The following are comments made by audience members and elected officials at the most recent Compton Unified School District meeting. The Bulletin is not responsible for the veracity of statements printed. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not reflect the editorial viewpoint of the paper.

Compton Unified School District meeting, July 24:

Katie Haba said she supports the Compton Cricket Club, and she proposed a team at Centennial High School. She wants every school to adopt the cricket program, and ultimately to have a cricket league in the Hub City.

Theadora Lamond said she supports the Scholars Learning Academy in Carson.

Yolanda Lopez said a lot of people do not like her because she tells the truth, but she wants everyone to know about security issues where musical instruments are stored with no protection. She said she asked for help in March, and the instruments can be stolen by anyone.

Micah Ali said he understands that the Board of Trustees can only appoint its own member to the Personnel Commission, but in light of the recent events surrounding racism and bribery allegations, the group should consider asking for resignations right away. He said Compton has the worst personnel commission in the entire state system.

Mae Thomas said she was not arguing with Ali, but there was a test for employment given and the only people who passed were outsiders. She said it is not about favoritism, it is about doing what is right. The leader is not a permanent employee, Thomas said, and he does not override the commission.

Adrian Cleveland said her union has numerous vacancies in the district and other unions are filling those positions. She alleged misappropriation of funds within the Student Nutrition Department, which she says generates it own income.

Diana Padilla said she sounds like a broken record, but there would not be a deficit in the Special Education Department if the district

took care of the children. She said services get purchased every day but they are not evident in the classroom.

Maria Villareal said the schools do a lot of fundraising for students, but no one knows where the money goes. She paid $60 for one book her daughter lost, she said, but never heard where that money ended up.

Lopez asked what kind of support the Board of Trustees gives to the principal at Willowbrook, who did not raise the academic scores at the school. She said, just like Martin Luther King Jr., only death will silence her. She said threats directed at her should be made at the meeting and not at her home through text messaging.