No Bullying Zone at Celerity Dyad!
Officer Enzo from LAPD's Newton Comunity Safety Partnership spent time with our students last week in Classroom 9 at Celerity Dyad in Classroom 9 students discussing bullying. We're proud that all Celerity school are No Bullying Zones! Thank you Officer Enzo!
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Attention Students, Parents, and Supporters of the Celerity Schools:
By now, many of you have read press reports of LAUSD leveling many allegations against Celerity Educational Group and our founder and former CEO, Vielka McFarlane. There are numerous egregious errors and insinuations in the articles that we must address. It is important for our families, our teachers and staff, and our community to know the truth.
Our ability to respond to these false allegations, unfortunately, is hampered somewhat by the fact that our computers and records were seized and have not yet been returned. As we regain access to our documents, we will promptly provide more information.
Fiction vs. Fact
Fiction #1: Ms. McFarlane’s salary in 2013 was excessive and about 35% more than Michelle King, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, makes today.
Fact: Ms. McFarlane’s salary was in line with peer organizations in the education world. Ms. McFarlane did not earn $471,842 in salary. Her salary per her contract for the 2012-13 school year was $257,500, plus a $10,680 auto allowance. The rest of her compensation in 2013 was accounted for as a payout of unused vacation time. Michelle King’s often-quoted $350,000 salary is just her cash salary, not accounting for her car and driver, and other benefits. Comparing apples to apples, Ms. McFarlane’s cash salary was less than Ms. King’s — $257,500 compared to $350,000.
Fiction #2: Celerity’s structures and contracts are unusual and create conflicts of interests.
Fact: This is inaccurate and based on a misunderstanding of the roles of Celerity Educational Group and Celerity Global Development. Celerity Educational Group is the schools. Or in legal speak, it’s the legal entity that runs the Celerity schools in Southern California. And it is governed by an independent board of respected citizens who volunteer their time to supervise the highly successful Celerity schools.
Celerity Global Development is a separate organization that supports the schools. Global develops Celerity’s highly successful curriculum, leads its robust performing arts programs, presents effective professional development for Celerity’s teachers, and facilitates replication of the Celerity model outside of California. Global also provides administrative support for the schools, such as assisting with accounting, payroll, etc. Like the schools, Global is also governed by its own, independent board of volunteers who take their oversight responsibilities seriously.
This setup between a Global, supporting the schools, and Celerity Educational Group, operating the schools, is not unusual. LAUSD has approved and renewed charters for Celerity Educational Group and numerous other charter schools with similar structures, including one just this year, with precisely the same structure.
Fiction #3: According to a newspaper article, Ms. McFarlane used Celerity Educational Group funds to shop, visit beauty salons, travel in style, and dine at expensive restaurants.
Fact: We’ve examined these carefully and our research shows that none of these were charged to the schools. Many were appropriate Global expenses, paid for by Global. A few were personal expenses mistakenly put on the school credit card, which Ms. McFarlane paid back.
Fiction #4: Celerity Educational Group funnels money to four companies owned by Ms. McFarlane: an information technology company called Attenture, a general contracting company called Celerity Contracting Services, a corporation that buys properties and rents them to Celerity schools called Celerity Development, and a private high school called Orion International Academy.
Fact: Attenture, Celerity Contracting, Celerity Development, and Orion are affiliates of Global, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity. Ms. McFarlane does not own any of them; indeed, she has never received any compensation from any of these companies (Attenture, Celerity Contracting, Celerity Development, and Orion) at any time.
Attenture, Celerity Contracting, and Celerity Development are in fact for-profit companies, but only because of the byzantine federal tax code and California’s overly-complicated education code. And they are each owned by a nonprofit (Global), so any profits would go to support Global’s charitable purposes. Celerity Educational Group’s and Global’s lawyers recommended the formation of both Attenture and Contracting because the IRS does not typically permit information technology (Attenture) and construction (Contracting) to be charitable activities, even when those types of companies substantially work to support charitable endeavors. And Celerity Development was created, again based on the advice of the schools’ lawyers, because of the requirements of California’s education law (specifically, SB 740), which only provides funding assistance to charter schools if the school is paying rent to a separate entity that owns the property. Having a separate company own the property like Development does is so common among California charter schools that it is reflected in the relevant regulations.
One Truth
There is however one point the newspaper did get right. The founder of the Celerity Schools does routinely say “Education is a business.” That is how we look at it. We treat our parents and students like every school should – like valued customers who want the very best education possible. And that is what we provide!
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Atención Estudiantes, Padres y Partidarios de las Escuelas de Celeridad::
Muchos de ustedes han leído en las noticias que LAUSD está haciendo muchas acusaciones contra Celerity Educational Group y nuestro fundador y ex-director general, Vielka McFarlane. Hay varios errores flagrantes e insinuaciones en los artículos que necesitamos corregir. Es importante que nuestras familias, nuestros maestros y personal, y nuestra comunidad conozcan la verdad.
