Inglewood school official apologizes In letter to city officials, Don Brann says he sorry for ‘insensitive’ remarks By Gene C. Johnson Jr. Don Brann Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2014 12:38 pm | Updated: 4:57 pm, Fri Oct 17, 2014. By Gene C. Johnson Jr., Contributing Writer | 2 comments INGLEWOOD — Don Brann, the state-appointed trustee of the Inglewood Unified School District, has sent a letter to the City Council and Mayor James Butts apologizing for he what he said were “insensitive” remarks he told a media outlet regarding his safety in the city. Last month, Brann told radio station KPCC that “I don’t want to get hurt here. I don’t know enough about present-day Inglewood to know how good the chances are for that so I’m just erring on the side of safety.” Where's the story? PointsMentioned Map 2 Points Mentioned Brann was responding to questions about his security detail. He had earlier authorized approved $135,000 in district funds to pay for an armed California Highway Patrol officer who works as his driver and security guard. In his letter to the city, dated Oct. 9, Brann said: “My recent comments were insensitive to the Inglewood community which I’m privileged to serve, and I offer my deepest apologies to Mayor Butts, council members and to the entire Inglewood community. “I am extremely grateful for the warm welcome the entire Inglewood community has given me, and I hope they will forgive my unfortunate choice of words,” the letter added. School district spokeswoman Kristin Agostoni said the CHP protection was put in place in April 2013 when LaTanya Kirk-Cater was interim state trustee and the CHP determined that there was a safety threat. Agostoni said a $200,000 fund was then established and more than a year later, not all of that money has been spent. “Dr. Brann has now extended the CHP contract to April 2015,” she said. “With that, an extra $135,000 has been added to cover anticipated expenses.” Nevertheless, the extension of the CHP contract drew the ire of Christopher Graeber, a field representative with the California Professional Employees, Local Union No. 2345, and the union representing the classified employees in the school district such as custodians, office workers, food service, and instructional aides. “The district voted to increase the amount of fees paid to the CHP for a security detail for the state trustee [up to] $335,000 per year, while the district had no campus supervisors for the first two weeks of school,” Graeber said. “Recently, the district brought back on one fourth of the security workers [six workers] on a limited duty assignment. The district’s staffing formula calls for five campus supervisors for high schools and the district currently has only two. “The students of Inglewood need a full range of security, including campus supervisors and school police,” Graeber added. “The district cannot operate with this huge gap in security. The state trustee should have left well enough alone.” The California Highway Patrol provides security through its dignitary protection section to state officials, including the governor and all state constitutional elected positions Brann has not received any threats in the 15 months he has been on the job. He was appointed last year to oversee the district, the third special trustee to oversee the district after the school board and superintendent requested a bailout loan from the state two years ago. Brann said he recently signed a contract that will keep him at the district for another three years. “My family is sacrificing for me to come here on an encore career,” said the longtime school administrator who lives in nearby El Segundo. “I came here to help the people here, and I am." Brann is the only one of four state school trustees with a security detail, according to the CHP. The only other state education official with such protection is State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, who as a state constitutional elected official is required to have a security detail.