ABC School Board Recommends Waiting a Year to Name New Whitney High Building

In the ABC School Board's first meeting of the month, the topics of discussion included introducing the visitors from the Manenberg-Artesia Partnership and the naming of the Media Arts Center.

South Africa Manenberg-Artesia Partnership (MAP) Presentation

Through a collaboration formed three years ago, members of the ABC Federation of Teachers (AFT), Artesia High School and Cape Town, South Africa's Manenberg High School bonded together to address and educate the HIV/AIDS situation in both high schools, which according to Deputy Superintendent Dr. Mary Sieu, share similar urban elements.

This past July, members of the visited Manenberg High School in Cape Town, South Africa and also attended the Education International 6th World Congress. Some representatives from Manenberg High were present at the Nov 1. ABC School Board meeting.

“We do have learners who are HIV positive,” said Manenberg High School teacher, Cameron Williams. “I wasn't very interested in HIV/AIDS until I went to go visit one of our (HIV positive) students. It really moved me. I think we can learn a lot from Artesia."

Ray Gaer, president of the AFT, said the partnership teaches students that there is life after testing positive for HIV.

Board Policy 7310 – Naming of Facility

During the October 18 meeting, several Whitney High School alumni – including Cerritos City Councilmember, Mark E. Pulido – spoke in support of naming the soon-to-be completed Whitney High School Media Arts Center after the recently deceased Robert S. Beall, the founding principal of the school.

However, several community members were also there to speak on behalf of naming the building after the highest donor, former Cerritos mayor Grace Hu, who donated $800,000 toward the project.

Cerritos Mayor Carol Chen was also in attendance and expressed her opposition to the discussion, stating that there are community members who are willing to step up and make a community wish come true  - respectfully honoring what was agreed by Whitney's fundraisers.

“As a community member and as a parent, I am just wondering, why is this discussion necessary?” Chen asked the board. 

Community member, Youmei Hong, presented an e-mail, from former , addressed to another community member, Lu Shi, in which Hager says Hu and her donation should be honored.

"I believe that the building should focus on Whitney's current and future students not its past. I think that people who have played important roles in Whitney's history should be remembered, but not through this project. A brick with their names at the front entryway of the school or an auditorium, chair plaque would be appropriate to honor their contributions," Hager's e-mail stated. 

In the e-mail, the former Whitney principal also said that she made an agreement with Hu that her name would be prominently displayed on the building and the main lobby area. After spending nine years at Whitney High, to take over as assistant superintendent of human resources for the La Canada Unified School District. 

Superintendent Gary Smuts explained that the board would not immediately vote on the item, stating that the board was not one to rush on such a decision. Smuts also said the focus should be on acquiring the necessary funds ($800,000) to complete the building's construction.

“My recommendation is to wait at least until 2012 to see what the circumstances are,” the superintendent added.

Kenny Le, Chairman of the Whitney High School Foundation, said Beall's wife, Jerri Beall, would like to see the Whitney High School Foundation create a scholarship in her late husband's name.

After the meeting, Beall's grandson, Sterling Beall, also chimed in on his grandfather's lifelong impact by issuing a letter to the press stating:

"He devoted everything he had to the Whitney community and took great pride not only in the institution, but more importantly to the success of the Whitney kids. He remained in touch with those kids and active in the school until the very end of his life."

The next school board meeting will be held on Nov. 15.