SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gray Davis’ appointment of a retired Inglewood principal to the state school board was confirmed Thursday by the state Senate.

The appointment of Nancy Ichinaga had been criticized by bilingual education groups because she required English-learning students at her Bennett Kew Elementary School to learn through English immersion.

Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco), said senators felt Ichinaga was sensitive to non-English-speaking students because she started school in Hawaii speaking only Japanese and pidgin English.

“She’s had an excellent record as far as taking low-performing students at the beginning and raising their grades dramatically,” Burton said.

The vote was 29-0 to confirm the appointment.



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