School Officials Reassigned After Losing Court Battle

Four Inglewood Unified School District administrators have been transferred to new positions after fighting the reassignments in court. Last week, a Superior Court judge dissolved a temporary restraining order sought by school employees who said they were being demoted or transferred because they supported school board candidates opposed to Inglewood Unified School District Supt. McKinley Nash.

Hollis Dillon, former director of special services, will be a teacher at Monroe Middle School, said George William Shaeffer, a school board attorney. Walter Cruz, former assistant director of special services, has been assigned to Inglewood High School as assistant principal.

Karen Peters and Debra Tate, assistant principals at Inglewood High School, will become assistant principals at Monroe Middle School and Crozier Middle School, respectively.

Mansfield Collins, the attorney representing the Inglewood administrators, said he may fight the demotions. “We are upset, stunned and shocked,” Collins said Monday. “But we are not conceding.”

A separate temporary restraining order is being sought by Inglewood High School Principal Kenneth Crowe, who is fighting his demotion to a teaching position. Collins said a Superior Court judge will hear arguments in the Crowe case Monday.