Tweet
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT # BOARD OF EDUCATION
333 South Beaudry Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90017
TEL. (213) 241-5555 #FAX (213) 241-8467
E-MAIL: [email protected]
BENNETT KAYSER
Board Member
August 14, 2014
The Honorable Adam Gray
Chair, Joint Legislative Audit Committee
1020 N Street, Room 107
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Assemblymember Gray,
I am sorry that I am unable to join with members of the Joint
Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) today to testify in support of
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian's request for a statewide forensic audit
of the Magnolia Education and Research Foundation (MERF) and Magnolia
Charter Schools. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is
home to eight such Magnolia Charter schools, several of which will
come up for renewal in this next school year.
In two separate audits conducted by LAUSD's Office of the Inspector
General, significant issues were uncovered; ones that extend beyond
LAUSD's boundaries and into your statewide jurisdiction. Both
investigations found chronic fiscal issues, questionable personnel and
H-1 visa use, concerns about curriculum, exclusion of more challenging
students, and other core issues.
As authorized charter schools, the Magnolias have availed themselves
of millions of dollars of California school facilities money, claimed
classroom space on LAUSD campuses through Proposition 39 and siphoned
students away from the District. Nationally, the one hundred-plus
Gulan schools, such as the Magnolia Charter Schools here in
California, appear to operate as a loosely affiliated syndicate, thus
it is almost impossible for one school district to fully appreciate
their operations.
My concern is for the well-being of the students and their families in
this community and for the taxpayers who support their public
education. In closing, I encourage the Joint Legislative Audit
Committee to do as other states have done and conduct an extensive
investigation and forensic audit of Magnolia Charter Schools and
Magnolia Education and Research Foundation to ensure their oversite
and accountability.
Thank you for your service,
Bennett Kayser
Boardmember
333 South Beaudry Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90017
TEL. (213) 241-5555 #FAX (213) 241-8467
E-MAIL: [email protected]
BENNETT KAYSER
Board Member
August 14, 2014
The Honorable Adam Gray
Chair, Joint Legislative Audit Committee
1020 N Street, Room 107
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Assemblymember Gray,
I am sorry that I am unable to join with members of the Joint
Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) today to testify in support of
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian's request for a statewide forensic audit
of the Magnolia Education and Research Foundation (MERF) and Magnolia
Charter Schools. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is
home to eight such Magnolia Charter schools, several of which will
come up for renewal in this next school year.
In two separate audits conducted by LAUSD's Office of the Inspector
General, significant issues were uncovered; ones that extend beyond
LAUSD's boundaries and into your statewide jurisdiction. Both
investigations found chronic fiscal issues, questionable personnel and
H-1 visa use, concerns about curriculum, exclusion of more challenging
students, and other core issues.
As authorized charter schools, the Magnolias have availed themselves
of millions of dollars of California school facilities money, claimed
classroom space on LAUSD campuses through Proposition 39 and siphoned
students away from the District. Nationally, the one hundred-plus
Gulan schools, such as the Magnolia Charter Schools here in
California, appear to operate as a loosely affiliated syndicate, thus
it is almost impossible for one school district to fully appreciate
their operations.
My concern is for the well-being of the students and their families in
this community and for the taxpayers who support their public
education. In closing, I encourage the Joint Legislative Audit
Committee to do as other states have done and conduct an extensive
investigation and forensic audit of Magnolia Charter Schools and
Magnolia Education and Research Foundation to ensure their oversite
and accountability.
Thank you for your service,
Bennett Kayser
Boardmember