continue to support the search for two new board members. “As an organization, we have to evolve in order to be able to grow and meet the needs of communities looking for high quality public schools.”

In April, U.S. News & World Report recognized Magnolia’s schools for the fifth year in a row as being among the best in the nation. Magnolia Science Academy 2 in Van Nuys was the top-ranked charter high school in Los Angeles Unified, and along with Magnolia Science Academy Reseda, was named in the top 100 high schools in California. Both high schools are in the top three percent of all U.S. high schools.

An outside analysis recently revealed that Magnolia Science Academy (MSA) Reseda was 14th among all Los Angeles high schools for its UC acceptance rate—with 29.82 percent of its seniors being accepted to UC schools.

About Magnolia Public Schools

Magnolia Public Schools was founded in 2002 to graduate students who are scientific thinkers that contribute to the global community as socially responsible and educated members of society. Magnolia currently operates 10 public charter schools across California. Magnolia’s educational approach is based on the conviction that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education is essential in improving our modern society’s knowledge base and adaptability to the fast pace of ever-changing technological advancements. Visit www.magnoliapublicschools.org.

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