The First Bad Omen
The first indication that the evening would go badly for the Academy came in the opening lines of the brief counterpoint presented by Mr. Jones. Choosing tradition and longevity as his weapons, Mr. Jones pointed out that 10101 Jefferson has a long history of hosting schools. He cited the previous tenant, the Eras School for children with special needs, which operated there from 1987 until ’00. But Mr. Jones seemed to blush a few minutes later when Mr. Corlin asked if he realized that Eras also was out of compliance with City Hall regulations during the length of its residency. Mr. Jones said no.
Another Violator
Among a cluster of ironies in this peculiar case, evidence emerged during the meeting that the Eco Star Station is itself out of compliance with city regulations. The Agency also gave the Eco Station owners 90 days to fulfill requirements without attaching an “or else” tag. The Academy and the Eco Star Station have an interlocking relationship, which could be interpreted as common ownership. Indications were that the unusual little non-profit school “for highly, highly gifted students” will leave Culver City. Their destination, however, remains unclear. Academy founder Katia Bozzi, plainly distressed, said she was “shocked and surprised” by the cease-and-desist order. Ten years ago, Ms. Bozzi’s late husband Eric, her son Erick and her daughter Katiana — all named Bozzi — organized the Star Eco Station, a museum that was intended to be a major environmental educational tool for Westside schoolchildren. Student groups tour the layout regularly. While much factual data about this case remains blurred, around the time the Star Eco Station moved into its present quarters, 10101 Jefferson Blvd., in 2000, the widowed Mrs. Bozzi began accepting students for what would become the Star Prep Academy. Possibly there was a confusion of definition by the Eco Station owners. Their city-issued business tax certificate permitted them to conduct “education services.” City Hall says that “education services” does not mean operating a standard school. One of the unique aspects of the Academy for middle and high school students, where tuition is in the $15,000 range, is that each child follows a scholastic track tailored to his needs. Mrs. Bozzi said the school was not formally organized — inside the Star Eco Station, without signage —until ’03. Another two years would pass before City Hall would learn about the school. In a low-key manner, through letters and two face-to-face sessions, City Hall has sought to convince Mrs. Bozzi to file an application for what is colorfully known as an after-the-fact Conditional Use Permit, with which all — well, most — business owners are familiar. Cajoling the school to file and fill out the paper requirements did not work. On June 16, Academy representatives met with City Atty. Carol Schwab. Only after that meeting, according to testimony, did the first “minor” moves toward compliance begin. Before hurrying with a fury out of Council Chambers last night, Mrs. Bozzi said she has been confused over the years by a welter of perceived conflicting demands from City Hall. “We didn’t want to be a school,” she said. ”We wanted to be a museum.”
COUNCIL NOTES — Although the gigantic portion of Fiesta La Ballona does not start until Friday night at 6 at Vets Park, the annual tribute to Culver City’s history officially began last night. A five-piece mariachi band smilingly strutted down the middle aisle into Council Chambers to set the tone for the formal announcement by Fiesta Chair Tom Camarella. Assembling a dozen members of the Fiesta Committee, pronounced Fiesta, which began 55 years ago, underway… Thefrontpageonlne.com’s fashion editor admired the first-time bow-tie worn by Mr. Corlin, who often sports a polo shirt to meetings…West L.A. College history Prof. Patricia Seaver invited residents to call (310.287.4369) and learn about the school’s Accelerated College Transfer program…