Senate committee recommends approval for former Inglewood principal

SACRAMENTO—A Senate committee recommended Wednesday that Gov. Gray Davis’ appointment of a retired Inglewood principal to the state school board be confirmed.

The Rules Committee’s 4-0 vote for Nancy Ichinaga came despite opposition from bilingual education groups because she pushed English immersion at her school.

Supporters of Ichinaga noted that students at her former Bennett Kew Elementary School in Inglewood are mostly poor and minority children, but did well on the statewide tests.

“Nancy is committed to assuring that every child is successful in school,” said Kerry Mazzoni, Davis’ education secretary.

“I believe that all children can learn and my whole professional life has been dedicated to proving this,” Ichinaga told the committee.

Opponents, including the California Association for Bilingual Education, said parents should have a choice of programs to help their children learn English.

Martha Diaz of CABE said Ichinaga backed Proposition 227, the 1998 initiative that ended most bilingual education programs.

The confirmation now goes before the full Senate, which must confirm Ichinaga by March 3 or she must leave the office.

The state Board of Education sets policy for the state public school system. Its 11 members are all appointed by the governor.



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