The Inglewood Unified School District is undergoing a lot of changes, and what better way to keep people engaged and informed than to speak to them on YouTube.
That’s where “IUSD Unplugged” takes the stage. The YouTube show premiered back in September and has published two episodes that have included a range of guests from school principals to even Inglewood Mayor James Butts.
The third and most recent episode was filmed last week at Accelerated Radio studio on La Brea Avenue. James Morris, the district’s county administrator, said the show is simply a new way to connect with the community and to hear what people have to say about Inglewood schools.
“There are lots of folks who won’t read a newsletter but they’ll listen to a podcast or they’ll watch something that they see on YouTube,” said Morris, who appeared as a guest in the first episode.
The latest episode will be published by mid-March, according to the show’s media consultant Shannon Coppa, who helps produce the show. The goal of the YouTube show is to give people more insight and information about what’s currently happening and how the district is preparing for the future, Morris said. The show is taped quarterly and includes students — whether they’re hosting or being interviewed as guests.
Saira Moreira, a senior at Inglewood High School United, said she felt like students are now being heard and she was honored when Morris asked her to be on the show.
“When students see news, it’s mostly adults. We’re not seeing people our age explaining it,” Saira said. “So by seeing people like us, we’ll be inspired to do more.”
Latest episode showcases students discussing changes to school campuses
The students were front and center during the Feb. 27 taping, talking about what they saw happening throughout the district. Bernadette Lucas, assistant superintendent of education services, served as host of this episode of “IUSD Unplugged.”
One of the students on set was Malachi Coleman, a high school junior who attends City Honors International Preparatory School. During the show he talked about the impact of having a newly renovated library at City Honors.
“I’m glad to see the students have a great learning environment and hearing all of this makes me want to stay another four years,” said Malachi, who wants to study business or sports analytics in college.
Another guest on this episode was Raphael Guzman, assistant superintendent of business services, who said the learning environment in Inglewood is being revamped and upgraded. One of the improvements Guzman highlighted was a new $15 million child development center, with eight classrooms, a multipurpose room, an administration building and a playground. The center is scheduled to open in August.
“I’m excited about Inglewood being rebuilt,” Malachi told The LA Local. “I’ll probably be long gone by then and have graduated but coming back to see the new school and students thriving will be heartwarming for me.”
Saira Moreira, the Inglewood United senior who was also on this latest episode, was one of the students who worked with city and district architects as they designed the new bridge on Manchester Avenue that’ll connect the library with Inglewood United, Morris said.
“I’m really excited to see the bridge because I want to see how it’s going to unfold. How are students going to use that? How’s the public going to see it?” said Saira, who wants to study aerospace engineering in college.
Coppa, the media consultant, said they plan to tape the next episode of “IUSD Unplugged” in May but they haven’t set a date and have not made any final decisions about the topic of the show. When it is completed, you can watch it on YouTube.
