I'm Sure There's an Easy Explanation

Dear Amy,

It appears we have some things that need to be discussed. Well, lots of things. But let's narrow it down to one for now (because, hint: IT'S A BIG ONE): your role as an "educational non-profit director."

See, as a candidate running to serve on our Conejo Valley Unified School District BOE, you owe the constituents of this community transparency and honesty. Since you are running to fulfill a position on a public school board — one that will be representing me as a parent, stakeholder and invested community member — and my daughters (one of whom will be beginning her education in the district next year), surely you can imagine the concern I have when your nonprofit and role within don't quite check out.

I'd like to give you the opportunity to ease the minds of the community, and put to rest our concerns about what appears to be an illegitimate nonprofit created with the sole purpose of claiming a deceitful ballot designation.

We would LOVE TO BE WRONG. As you can imagine, it would be absolutely horrific to know that a school board candidate purposely created a fake nonprofit in order to deceive voters on the ballot and run for school board! So, surely, there must be an easy explanation. I want to give you the opportunity to provide it!

As a founding member and vice president of a local community nonprofit, I'm aware of the process and steps it takes to become a verified nonprofit. (Lots of pesky paperwork and fees, amirite?!) Processes which don't seem to have been taken for the mysterious "Top Goal Education, Inc."

I have some questions (and I'm not the only one) ...

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1) I see that a "statement of information" was filed on June 19 with the state of California. The actual registration date for Top Goal Education, Inc. is listed as March 27 of this year per the business search on the ca.gov website. So we got a paperwork trail ... that's a good start! You filed your candidate paperwork mid-July ... 4 months after this organization was first registered, and a few weeks after it was filed by the state. It would appear to me that this isn't a significant amount of time in which to establish your role and have true working experience as an education nonprofit director. But, I'm sure you can provide us a list of your daily tasks pertaining to this role, as well as a list of programs/resources the organization is currently providing. 

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

2) It appears that "Top Goal Education, Inc." does not have an EIN number. All nonprofits need an Employer Identification Number (or EIN). As google will tell you, it's like a social security number of a nonprofit/business and you generally need it before filing for incorporation in your state and before applying for tax-exempt status from the IRS. So without this, "Top Goal Education, Inc." is actually not a recognized nonprofit as it currently stands. This would mean that you lied on the paperwork you filed as a candidate for CVUSD. Would you like to clarify? Now, I just went to the IRS website, and searched its database (tax exempt organization search) and when I put in: "Top Goal Education, Inc.), I was informed that my search didn't return any results. And, just to make sure there wasn't a glitch, I entered the same fields of information for my nonprofit. It quickly identified my nonprofit as a tax exempt organization.I know if there were misrepresentations about my role in a nonprofit, or my nonprofit itself, I would work quickly to address them!

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

3) It appears there is zero official presence of this "nonprofit." You've stated that the organization offers education enrichment programs, but there appears to be no way to find out about the programs. The organization doesn't have an official website. It doesn't have an official email address. It doesn't have an official phone number.  When you call First Ave. Education (the for-profit school you state that Top Goal is a nonprofit arm of, they'll tell you they've never heard of it.)

Moreover, you refused to answer phone calls from the Thousand Oaks Acorn regarding your role and "Top Goal Education, Inc." You only answered via email, by copy/pasting verbiage from your website (verbiage you've changed three times regarding this organization.) 

And, per The Acorn, "Asked about Top Goal, Chen declined to say if the nonprofit was currently in operation, if it offered any programs or if it had any students."

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

(Pssssst, I know there is no official online presence because I was able to buy the domain and obtain the social media handles for Top Goal Education, Inc., without issue, in September.) See?

4) I understand you're the CFO of a for-profit Chinese tutoring school in Arcadia: First. Ave. Education. You have stated you have been the CFO since 2014. "Top Goal Education, Inc." has listed First Ave's address (57 California St., Arcadia, CA 91006), which is interesting, considering, First Ave already has a nonprofit arm: First Avenue Education.

(I know, it's a bit confusing because the names are so similar!) I'm wondering why there would be a need for the tutoring school to have two nonprofit arms. Do they provide different services?

