Bankruptcy filed to fight eviction

Students of an Islamic school in Huntington Beach attended classes this week despite an eviction notice directing them to vacate the closed Wardlow School by Monday, California Science Academy Chairman Suleiman Rawag said.

After a third day of students, parents and teachers protesting outside the Fountain Valley School District office, Rawag said the academy filed for a Chapter 11 reorganization Monday in hopes of staying in the building through the end of the school year.

The students protested to convince the district to allow the seventh through 12th grade school to stay. Rawag said an Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy served the school with a notice stating they had to be out by Monday — within a month of the end of graduation for the school’s seniors.

“We just want to graduate, finish our education,” 18-year-old senior Sadieh Abu-Touk said.

Barry Blade, the district’s business services assistant superintendent, said the school is tens of thousands of dollars behind in paying its rent and the district has had the wheels moving on the eviction for months.

“I don’t like the fact that students are affected, but as the business guy it’s up to me to enforce the rules,” Blade said.

It is the second time the district has tried to evict the school, Blade said. The academy was served with an eviction notice in April 2007, which it took to court. A February settlement allowed the academy to stay but increased the school’s rent by 32%, including a retroactive increase of past rent.

Rawag blames the school’s shortfall on the district.

The first eviction notice resulted in 40% to 50% of the school’s students leaving, Rawag said. The loss of tuition fees and donor parents made it even more difficult to pay the rent.

He also contends the district was pressured by anti-Islamists in the school’s neighborhood to push the academy out.

“They just want to kick us out because we’re Muslim,” said 17-year-old senior Karim Salem. “It’s racist and wrong.”

Rawag said the rental increase is evidence of prejudice against Muslims.

Blade denies accusations the district’s actions are fueled by anti-Muslim complaints. The rent increase was designed to cover the district’s attorney fees from the lawsuit, he said.

Rawag’s perception of anti-Islam sentiments in the school’s neighborhood aren’t unfounded.

Neighbor Joe Rasmussen said the school is quiet and respectful, but he worries about Muslim students being taught science and math.

Other neighbors, who wished to remain nameless, expressed they were uncomfortable with having a Muslim school in the neighborhood.

Julian Judd, another neighbor, said the school is quiet and causes little disruption to the neighborhood.