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Local educators push for Highland to house Jabali Academy; public commenters urge education‑first reuse
Summary
During public comment at the Oct. 21 asset management committee meeting, proponents of Jabali Academy and several residents urged prioritizing educational uses for vacant campuses, with speakers highlighting community ties, preservation concerns and student‑centered proposals.
At the Oct. 21 meeting of the Inglewood Unified School District asset management committee, several public commenters urged that vacant campuses be used for education rather than sold or converted for purely commercial purposes.
Dr. John Carroll, who identified himself as a founding organizer of Jabali Academy, introduced his planned Afrocentric K–8 independent school and said Jabali would be interested in using a vacant district facility (he named Highland as an ideal candidate) and invited the committee to an open house Nov. 15. Allison Corey, identified as a Jabali founding board member, expressed wholehearted support for locating the school in Inglewood to expand access to culturally responsive programs.
Other public commenters echoed the education‑first sentiment. Diane Sbrano urged preserving historic campuses and criticized past renovation work that she said led to maintenance problems; Anthony Haskins urged leasing options that would prioritize Inglewood students; Leroy Fischer cautioned against selling district properties and suggested community uses such as parks or community centers.
Committee members acknowledged the comments and reiterated that community input will be part of the asset‑management process; staff were asked to return a draft survey that the committee can vet and to consider verification measures so that input reflects Inglewood residents' views.
