Palisades-News-June-3-2015-

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Page 8 Palisades News June 3, 2015Student Petition Investigated by PaliHi BoardBy SUE PASCOEEditorPalisades High School Spanish teacherAlexander Shuhgalter stopped thePalisades News editor on thestreet the week of May 18 and said that astudent had started a petition, and morethan 1,200 kids had signed it and it wasgoing before the school’s board of trustees.When asked what the petition was about,Shuhgalter said students were upset withthe administration and were asking theboard not to extend the contract for Dr.Pam Magee, the school’s executive directorand principal.When the editor questioned the validityof the petition, Shuhgalter responded: “Theyare wise and they know what they want.”On May 19, Isabel Kelly, a junior at Pali -Hi, presented her petition to the board oftrustees, signed by 1,213 students, urgingthe board not to give Dr. Magee a threeyearcontract extension.At the meeting, the student was recordedas saying Magee failed to establish a connectionbetween herself and students; didn’tdemonstrate leadership qualities becauseshe didn’t know any of the student names;didn’t provide for student input throughsurveys; said Magee stated it was unnecessaryfor parents and students to have inputon the bell schedule; that student concernsELLEN MCCORMICKJUST LISTEDhad not been heard about such topics asbetter cafeteria food; and concluded: “Weneed a leader who is going to do everythingin his or her power to consider suggestionsfrom teachers and not just the board. Itappears that the principal forgets teachersare the ones who most directly influencethe start of success of students and aremost aware of what students need tomaximize performance.”Magee, who was hired by the PaliHi boardin 2011, manages a budget of $27 millionand oversees more than 2,800 students.The Palisades News received letters fromtwo parents last Friday on deadline, aftera story about the petition appeared on thefront page of the Palisadian-Post. Theseparents stated they felt that a handful ofunnamed teachers at Palisades High areunhappy with the current administrationand were responsible for convincing studentsto start the petition.The News did not have time to investigatethese allegations before going to press.Conflict between administrators andthe teachers union can be common, especiallyover salary and benefit issues andclassroom support.At PaliHi, the current teacher-contractnegotiations have been contentious at times,but may soon be settled. (See story, page 3).The News asked Dr. Magee last Friday,May 29, if the student who started the petitionhad ever contacted her either by e-mailor by appointment. The answer was no.The Board of Trustees has a studentrepresentative, and a faculty member onthe board is elected by students. Additionally,student leadership elected by allgrades is responsible for taking issues tothe administration.Attempts to contact Kelly to ask if shehad gone to any of those three sources withconcerns, were unsuccessful.Board of Trustees Chair Allison HoldorffPolhill released the following statement regardingthe student’s allegations about thebell schedule: “Dr. Magee insisted on meaningfulinput from parents and students—including a formal survey of bothgroups—concerning the bell schedule, andthat the ‘vote’ that Dr. Magee opposed wasa post-negotiation formal vote by eachgroup as a precondition to any change.”Polhill said that regarding the allegationMagee doesn’t know the needs of students,“no examples or particulars are given [bythe student] that would help provide somecontext or substance to the assertion.”One concrete statement said Magee didnot understand about the bad cafeteriafood. The News also tried to reach the studentto ask her if she knew the PaliHi cafeteriaprovider, Sodexo, also supplies collegesacross the nation.At a May 26 private session, the boardvoted unanimously (Magee was not in theroom) to hire a private investigator, NicoleMiller, to investigate the student’s petition.The News asked Polhill about the board’sdecision. Speaking for herself and not forthe board, she said: “There were a numberof allegations in the petition, but most weregeneralizations with no specifics. We careabout students’ views, and need to knowwhat facts are behind the general assertionsin order to weigh properly the petition inthe evaluation process.”Polhill said students were interviewed onFriday, May 29, and on June 1, about theirunderstanding of the petition. The interviewswere voluntary. She said no studentsare being investigated and that no one isquestioning the students’ integrity.The Board of Trustees, which meets thethird Tuesday of every month, will have itsnext meeting at 5 p.m. on June 16 in theschool library. The public is invited.Volunteers NeededFor Fourth of JulyThe next volunteer meeting of PAPA(Palisades Americanism Parade Association)will be held at 6:30 on June 29 at theAmerican Legion, 15247 La Cruz Dr. All areinvited to attend. If you are unable to attendthe meeting, visit: palisadesparade.orgOPENSUNDAY2 to 5 P.M.2529 Patricia Ave, Los Angeles 90064. 5 BD, 5.5 BA | Offered at $3,495,000 | www.2529Patricia.comWith breathtaking golf course views and close to some of the Westside's best amenities, this East Coast Traditional invites you to settle inand enjoy its comfortable elegance.ELLEN MCCORMICKDistinguished representation of theWestside since 1984.ellenmccormick.com(310) 230-3707 | ellen@ellenmccormick.comCalBRE# 00872518©2015 An Independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC.
