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LAUSD board votes to deny renewal of Inenium Charter Middle School after contested participation and oversight findings
Summary
The LAUSD board denied the five‑year renewal petition for Inenium Charter Middle School on Nov. 17 after the charter disputed the district’s participation‑rate calculations and comparisons; the board cited oversight scores and resident‑school comparisons in its denial.
Board members denied the renewal petition for Inenium Charter Middle School on Nov. 17 after a presentation by the school, extensive public comment, and questions to district staff.
Bill Tumi, superintendent of Inenium Schools, told the board the denial recommendation was flawed and unfair, saying Inenium serves a high‑need middle school population (more than 90% Latino, high rates of socioeconomically disadvantaged students and English learners) and that verified data show growth for key subgroups. He disputed the CSD’s participation‑rate calculation for NWA verified data and objected to use of Ernest Lawrence (a selective magnet program) as a comparison, saying it distorted performance comparisons. Multiple students, families, teachers and board members urged renewal, citing wraparound supports, improved attendance and student well‑being.
Charter Schools Division staff explained its approach: a three‑year analysis of dashboard and verified data; a drop‑down comparison to resident‑school medians where verified evidence was not “clear and convincing”; and oversight visit findings that, across the charter’s term, showed mixed oversight scores in academics. CSD said participation rates for NWA‑using schools were in the range of 77%–88% using the methodology relied upon and that verified growth was not sufficiently representative to meet the clear‑and‑convincing threshold.
After discussion about the fairness of benchmarks and whether an action plan should influence renewal, the board voted to approve the denial of Inenium’s renewal petition in a roll call vote (five yes, one no, one absent). The district will notify the operator of the denial and outline appeal rights and next steps.
