This story was produced under The LA Local’s Youth Journalism Program. To learn more or to get involved, click here.
Ernesto Castillo says he owes “everything to Inglewood.”
A product of the Inglewood Unified School District, Castillo is now entering his fifth year as a trustee on the city’s Board of Education where he has advocated for green space in schools, student protection against ICE, as well as school and facilities improvement.
He’s also seeing the transformation of the district at a time when it is working to exit state control.
“The work starts now to make sure we have board members that represent the community well, that are able to provide transparency, and are able to do the research and engage with the community to understand what is needed,” he said.
Castillo is a first-generation law school graduate and has worked for former U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas in Washington D.C. Castillo was also city commissioner for the Inglewood Public Library.
A group of The LA Local’s new cohort of youth journalists interviewed Castillo about his role as an IUSD board member. Castillo said his comments do not reflect the opinions of the entire IUSD board.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Castillo explains why he joined the Inglewood Board of Education
The LA Local: As someone who lives in Inglewood, what does Inglewood mean to you?
Ernesto Castillo: I was born and raised in Inglewood. My whole family lives in Inglewood, and so it’s home first. And I think being part of the City of Champions is something that I take very seriously, so I’ve always been able to dream big. Being from Inglewood is something that I carry. It’s part of my decision-making skills when I’m on the board. It’s our responsibility to also make sure that we’re always finding a way to give back. There’s also a lot of support because we are a tight knit community, and we’re always able to help each other in the school district and beyond.
The LA Local: Why did you decide to join the IUSD Board of Education?
Castillo: I was asked to. Initially I was hesitant because I was starting law school. But I think it was just a moment I couldn’t pass up. There’s also never been a Latino on the board before. For a district that’s 66% Latino, representation is very important. That representation led to a lot of important things, including immigration protections for the past year, expanding the dual immersion program so we have more Spanish classes, and also making sure we have more bilingual speakers at the sites.
The LA Local: What points in your career led to you becoming a school board member? And how has being from Inglewood influenced how you view your responsibility as a school board member?
Castillo: The district falling under receivership when I was a high school student was one one of the things. Seeing our school facilities fall apart. So when my little brother was a high school student, Inglewood High looked the same as when my parents went there and my uncles went there, so that was disappointing. I was educated by amazing educators. Some that are still in the school district. They raised me. You know, my parents did a great job but it was really more than that. It was the school district. It was the parks and rec employees. It was the volunteers that came to our events growing up. So I owe everything to Inglewood, and I think that’s the best description of what I feel is my connection. It’s a responsibility I have.
The LA Local: How does your connection to Inglewood influence the decisions you make for students in the district?
Castillo: Having the experience of not only being a former student, but being a student during the state takeover has definitely influenced what I want to see for our schools and the opportunities I want to provide. I was student body president when the district fell apart. I was trying to do all these cool things, all these field trips, and they told me like: “No, we don’t have the money to do anything because we actually don’t have money to even pay our teachers.” So dealing with that, I don’t want you guys to ever feel limited in terms of what’s possible. I just want to make sure that you know the sky’s the limit, and you can have everything you ever wanted, and you’re never limited by your ZIP code when you’re from Inglewood.
Castillo discusses IUSD’s receivership status and school safety
The LA Local: As stated before, you said IUSD will receive a state agency visit in February of next year, and if everything goes as planned, it will be back under local control by 2027. What is one of the first things you plan to do after receiving the district’s control back from the state?
Castillo: Most importantly, I want to rebuild all the schools. It’s really important that our schools reflect that we do care about you [students]. When I was at City Honors, we were in the bungalows of Inglewood High, and you felt like you weren’t cared for. You felt like you weren’t important, and I don’t want our students to feel that way. So I want to rebuild all the schools and build gyms for our middle schools.
The LA Local: What should IUSD students expect as far as direct changes within the district in the future?
Castillo: I think one of the best things for next year is going to be the new Inglewood High School. It’s going to be really, really nice, and it’s going to reflect a lot of what we’re trying to move forward. There’s going to be CTE (career and technical education) rooms, trades and computer coding. All is going to be available on the actual school site instead of having to go somewhere else to do it.
The LA Local: In addition to introducing new programs and rebuilding schools, are there additional steps you plan to take to reverse attendance and enrollment issues?
Castillo: We’re going to try to pass a bond measure this fall. I’m really excited about it because it’s kind of a way we’re able to tax the billionaires. So it’s a property tax, and it’s going to be 6 cents for every $100 of assessed property value. So the average property owner is going to pay probably $200 extra in property taxes, but the good thing about it is that we’re able to also tax the stadiums, so the stadiums are going to pay about $3 million every year. It has to be a uniform tax because if not, they will try to fight it in court or something or find ways for a loophole. But there’s no loophole for a bond measure.
The LA Local: We kind of talked a little bit about the safety of the students, but when it comes to ICE coming into schools, how have you prepared your students to protect themselves, and what resources do you have for them?
Castillo: We’ve seen a decline in enrollment because of the [ICE raids]. I’ve had parents reach out to me and say, “We’re not coming to school anymore. I’m going to homeschool or self-deport.” Unfortunately, for some it was just too much for them to live through. The biggest thing [we’ve done] was training the staff. Every staff member in Inglewood knows you cannot enter a school site unless you have a judicial warrant.
The LA Local: You mentioned that you, Becky G, built a greenspace at Oak Street Elementary, do you plan to build more greenspaces throughout Inglewood?
Castillo: Definitely. Not only in the schools, but in the city too. So I’m working with a councilman to do another community garden in one of our local parks. It’s going to be really awesome, and we’re going to have senior citizens and preschool students and all the students in the area take turns taking care of it.
Castillo shares his vision for Inglewood’s future and its youth
The LA Local: What do you plan to do for Inglewood once your current term on the IUSD board ends in 2028?
Castillo: I plan to run for re-election in 2028, but I think there are going to be term limits. Well, the term limits were implemented during receivership. I think we may look into revising that, but if that’s not revised, I still have two terms after this, and I think I need those eight years to do my entire policy agenda that I see for the district. Hopefully I find other folks who have the same ideas and and goals for the district, so they could carry it on in case I get termed out.
The LA Local: As a Latino who went on to higher education, what would be some words of advice you could give to us youth who one day want to pursue higher education?
Castillo: I think my experience in law school is more telling of how you’re able to find your community, find others who have gone through the same struggles you’ve gone through, and understand that there’s a lot of pressure being a first-generation college student, or law student. But you’re not alone, and you should never feel like you’re alone. And the biggest thing for me that I still have struggles to this day is asking for help. You know, don’t be shy to ask for help. Always ask for help because there’s a lot of folks that are willing to help you.
The LA Local: What role do you hope younger people will play in the district and education system?
Castillo: I hope y’all enjoy your life, go to college, you know, have fun, go to grad school, but as soon as you can, run for office because it is a big jump. I first ran when I was 27 years old but it’s not just running for positions. There’s commission positions you could take, just take space because if you don’t, other folks will, and other folks have different agendas.