June 3, 2015 Palisades News Page 9West L.A. Captain Nathan RetiresBy SUE PASCOEEditorCaptain Evangelyn Nathan, the AreaCommanding Officer of the WestLos Angeles Community PoliceDepartment, retired at the end of April.Captain Tina Nieto is her replacement.“A huge thank you to the West Los Angelescommunity and especially to PacificPalisades,” Nathan told the Palisades Newsbefore speaking at the Woman’s Club dinnermeeting in May. “You have been awesome.”After commanding 323 officers and 31civilian personnel, in an area that serves apopulation of more than 257,000 and 65square miles and 748 street miles (the largestmileage of any LAPD department), Nathan’sfirst retirement task seemed calm.“My family has signed me up to takecare of an 11-year-old niece and 9-yearoldnephew,” said Nathan, who is also acertified Master Gardener. “I just finishedredoing the yard with artificial turf, goingwater-wise, and now my brother and sisterwanted me to help them, too.“I still get calls from work: my scheduleis still busy,” said Nathan, the first African-American woman to earn a LAPD commandposition. “I figure in six months itwill slow down.”She was asked if the Wednesday nightmotorcycle noise will ever abate on Sunset.“Not all of the motorcyclists are violatingthe law,” she said. “I feel bad forthose who live on Sunset because thenoise can be deafening.”Nathan said one possible solution mightbe to post signs that are the same as thoseseen when patrons leave a concert area, askingfor compassion for those who live inthe area. The flashing signs could be usedto remind all motorists about noise, includingmotorcyclists.Later at the Woman’s Club podium,Nathan spoke about entering LAPD andthe challenges facing her.She received a bachelor’s degree in businessadministration from Cal State Domin -guez Hills, and frequently ran 10K races.She had just finished one and went by anCaptain Evangelyn Nathan, the Area Commanding Officer of West Los Angeles CommunityPolice Department, who retired at the end of April, was honored at the PacificPalisades Woman’s Club.Photo: Bart BartholomewLAPD recruiting table that was offeringfree water. Nathan took the water, but insteadof trying to recruit her, he said “Youwouldn’t make it out of the academy becauseyou would flunk out.”“Give me that card,” Nathan said, acceptingthe challenge. She explained thatthe attitude in 1981 was “women don’t belonghere.”Nathan said in the late 1800s to be a policeofficer you needed to be a 6’5” male.Gradually the height requirement droppedand by 1981, it was 5’8”, which Nathan made.Nathan said her career was possible becauseof two women, Alice Stebbins Wellsand Franchon Blake.Wells petitioned the mayor, police commissionerand the City Council to becomethe first woman officer. Hired in 1910, shewas assigned to aid women and childrenwho were victims of crime.Wells, who had to make her own uniform,could not supervise men and was notallowed to be promoted past sergeant. Overthe next five or six decades, a few additionalwomen were hired.LAPD Officer Blake, a 5-foot-tall Armymajor, wanted to become a lieutenant. Shetook her complaints to Police Chief Ed Davis,who told her he would put women in patrolcars—when Rams Coach Tommy Prothroput them on the football team’s front line.Finally, Blake filed a lawsuit in 1973, knowingshe would be targeted in the workplace.“And she was,” Nathan said. When thecase was finally resolved in 1980, the LAPDagreed to increase the number of swornwomen officers to 20 percent and the minorityrepresentation to equal the minority representationin the Los Angeles work force.Nathan entered the LAPD academy thefollowing year with 35 women in a class of99. Every week more women dropped out.“It was one of the biggest challenges I everfaced,” Nathan said. “Eventually five of uspartnered together—and whined together.”In order to make it out of the academy, recruitshad to pass the self-defense test, whichmeant having to free yourself from the otherperson, doing whatever it took to get away.Nathan’s partner was Jim McDonald(who was elected as L.A. County’s 32ndsheriff last November). She told him beforethe test, “I love you, but I apologize for whatI’m going to do to you today.”She bit him; she passed. “The other twowomen did something to their partnersthey hadn’t been taught in academy, either,”Nathan said, noting that only fivewomen graduated.Nathan completed her initial probationat 77th Street Patrol Division, followed byassignments to Wilshire patrol, narcoticsand recruitment.She worked the West Los Angeles ViceUnit from 1985-87, 77th Street DetectiveDivision from 1987-89. In 1992 she wasupgraded to Detective II and assigned toInternal Affairs. Two years later she madeDetective III and was assigned to the Officeof the Chief of Police. She was promotedto Lieutenant in 2000 and wasassigned as Watch Commander for thePacific Patrol Division.In 2002, Nathan was assigned as the Officer-in-Chargeof Operations-South BureauHomicide Task Force. A year later, shewas upgraded to Lieutenant II and assignedas the 77th Street Detective Division CommandingOfficer. She was a 2006 inducteeinto the Los Angeles Police Revolver andAthletic Club, Athletic Hall of Fame and inApril 2007 came to the Westside.Nathan told Woman’s Club members:“We have to support each other. If we comewith a complaint, bring a suggestion to gowith it. Make sure you balance our life, seekspirituality and share. Give more than youtake and laugh often and laugh loudly.”She concluded, “Don’t forget we arewomen, we are amazing. In the LAPD, theterminology changed from policeman andthen policewoman to now, police officer.”Gotta love agood comboTrish Bowe CLU, AgentInsurance Lic#: 0606059845 Via De La PazPacific Palisades, CA 90272Bus: 310-454-0349… especially when it saves you money.I can help you save an average e o f $ 600.* Talk to meabout combining your renters and auto insurance today.G et to a better State®. Get State Farmm.CALL ME TODAY.*A Average annual per household savings based on a 2010 0 national survey of new policyyholders who reported savings by switcching to State Farm.State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL1201143State Farm Fire and CasualtyCompany, State Farm General Insurance Company,Bloomington, IL
Page 1: Vol. 1, No. 15 • June 3, 2015 Uni
Page 4 and 5: Page 4 Palisades News June 3, 2015N
Page 6 and 7: Page 6 Palisades News June 3, 2015H
Page 10 and 11: Page 10 Palisades News June 3, 2015
Page 16 and 17: Palisades NewsPage 16 June 3, 2015A
Page 26 and 27: Palisades NewsPage 26 June 3, 2015B
Page 32: Page 32 Palisades News June 3, 2015

Palisades-News-June-3-2015-

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?