After years fighting, parents get new principal in Watts

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After parents complained about deteriorating facilities and the lack of essential student resources at Flournoy Elementary School in Watts, principal Angela Cash left her position over the weekend.  

Parents and teachers had voiced concerns over inadequate classroom supplies, outdated technology and an unsafe student environment. They said issues started since Cash took over the school five years ago but they decided to take action in the last two years. 

Pedro Garcia, LAUSD regional director, sent an email to parents over the Thanksgiving weekend announcing Dr. Rosalinda Lugo will be the new interim principal, taking over on December 2. The email said Cash has accepted a new position.

Parents, staff and faculty had accused Cash of failing to implement necessary procedures to address the issues that were brought up. 

The problems at Flournoy and how a community took action

Parents described a school where students are not given updated books, had no air conditioning units during a record heat wave last summer and how the school failed to provide an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to students needing one to get through their courses. Cash, the district’s region south Superintendent Andre Spicer and Garcia had received emails from staff, faculty, and parents addressing these concerns, citing a lack of leadership and accountability from the school's administration and district. 

On November 1st, the parents organized a protest in front of Flournoy Elementary, demanding a new principal for the school. 

“We have organized a protest in front of the school to bring attention to how Ms. Cash neglects our children. We have emailed the district with our concerns and valid documentation,” said Iris Juarez, one of the parents at the forefront of this struggle. “This is only hurting the kids. Their educational development. How would the district respond if this many complaints and reports were happening in a rich neighborhood?” 

The parents have expressed to CALÓ News that the school’s careless treatment of their children has weighed heavy on their families. “Ms. Cash called the police on my kid when she could’ve handled the situation and provided support,” said Irene Lemus, another parent organizer. “She calls the school police and the LAPD on kids rather than being a leader and taking care of the situation,” Lemus added.  

Teachers also shared these concerns, citing the lack of more basic supplies like books, markers and pencil sharpeners, as well as a non-working copy machine. 

“For the last two years, the principal has said we have funds for art supplies and to make wishlists,” said Elise Pepe, a three-year teacher at Flournoy Elementary. “All grades made wishlists with school supplies last year and this year, and they were never fulfilled—the crayons, paint, colored paper, and glue. We got nothing.” 

“Due to lack of administration, we have lost valuable positions that impact students,” said Jessica Miller, a six-year teacher at Flournoy. “We have lost a reading interventionist, librarian, social worker and attendance counselor under Ms. Cash. And we have no math interventionist.” 

Interventionists meet with students one-on-one or in a small group for extra support in improving their reading and math abilities. Their role is to close the gap in student performance.

Multiple staff and faculty have either transferred out of Flournoy or have requested to transfer and are waiting for a school to pick up their inquiries. As a result, some classes do not have teachers, and various substitute teachers have taken that position until a full-time teacher is hired.

Parents say Principal Cash has ignored requests for repairs or custodial cleaning services. 

In response, the parents organized other parents, community members, and teachers to change the situation at the school. This group launched an online petition titled “Demand for Removal of Ineffective Principal at Flournoy Elementary School.” The online petition received 714 signatures, hundreds more than the school population, including staff and faculty.  

CALÓ News attempted to meet and speak with Principal Cash, but she declined to respond. In addition, she told her secretary to call the LAPD on our CALÓ News reporter as he walked out of the school’s main office while trying to hear her side of the story. 

CALÓ News also attempted to speak with Spicer but was told he could not talk to the media. 

Despite multiple attempts to speak with Cash and Spicer for comment, they declined to respond. Since the effort was made, Spicer and Garcia have met with Cash in her office at Flournoy Elementary.

At the time of this writing, LAUSD’s communications department has not answered our calls to schedule an appointment for an interview with Cash, Spicer and Garcia. 

Calls for accountability with hope

Parents, teachers, and community members enhanced their efforts to change the principal at Flournoy by attending the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) School Board meeting in Downtown Los Angeles.

“We want accountability and a leader for our children,” said Juarez. “This is not just about a principal. It ensures the neighborhood kids have a safe school and learning place. This is about their future,” Juarez added. The parents met before the school board meeting to ensure their message was clear and united with the children at the center of the cause. 

The parents' organizing efforts have resulted in retaliation. “I have received multiple calls from a private number telling me to stop talking about Flournoy,” said Juarez. “After one of those calls one day, my driver-side mirror was broken hours later.” 

The children of Watts

The struggle at Flournoy Elementary School highlights the importance of community involvement and accountability in education. “This is an important fight. This is not the only school in the district or in Watts where children are neglected,” said Yvonne Bonilla, a United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) organizer representing Region South. “So if the parents and staff win their fight after organizing amongst themselves, they (the district) know that it can set a precedent for other schools in the district that organizing is a winning tactic, and the district is afraid of that.”

Parents, teachers, and community members are hopeful for meaningful change. 

“I can move my kid to another school, but what good will that do for the kids there right now? I cannot leave them like that. I am going to keep fighting,” said Juarez.