LAUSD Candidate Sherlett Hendy Newbill on Special Education

“Board members need to be in tune to what is happening to our most vulnerable population”

– BD1 Candidate Sherlett Hendy Newbill

Sherlett Hendy Newbill is one of the seven candidates who qualified for the March 5, 2024, ballot in LAUSD’s Board District 1. This is the seat left open by George McKenna’s retirement. As part of my ongoing Candidate Forum series, Newbill was asked five questions about Special Education. The article LAUSD Candidate Forum: Special Education includes an introduction to this subject along with answers from other candidates.

The following are the candidate’s responses:

• Question 1: If you were on the Board, would you sponsor and work for the passage of the proposed "Improving Special Education Within the LAUSD" resolution? YES

• Question 2: Have you signed the petition supporting the proposed "Improving Special Education Within the LAUSD" resolution? YES

• Question 3: Federal funding to provide Special Education services is based on the size of the total student body, not the number of students receiving services. Therefore, charter schools benefit financially by discouraging the enrollment of these students as they receive the same amount of funding without having to pay the costs of providing the services. Not surprisingly, the data shows that charter schools as a whole enroll a smaller percentage of children with Special Education needs than their public school counterparts. As a Board Member would you look for ways to recoup the costs from charter schools that have below-average enrollment of students with Special Education needs? YES

• Question 4: Will you have a member of your staff dedicated to supporting families with Special Education needs? YES

• Question 5: As a Board member will you ensure that the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is able to act independently of District staff so that it can provide you with feedback that is truly reflective of what the Special Education community is experiencing? YES

• Do you have any other thoughts that you would like to express about this subject?

This was sent to me as I was completing the questions. Though it is fitting to share. Why? Because Board members need to be in tune with what is happening to our most vulnerable population. It is important for people with influence to lead in the right way.

Thanks for all you do Carl.

Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him “a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles.” For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.