Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout2001-02-28-LII_Sps 031 LYNWOOD INFORMATION, INC. SPECIAL MEETING FEBRUARY 28, 2001 The Information, Inc. of the City of Lynwood met in a Special Meeting at 11330 Bullis Road on the above date at 9:20 a.m. Chairman Richards presiding. Directors Byrd, Rea, Reyes, Sanchez and Richards answered the roll call. Also present were City Manager Davis, Clerk Hooper and Treasurer Pygatt. Clerk Hooper announced that the agenda had been posted in accordance with the Brown Act. Item #4: School Disturbance at Lynwood High School Staff presented Directors with a presentation from the L.A. County Sheriffs Department with regard to the disturbance at Lynwood High Thursday, February 22, 2001. It was moved by Director Rea, seconded by Director Byrd and carried to recess for ten (10) minutes at 9:20 a.m. to allow staff to prepare for the presentations. Directors reconvened at 9:35 a.m. Chairman Richards stated that the meeting would proceed as follows: :• Information and data to be read into the record 4• Sheriff Department presentation regarding disturbance • City Council Question/Answer period • Public Comments • Statement of Facts, Findings & Resolutions City Manager Davis read in to the record correspondence to and from the Lynwood Unified School District regarding the disturbance February 22, 2001. Chairman Richards stated the .goal of this meeting is to determine exactly what happened on February 22nd and what the city can do to assist. Captain Kenneth Brazile of the L.A. County Sheriffs Department presented Directors with a de-briefing of the incident on February 22"d. Captain Brazile played a video as well as an audiotape of the first calls that came in to the Sheriffs Department in regard to the school disturbance. Stated calls came in from residents as well as people inside the school. One caller stated an event had been poorly planned and that the school needed assistance from law enforcement. Captain Brazile gave a chronological report of the disturbance. Charles Watkins, Sr., representing Superintendent Cebrun read a prepared statement from the superintendent who was not available for the Special Council Meeting. These letters were read into the record. Mr. Watkins suggested a joint meeting between the Council and the School Board. Stated he could not speak for the superintendent in his absence and stated the superintendent has reserved the right to discuss the incident himself and is scheduling a meeting with City Manager Davis. 032 School Board Member Cynthia Geter discussed the riot at the High School and discussed the racial divide in the community. Discussed the blatant open racism in the city and the need for a strategic plan in the School District. Director Reyes asked why the Superintendent was not present at the Special Meeting. Representatives from the School District stated that the Superintendent had a previous engagement and could not attend the Special Council Meeting. Directors also asked who was in charge at the school the day of the riot. School District representatives said that the Deputy Superintendent was in charge February 22nd Director Rea discussed the need for outside Sheriffs having to come in to Lynwood on that day to assist in the riot. Also discussed the letters sent by the School District. Stated the School District clearly has no Operational Plan. Directors asked such questions as: • Were there policies in place to address this type of problem • Were the students escorted by Teachers to the assembly • If teachers were not present, why 4• Who was the Sight Administrator • How many Vice-Principals are there at the High School Chairman Richards discussed the city's responsibility for the health and welfare of the community and stated we have an obligation to address these types of issues. Asked was this incident brought on by a dereliction of duties, where were the teachers, what was the chain of command, and exactly what is the policy to address this type of situation. Chairman Richards asked Captain Brazile what was the Chain of Command at the school when they arrived. Captain Brazile stated that the Sheriffs could not contact any of the vice- principals on campus. Stated he was told that teachers do leave the campus during lunch hours. Also stated he was told that there was a protest going on by the teachers who left the campus during lunch that day. Captain Brazile stated Law Enforcement personnel came on campus looking for someone with authority to give them permission to enter the campus. Chairman Richards stated there seemed to be a breakdown of policy and programming at the school and asked Sheriff Brazile to determine what policies and procedures were taken, as well as were there a dereliction of duties. It was moved by Director Rea, seconded by Director Byrd to move a motion to have Law Enforcement make an inquiry as to Child Neglect Violations at the school on February 22, 2001. ROLL CALL: ' AYES: DIRECTORS BYRD, REA, REYES, SANCHEZ, RICHARDS NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE Director Reyes asked about the School Resource Deputy. Stated the Resource Deputy should have been at the High School that day and not at the Middle School on another issue. Director Byrd commented that the morale at the schools must be awful low. z 033 It was again asked where was the Superintendent during the riot. School Board Representatives stated Dr. Cebrun was out of the state at the time of the incident. Director Sanchez discussed racial issues at the school. Discussed the media coverage and stated "racism sells". Stated the problem is with the adults. Asked when did teachers start leaving campus for lunch, and is this normal procedure. Stated school security asked him for assistance in training. Stated they have no experience in dealing with riots. Stated one School Board member called him a derogatory name even though he did not go on to the campus that day. Supports investigation. PUBLIC ORALS Katherine Amey discussed automatic weapons on campus carried by students. Stated even females are carrying weapons. Concerned about the cancer in the city. Irene Garcia - 2737 1111h Discussed weapons and incident report given by Captain Brazile. Asked about the teachers fighting at the middle school that day. Pat Hernandez -Cortland Discussed safety, need to put a stop to what's going on. Need to get rid of bad elements. Kids are afraid. Asked where is the psychological help for kids at the high school. Stated other communities get assistance when these types of incidents happen. Mary Hicks - Hulme Avenue Discussed the 1970's and the response from the youth at that time who watched the Roots Mini-Series. Discussed the problems that ensued between Black and Caucasian students. Stated the school district has to wake up, someone has to be accountable. Chairman Richards stated we-only have one (1) city, and have to plan for the future. Need a common accord. Responsible adults need to take a leadership position and find a common ground. ADJOURNMENT Having no further discussion, it was moved by Director Byrd, seconded by Director Sanchez and carried to adjourn the meeting at 1:00 p.m. Paul H. Richards, II, Mayor ~~~~~ ,~ Andrea L. Hooper, City Cler FEBRUARY28.2001 LII 3