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

5) While we're on the topic, the nonprofit arm First Avenue Education ... what services does it actually provide? Upon visiting the for-profit school, it was found that the same services and prices for both First Ave (the for-profit) and First Avenue (the nonprofit arm) are listed interchangeably on flyers.

And then there's this (reported from The Acorn: "Paperwork obtained from the California Attorney General’s office shows that First Avenue reported zero profits between 2011 and 2016 with the exception of 2014. In 2014, it showed revenue totaling $10,850 and assets totaling $11,974.


A letter from the state attorney general indicates First Avenue failed to submit renewal fees and reports in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015. State records show the delinquent reports were filed in June 2017."


I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

6) I've become aware that First Ave. Education (the for-profit school), receives discounts on rent and on postage, because of its nonprofit arm (First Avenue). Now, this is starting to look bad. Because, it would appear that the the for-profit school created a nonprofit arm to scam the district on rent and the post office on postage.  As CFO, I'm sure you can clear this up.

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

7) I learned recently that you made a campaign donation to Angie Simpson, your running mate (along with Mike Dunn) in this election. And when you donate to a campaign, you must list your occupation and employer (unless you're retired, which you must state). These are part of campaign finance laws. You listed, when making that donation, that you are a homemaker/stay-at-home mom (forgive me if I don't recall the exact phrasing). If you are the active director of an education nonprofit, why wouldn't you list this? I'm just going off the candidate paperwork you filed. (And to be clear, I admire working moms and stay-at-home parents. This is an issue of honesty.)

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

8) I've attended three forums at which you've spoken at regarding your experience and qualifications for the Conejo Valley School Board. The Thrive Conejo forum. The Chamber of Commerce forum. And the Thousand Oaks Tea Party forum. You never mentioned, in any of these three forums, "Top Goal Education, Inc." You never mentioned your role as an education nonprofit director. In fact, when you did speak about your experience, you mentioned your experience in the medical field, as a pharmacist. I wonder why you wouldn't mention your education nonprofit director role. Surely you felt it important enough to list as your ballot designation to voters in this district. Surely education experience would be a relevant thing to mention at candidate forums regarding the school district.

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

9) As you know, the community is feeling rather deceived by board trustee Sandee Everett, who, in 2016, misrepresented herself on the ballot. She lied and listed that she was a school counselor. It's since been learned that she has never worked/been employed as a school counselor. I've learned that Sandee Everett has endorsed you. She wrote a letter to The Acorn endorsing you and Angie Simpson. And she recorded a robo call voicemail (listen to it here) endorsing you. Surely you can understand why this may be alarming for some in our community.

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

10) The only "proof" the county recorder received regarding your nonprofit role, was an email response from a woman named Jocelyn Lin. The name Jocelyn Lin does not appear on the articles of information filed with the state, but the name Chialin Lin does. Maybe these are one and the same? Regardless, Jocelyn Lin (who you listed on your candidate paperwork) is listed as the President of the for-profit tutoring school you are the CFO for. Jocelyn emailed confirming you are doing lots of director work.

​If this is the case, why are you refusing to say so when asked by reporters?

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

So, Amy. What I'm really trying to say is:

​I'm sure there's an easy explanation.

It's been months of you avoiding providing any information other than a sloppily filled out candidate form. I'm here for you. You can tell us. We're all waiting for you to be able to provide the simple answers to the above questions so we can be assured that your role is legitimate, that the organization is legitimate, and that students are actually being enriched currently by this organization, of which you've claimed to be a director. These are very basic, simple questions.

I was disheartened that when I tagged you in the post yesterday evening, you banned me from your candidate page. Is this how you will treat all parents and stakeholders in the community who wish to have these questions answered? I also sent these questions to you via PM and through your website form.

But, I'm still leaving the door open for you to respond. I want to make sure you don't miss ANOTHER opportunity to discuss this very important matter.

In other words, this ain't like certified mail you can refuse to accept multiple times and then pretend you were excluded from a forum because you weren't prepared to answer questions. 

I'm sure there's an easy explanation.