So. Beaver lawyer cites racism

Jun 6, 2010 — The Arizona Daily Sun

Jun. 2, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Several South Beaver Elementary School families have retained a lawyer prepared to argue that Flagstaff Unified School District's recommendation to close South Beaver, among other schools, is a case of discrimination and special interests.

Flagstaff-based Gonzales and Poirier is representing 33 South Beaver students, or nearly 10 percent of the student body. In a letter dated May 24 and released late Tuesday, attorney Tony Gonzales does not expressly state intent to sue. But he does list several concerns from parents at the predominantly Hispanic school. Among them: fears of racism at their new schools and a concern that South Beaver's closure is being maneuvered to benefit Northern Arizona University's College of Education.

The letter, addressed to FUSD Superintendent Barbara Hickman, criticizes the district's handling of the closure plan, including the lingering uncertainty as the school year closes (the school board votes on the issue next week); that a language barrier prevented South Beaver families from participating in discussions; and that the decision to send displaced South Beaver children to nearby Kinsey Elementary would perpetuate segregation (Kinsey is ethnically diverse, but also has high numbers of economically disadvantaged and English language learner students).

South Beaver opened in 1935 to accommodate children of Mexican heritage and other ethnic minorities. Today, 58 percent of the 349 students identify as Hispanic, the highest of any FUSD school. About 69 percent of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch and about 15 percent are classified as English language learners, both the second-highest of any district school. It is located in the Southside neighborhood, immediately east of NAU.

The letter also describes how the South Beaver property, recently renovated with voter-approved bond money, would benefit NAU, and draws associations with FUSD and NAU leadership that point at potential conflicts of interest: FUSD assistant superintendent Bob Kuhn's sister, Jane, oversees NAU's facilities, and school board members Deborah Harris and Sara Aleman are employed by the university (although neither is in the College of Education).

In an e-mail, Gonzales said his firm drafted the letter "hoping that the school board would address some important issues before they vote on the school closure. Particularly, we believe that discrimination may result from any closure of South Beaver."2

Newstex ID: KRTB-0065-45792348