Nuestra capacidad para responder a estas falsas acusaciones, por desgracia, se ve obstaculizada por el hecho de que nuestros ordenadores y registros fueron incautados y aún no han sido devueltos. A medida que volvamos a tener acceso a nuestros documentos, les proporcionamos prontamente más información.
Ficción versus hecho
Ficción # 1: El salario de la Sra. McFarlane en 2013 fue excesivo y alrededor del 35% más que lo que gana Michelle King, el superintendente del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles.
Hecho: El salario de la Sra. McFarlane estaba de acuerdo con salarios típicos en organizaciones similares en el campo de la educación. La Sra. McFarlane no ganó $ 471,842 en salario. Su salario para el año escolar 2012-13 fue de $ 257,500, más un subsidio de $ 10,680 por su automóvil. El resto de su compensación en 2013 se contabilizó como un pago de vacaciones no utilizado. El sueldo de 350.000 dólares que gana Michelle King es sólo su salario en efectivo, sin tener en cuenta su coche, su chofer, y otros beneficios. Comparando manzanas con manzanas, el salario en efectivo de la Sra. McFarlane, que era 257.700 dólares, es menor que el salario en efectivo de Sra. King, que era 350.000 dólares.
Ficción # 2 : Los estructuras y contratos de Celerity son extraños y crean conflictos de intereses.
Hecho: Ésto es inexacto y se basa en un malentendido de los papeles que juegan Celerity Educational Group y Celerity Global Development. Celerity Educational Group rige las escuelas. En términos legales, es la entidad que dirige las escuelas de Celerity en el sur de California. Es gobernada por una junta independiente de ciudadanos respetados que ofrecen su tiempo voluntario para supervisar las escuelas de Celerity, las cuales han sido altamente exitosas.
En cambio, Celerity Global Development es una organización separada que apoya a las escuelas. Global desarrolla el exitoso plan de estudios de Celerity, lidera sus vibrantes programas de artes escénicas, se encarga del desarrollo profesional de los profesores de Celerity, y facilita la replicación del modelo Celerity fuera de California. Global también brinda apoyo administrativo a las escuelas, tales como la contabilidad, la nómina de pago, y más. Al igual que las escuelas, Global también está gobernado por su propia junta independiente de voluntarios quienes toman en serio sus responsabilidades de supervisión.
Esta configuración entre un Global, la entidad que apoya a las escuelas, y Celerity Educational Group, la entidad que se encarga del funcionamiento de las escuelas, no es rara. LAUSD ha aprobado y renovado cartas de autorización para Celerity Educational Group y muchas otras escuelas “charter” con estructuras similares. Por ejemplo, LAUSD recientemente aprobó una escuela con la misma estructura.
Ficción # 3: Según un artículo de periódico, la Sra. McFarlane usaba los fondos del Celerity Educational Group para ir de compras, visitar salones de belleza, viajar de lujo y cenar en restaurantes caros.
Hecho: Hemos examinado estos cargos cuidadosamente y nuestra investigación muestra que ninguno de ellos fueron cobrados a las escuelas. Muchos eran gastos apropriados para Global y pagados por Global. Unos cuantos fueron gastos personales equivocados en la tarjeta de crédito de la escuela, y la Sra. McFarlane ya los pagó personalmente.
Ficción # 4: Celerity Educational Group dirige dinero a cuatro compañías que son propiedades de Ms. McFarlane: una compañía de tecnología llamada Attenture, una compañía de contratación de obras llamada Celerity Contracting Services, una corporación que compra propiedades y las alquila a las escuelas Celerity llamada Celerity Development, y una escuela secundaria privada llamada Orion International Academy.
Hecho: Attenture, Celerity Contracting, Celerity Development y Orion son entidades filiales de Global, una organización benéfica sin fines de lucro 501 (c) (3). La Sra. McFarlane no es propietaria de ninguna de ellas. De hecho, nunca ha recibido ningúna remuneración de ninguna de estas compañías (Attenture, Celerity Contracting, Celerity Development y Orion) en cualquier momento.
Attenture, Celerity Contracting y Celerity Development son compañías con fines de lucro, pero sólo por razón de leyes fiscales complicadas y el código de educación en California. Sin embargo, cada entidad es propiedad de una organización sin fines de lucro (Global). Entonces, cualquier beneficio que reciban se destinaría a apoyar los propósitos benéficos de Global. Los abogados de Celerity Educational Group y Global recomendaron constituir Attenture y Contracting porque el fiscal Federal no suele permitir que la provisión de tecnología y la construcción sean actividades caritativas, aun cuando esos servicios apoyan proyectos caritativos. Además, se creó Celerity Development, también con el consejo de los abogados de las escuelas, para conformar a la ley de educación de California (específicamente SB 740). Ésta ley limita la ayuda financiera a escuelas chárter que estén pagando renta a un terrateniente. Pagar renta a una empresa independiente que sirve como terrateniente es tan común entre las escuelas charter de California que se ve esta estructura en los reglamentos de educación pertinentes.
