In the Name of God, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

The Board

New Horizon School – Los Angeles

434 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Dear Respected Board Members,

We as parents, teachers, students, alumni and concerned community members are deeply alarmed by your recent decision that has resulted in the forced early retirement of Mrs. Shahida Alikhan as the school principal.

We are perplexed with this decision. She has honorably and most devotedly served and ran the school for the last 29 years. She is a trusted member of our community. She is acknowledged for her outstanding contributions at every school event - including by the board members themselves.

We urge you to reconsider your recent decision and immediately restore her back as the school’s principal. Your inability to reinstate her back, having no viable transition-plan to replace her and the sudden departure of a trusted school principal leaves a deep scar and void. The failure to resolve this matter amicably will have a serious impact on the survival of our “mother school” in the New Horizon School system.

If the Board and the principal has any conflicts, they should be mutually and justly resolved so this precious Islamic educational institution in our community – serving well-deserved children in the middle-to-lower-income neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles endures.

Our sincere plea to you is to put aside any differences, jointly resolve issues, undo this damage and “save our school”. We hope you will take action with utmost humility, wisdom and urgency to make sure our school is protected. We look forward for your immediate response.

We pray to Almighty God for His help and guidance (Ameen).

Most Sincerely,