Tod Corrin Says Farewell Cases ■ the Longtime Civic Leader Has Left His Friday 68˚ Mark on Downey’S Spike Public Education System
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Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020 Vol. 19 No. 32 POLICE CRIME REPORT OBITUARIES PAGING DR. FRISCHER Police recruits Stolen vehicle Downey residents Holidays during sworn-in recovered mourned a pandemic SEE PAGE 10 SEE PAGE 11 SEE PAGE 8 SEE PAGE 12 Covid Tod Corrin says farewell cases ■ The longtime civic leader has left his Friday 68˚ mark on Downey’s spike public education system. Saturday 69˚ in LA DOWNEY — Since beginning his journey as a Board of Education member for the Sunday 80˚ Downey Unified School District County in 2003, Tod Corrin credits and acknowledges his last 17 years of service to the students within the district. ON THIS DAY ■ Infections are on the rise “I’m most proud of all the NOVEMBER 12 and health officials fear the things that our students have 1815: upcoming Thanksgiving accomplished during my time on Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the pioneering holiday will lead to more the Board,” Corrin shared as he began to reflect on his time as a American women’s rights leader and infections. social reformer, was born. member. “Having our attendance and graduation rates grow above By Eric Pierce surrounding districts and seeing 1942: Editor the accomplishments of our kids The WWII naval Battel of Guadalcanal competing in sports, band and began. Career Technical programs, has DOWNEY — Coronavirus truly brought me great joy.” 1948: cases are surging across Los Tod Corrin, center with his family. Corrin is leaving Downey Unified’s Board of Education after 18 years. Former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo Angeles County, including in When running to become a member of the Board of and other WWII military leaders were Downey, which has seen its case his seat as Vice President of the Education in 2003, Corrin based sentenced to death by a war crimes rate spike over the last week, Board of Education. tribunal. his campaign around growing the prompting warnings from health He has been proud to work officials. Career Technical Education (CTE) 1954: programs within the district. At with former Superintendent L.A. County health director that time, Downey Unified only Dr. Wendy Doty and current Ellis Island closed after processing Barbara Ferrer on Monday said offered courses like antiquated Superintendent Dr. John Garcia. more than 20 million immigrants since opening in New York Harbor in 1892. Downey is among the leaders in wood shop and cooking/sewing He credits his initial involvement COVID-19 cases, joining other classes to high school students. of wanting to become a Board communities such as Pacoima, member to Bob Winningham, 1985: Now, the district has East Los Angeles, South Gate and former Downey Mayor, and Xavier Suarez was elected Miami’s first exceeded Corrin’s expectations Hollywood. former Superintendent Dr. Doty, Cuban-American mayor. by developing 14 various CTE noting that it was the time they “For everyone who’s living pathways that begin at the middle all served on the YMCA Board 1990: in these communities, please school level. These pathways that truly sparked his interest in note you need to take extra have flourished during Corrin’s Tim Berners-Lee, a computer scientist serving on the School Board. precautions,’’ Ferrer said. “And time on the Board and vary from London, released a proposal for if you’ve had an exposure, you from Automotive Technology, Corrin shared that as he the World Wide Web. should know that there’s plenty steps away, he is happy to have Computer Programing, Culinary 1997: of testing available so you can go Arts, Construction Technology, someone who has students in immediately and find a place currently in the district take From left: Alyda Mir, Roger Brossmer, Martha Sodetani, Tod Corrin Ramzi Yousef was found guilty of Digital Animation and Welding and Nancy Swenson. to get tested.’’ to name a few. over his position on the Board masterminding the 1993 bombing of of Education to ensure that the World Trade Center. As of Wednesday, the Another one of his main goals decision-making is in the best This program began in 1973 and by sharing his heartfelt remorse number of Downey residents while serving on the Board of interest of students. has been a real joy in Corrin’s to last year’s senior class who had contracted coronavirus Education was passing the School 1999: life since its establishment. who was unable to have their was 4,952. Ninety-one Downey Bond Measure (Measure O) to “My children were enrolled President Bill Clinton signed a sweeping However, it does come with its commencement in May in a residents have been killed by the further aid in the construction in the district when I became a measure knocking down Depression-era own set of