Una verdad
Sin embargo, hay un punto que el periódico hizo bien. El fundador de las escuelas Celerity siempre dice que "la educación es un negocio." Estámos de acuerdo. Tratamos a nuestros padres y estudiantes como cada escuela debe - como clientes valorados que quieren la mejor educación posible. Y eso es lo que ofrecemos!
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Celerity Families - We Need Your Help!
Now more than ever, our community leaders need to hear from our families. We want to know why you chose a Celerity school for your student(s) and why. Help Celerity by sharing your story using our quick online form using the link below or send it by email to info@celerityschools.org. Thank you for your continued support!
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Benchmark Testing at Celerity Schools
Celerity Scholars are continuing to take their 3rd Benchmark of the year from March 13th-March 31st. Please make sure your child comes to school on time and eats a healthy breakfast. Breakfast is served from 7:15 am-7:50 am.
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Reader's Theater at Celerity Octavia!
The CEG Expanded Learning Program is gearing up for its Reader's Theater Showcase at Celerity Octavia on March 27th! The showcase is a culmination of 10 weeks of literacy focused activities for each grade level. Students will assume the roles of "Theater People" (Actors, Directors, Designers, Marketing Professionals, Playwrights, and Stage Designers) to present their favorite scene from the texts they have read over the last 10 weeks. For information on the showcase at your campus, please see your Expanded Learning Site Coordinator.
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Tribal Drumming Clinic at Celerity Achernar
Last week, Kindergarten and 1st Grade students at Celerity Achernar in Compton enjoyed their first drum circle class with percussion instructor Mr. Mohammed. Students were excited to participate in the drum circle that is usually reserved for students in grades 2-8.
Mr. Mohammed is a well known African Drummer, he has traveled around the world and host drum clinics throughout Southern California, most recently at the Aquarium of the Pacific's African Heritage Celebration.
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Scholastic Book Fair at Celerity Achernar This Week!
Celerity Achernar will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair this week, March 20th - 24th, from 2:45 pm - 4 pm. The Book Fair will be located on the stage in the MPR. We hope to have a lot of Achernar Scholars buying books!
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Join Us for Movie Night at Celerity Achernar!
Celerity Achernar's 8th Grade Culminating Class will host their first movie night on Wednesday, March 22nd from 4 pm - 6 pm for Kindergartners-3rd Graders. Please help support this event by providing a $2 donation. Snacks will also be available for sale during the event. Bring your blanket, pillow, teddy bear and enjoy the show!
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Why parent choice matters
By Hilda Torres - Celerity Dyad Parent
LA School Report - March 17, 2017
There’s a growing debate here in Southern California as to whether public charter schools are making positive impacts in our communities. As a single mother of a student attending Celerity Dyad Charter School, I am pleased with my decision to choose the school that fits best for my family.
I know LAUSD schools well and the challenges that face students to remain in school. I attended Carver Middle School, Jordan High School for 9th grade and Jefferson High School for 10th grade. I dropped out after my sophomore year. I currently work full-time, but I am eagerly pursuing my GED.
I am a firm believer in public charter schools. In all honesty, I did not want my son sharing the same experience – forced to attend low-performing schools which were assigned to me. I want my son to have a choice – the one I never had as a student.
My son is an energetic fourth-grader who is very smart, friendly and outgoing. He has earned Honor Roll on a yearly basis. My son loves the school, its teachers and looks forward to going every day.
With all that’s great about our school experience, I grow frustrated with selected comments in the media about the harms of public charter schools in our communities. Many of these criticisms are made by “concerned” parents whose children go to school in affluent neighborhoods. They suggest that our public charter school is depleting funds from the overall school district and I should simply send my son to the failing neighborhood school here in South Los Angeles. It’s a bit condescending to imply they know what’s best for my child.
This is simply the wrong approach to our educational system. My son should have the opportunity to attend good schools – and so should other children in our community. This right to choose should not be reserved for only those with privilege. I don’t appreciate these individuals choosing the best for their own and then denying that right to those who may have limited means or access.
It’s a hard fact that public charter schools are a lifeline for thousands of Southern Californian families – including mine. So why should our school be maligned in the media or a school board meeting? Before public charter schools arrived, if your child was zoned for a terrible school and you couldn’t afford private school or to move, you were trapped. Thankfully, public charter schools such as Celerity Dyad Charter School were introduced as laboratories of innovation and parent collaboration. Our school is successful because as parents, we demand it.
I am not intimidated by comments espoused by the teachers union or a school district bureaucrat. If they view parent choice as a threat, then it’s a sign that our school is making a positive impact in our community. Parents such as myself refuse to sit idly by while our children are forced to be assigned to unsafe neighborhood schools that aren’t working. We as parents and community members can be – and will be – stronger voices for our children.
Hilda Torres is a single mother whose child attends Celerity Dyad Charter School in South Los Angeles. She is currently serving her third year as PTO president.
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Celerity Educational Group is now on Facebook! Be sure to "LIKE" our page to receive news and updates about our California schools!
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