June 19, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Information:
Reform AUSD
reformAUSD@gmail.com
ALHAMBRA COMMUNITY DEMANDS SCHOOL BOARD AND PRINCIPAL RESIGNATIONS,
TRANSPARENCY MAN COMES TO PROTEST
San Gabriel, California - June 19, 2015
After Alhambra Unified School District (AUSD) administration ignored the publics concerns regarding the
abrupt dismissal of a popular teacher and violated several students First Amendment rights, community
members will be holding a large-scale protest on June 23 at 5:00 p.m. at the AUSD office located at 1515
West Mission Road, Alhambra, CA 91803. Community members will also speak at the school board
meeting at 6:00 p.m. to express their grievances and demand accountability from the district.
This protest will be a first-time experience for many students and their immigrant parents, and will feature
hero Transparency Man. Transparency Man, crafted by award-winning artist Alex Luu, demands
transparency from AUSD and the AUSD Board of Education. The AUSD community is a majority minority
community comprised of Hispanics and Asians; most students in the district receive reduced price or free
lunch and are the first generation in their families to attend college. Schools in AUSD receive Title 1
funding.
Several people will be speaking at the board meeting, including journalists from The Matador, students
from San Gabriel High School, Transparency Man, and concerned citizens from Rethink Education. An
ACLU representative is also scheduled to speak as are other prominent advocates. The Matador intends
to address the districts use of intimidation to silence students and teachers; school and employee
bullying condoned by administration; the lack of transparency in regards to district records; First
Amendment violations; and press rights. The students from San Gabriel High School, who have been
working with a veteran strategist, will be speaking about the boards responsibility to the community and
how poorly it has treated its staff. As his name implies, Transparency Man will be emphasizing the
importance of transparency and trust. Concerned citizens will also be speaking from other high school(s)
in the district regarding the districts use of retaliation and its lack of concern for students.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
This whole issue originated on May 22 when first-year English teacher and Speech & Debate coach
Andrew Nguyen was notified that his teaching contract would not be renewed for the following year. When
students sought a reason for his dismissal from principal Jim Schofield and AUSD, both claimed that they
could not discuss personnel matters in the interests of Nguyens privacy despite Nguyens written
statement allowing all interested parties to discuss whatever they feel is appropriate about [his] time at
San Gabriel High.
The issue gained traction when Schofield attempted to censor The Matadors coverage of Nguyens
dismissal and students were threatened with arrest upon planning a peaceful protest on the day of
graduation. In light of these First Amendment violations, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
threatened AUSD with a lawsuit. In response, Superintendent Laura Tellez-Gagliano said that the district

would conduct an investigation of the censorship, neglecting to address their threats to the student
protesters.
Because of the districts lack of transparency and inadequate responses to the community, many citizens
believe that the district and the principal must be held accountable, even if that entails calling for a new
administration and Board of Education.
KNBC Coverage:
http://thematadorsghs.com/2015/06/knbc-runs-news-report-on-andrew-nguyen-dismissal-firstamendment-violations/
Pasadena Star News (3 articles and counting):
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/search?text=alhambra+unified+school+district
Student Press Law Center coverage:
http://www.splc.org/article/2015/06/california-students-allege-teacher-firing-story-censored
The Matador Newspaper:
http://thematadorsghs.com/
Board meeting coverage:
http://thematadorsghs.com/2015/06/june-2-school-board-meeting-coverage-by-the-matador/
Transparency op-ed:
http://thematadorsghs.com/2015/06/transparency-brings-trust-my-odyssey-trying-to-get-a-tape-of-anausd-board-meeting/
The Matador Newspaper censorship statement:
http://thematadorsghs.com/2015/06/statement-from-the-matador-regarding-english-teacher-debatecoach-bids-farewell-to-san-gabriel/
Alhambra Source:
http://www.alhambrasource.org/news/students-protest-teachers-dismissal-claim-violation-firstamendment-rights
http://www.alhambrasource.org/news/alhambra-unified-school-district-investigating-censorship-claims

San Gabriel High School Speech & Debate team with Andrew Nguyen in the front.
(Photo courtesy of Chris Lew)
END