Dream Deferred: District tries to shut down school

Unfortunately, the dream of providing emotional, economic, and educational resources our youth deserve is in danger through a combination of human error and systematic malcontent. I have just been notified that the Centinela Valley Union High School District is attempting to shut down the Media Arts Academy (High School for Recording Arts). They are pulling our charter license due to clerical errors made by the founders of the school.

They are NOT considering shut down for any other reason; this clerical error can easily be fixed with the consent of the District.

Evidence of Success

M.A.A.C. has a maximum of classroom ratios of 25 to 1 and a full recording studio for students to learn and express themselves with. M.A.A.C. has an A-G requirement equipped with classes catered to student needs, preparing them for higher education and higher forms of expression. M.A.A.C. focuses on project based learning, with instructors of each class creating interdisciplinary curriculum that relates subject content to subject content. M.A.A.C. is open to the public and is an educational and nurturing site open to youth from all communities throughout the city; a place where they can grow in a supportive environment. M.A.A.C. will be a hub for many of the programs we have created throughout the city, providing recording, production, printing, and distribution resources and education for community groups who do not have access to studios or industry. M.A.A.C. is establishing partnership with individuals and entertainment companies to provide internships to youth so they may obtain real world experience that compliments the words. M.A.A.C. has establish athletic partnership to create a holistic physical educational program that includes basketball training from former All-American players, as well as yoga and dance. M.A.A.C. is creating partnerships where students will receive FREE dinner that accompany their tutoring programs and recording arts program after school, providing a community NEED!!! Even though SIXTY-PERCENT of the school’s enrollment are attendance problems from other schools, M.A.A.C. has a 92% attendance rate!!!

ACTIONS OF SUPPORT

1. Call to Support the School, Community Driven Education, and the hundreds of students served by the Media Arts Academy Centinela (M.A.A.C.). STOP THE TREND OF FIRING AND FORECLOSING THOSE WHO WORK WITH OUR FUTURE Identify yourself as parent, student, MEDIA, or concerned community member. Gloria Ramos: President of the School Board. 310-263-3200 Jose Fernandez: Superintendent 310-263-3201

2. If you would like to offer assistance, please contact Jennifer Murphy, M.A.A.C. Director, 310-804-9775, or e-mail her at murphy@hsra.org.

“If we want a beloved community, we must stand for justice…” -Bell Hooks

 www.click4life.org

State Farm Insurance and The Fo-Show in conjunction with Another Level Records is proud to announce their latest CD release, “Click 4 Life”. “Click 4 Life” is a project about teen driving safety & seat belt use. This project was created to make more teens aware of the dangers they face not wearing seat belts & to promote the movement to pass a primary seat belt law in the state of Minnesota. “Click 4 Life” is a milestone for Another Level Records because it is the first project to feature music from both HSRA Minnesota & HSRA Los Angeles.

Where: 14115 Chadron, Hawthorne, CA 90250
When: March 07, 2008

Session One: 1:15-1:45 pm
Session Two: 2:00-2:30 pm
Session Three: 2:45-3:15 pm

Participants are asked to arrive promptly at 12:30 pm for a reception given by Dr. Murphy, principal at MAAC, followed by a catered lunch.

Companies are asked to provide materials to personalize their career booth. For example: poster boards, job descriptions, pictures, applications, and any other material that will allow students to gain knowledge about your company and the positions it offers.

Individuals that are participating are asked to give a 5-10 minute presentation about their career followed by a Q&A session.

Career Day Flier (PDF)

The first website for the Los Angeles campus of High School for Recording Arts launched today at losangeles.hsra.org. Produced by Studio 4 Enterprises, the site has information on school programming, staff, board meetings, enrollment, directions, news and more.

HSRA Los Angeles is presented by Media Arts Academy Centinela in Hawthorne, California.