obstacles. traditional way. virus. and structural improvements to Board member and I was very barriers and allowing banks, investment For comparison, the virus our campuses and facilities. active in both sports and various “All of the work leading up to Corrin will be saying firms and insurance companies to sell PTAs at each of my children’s the Caravan, really the business farewell, but not goodbye, on each other’s products. has killed 88 in Norwalk, 42 in Measure O was passed by schools,” shared Corrin. “I was part of it, is difficult,” shared December 15th during Downey Whittier and 31 in Paramount. voters in 2014 and has resulted invested in every decision that Corrin. “Making sure everything Unified School District’s 2001: Nursing homes continue in numerous updates to both was made during my time on the runs smoothly is very stressful, virtual Reorganizational Board to be the most vulnerable. At technology and structural spaces An American Airlines flight crashed near Board and think that it’s a very but when you consider the impact of Education meeting. This New York’s Kennedy airport, killing 265 Downey’s Brookfield Health for students. important factor when electing a people. Center, seven staff members and you have on kids, it’s all worth meeting is set to wish him and Over the last few years, Corrin new member.” it… It’s kind of like working for longtime Board member, Donald 19 residents have come down was able to see the finished As such, Corrin plans on the school district. The impact E. LaPlante, farewell after a 2001: with the virus; six people have products of the previous School continuing to be active in his we have on kids makes it all combined 58 years of service to Taliban forces abandoned Kabul as U.S. died. Bond Measure (Measure D) that children’s lives as they have worth it.” the students and staff within the troops advanced on the capital city. “It is promising to hear resulted in major construction now transitioned into adulthood. When sharing some of the district. the news of COVID-19 vaccine within Downey Unified’s After forty years of marriage, many things that he will miss Although Corrin will possibilities in the near future,” comprehensive high schools. 2004: Corrin and his wife Beth will once retiring from the Board of continue to be involved in the said Ferrer. “However, we cannot This included new football A jury convicted Scott Peterson of be following their children Education, Corrin shared that district as well as various aspects wait for a vaccine to slow the stadiums at both schools, an murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, and and grandchildren to Texas in it will be the commencement within the community, including spread of COVID-19 in L.A. Engineering Building at Downey dumping her body in San Francisco the coming months; however, ceremonies that he so proudly the YMCA’s Easter Caravan, County. Every person needs to High and an Olympic size Bay. (Peterson was later sentenced to he wants the community and participates in each year that he he retires from the Board of death.) make personal decisions each swimming pool at Warren High. especially the YMCA to know that will miss the most. Education with a heavy heart day to use the tools we know “I supported Measure O he will still be very involved and “The graduation celebrations but grateful satisfaction. He is work. I ask that you encourage in full force, although it may Birthdays active. are something I look forward to looking forward to the time he your family and friends to stay have cost a bit of money on my the course. The power to prevent “I plan on coming back each year,” explained Corrin. will be able to spend with his Sportscaster Al Michaels (76), singer- property taxes,” Corrin jokingly songwriter (75), baseball more cases, hospitalizations and regularly and continuing my “Most of these students don’t children and grandchildren; Neil Young remarked. “It’s well worth it if player Sammy Sosa (52), Olympic deaths is within all of us.” community involvement,” stated even know who we are, but just however, stepping away from we are going to make a difference figure skater (50), R&B Corrin. “The Easter Caravan is seeing their culmination of 12 the students within the district is Tonya Harding in the lives of kids and these 21st singer Tevin Campbell 44, actor Ryan very close to my heart and I still years of education within our going to be a transition for him. Century facilities do, which is Gosling (40), actress Anne Hatheway plan on directing this for years to district and the excitement “I’m going to miss it, I truly National Disaster very exciting to see.” (38), singer and dancer Omarion come.” that they have as they get their am,” he said. “But I mean, it’s (36) and basketball player The White House coronavirus During his time as a Board Russell Corrin has been directing diplomas and the excitement of not about me.