Some of the public wore yellow stars on their arms during the meetings, meant to symbolize the yellow stars of David that the Nazis forced Jewish people to wear during the Holocaust. Board meetings have become a political battleground, where intense debates rage on about student mask mandates, ethnic studies and other issues. I dont think that anybody here today would deny that racism sadly continues to play a role in our society, board member Lisa Sparks said during the press conference. Orange County Board of Education, Trustee Area 5. "There are no grooming behaviors represented of the teachers cited on the yes on recall website," she said. "We are committed to providing our students the support they need at this time to continue to be academically successful. Ron DeSantis. It's the same thing. Board of Education. The protection of children has been at the forefront of Republican lawmakers minds this legislative session (or so they say) with the introduction of a slew of anti-LGBTQ bills targeting gender-affirming healthcare, drag performances, and classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation. Comments shall be limited to three minutes per person and thirty minutes for all comments. Date: April 1, 1980. My school and my community were unsafe places for me, and although there were physical assaults, too, the daily, hidden but pervasive attacks were much worse, telling me I was alone in this world, that who I was and what I felt was abnormal that I didn't belong. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Many corporations and colleges have adopted it and included it in their corporate and student handbooks. The decision to sue comes as Orange Countys 28 school districts along with districts throughout the state are hashing out masking enforcement strategies and other safety policies as the school year begins. A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Disneyland lot in Anaheim. Use "return" to select this candidate. Dr. Clayton Chau, then the countys acting public health officer, dropped Quicks mandate because no statewide order existed, a decision that was believed to be a factor in the countys surge in cases. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), Ian Scruton, a student advocate from the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, speaks during a press conference by Truth in Education in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. School board chair and former Orange County mayor Teresa Jacobs, in discussion afterwards, agreed with the sentiment shared by McCracken, and said the board should in the future discuss what they . "It's best practice to make kids feel included by allowing them to use their proper pronoun, and since doing so, [the teacher] has been under attack by people who have misconstrued what that actually means.". On Tuesday night, parents and students filled the Los Alamitos Unified board room. Also, we do not teach CRT in K-12 schools. This is because I didn't see any LGBTQ role models in my community, he said. Principal, Aliso Niguel High School, Jane Russo (ret.) Ethnic studies is the interdisciplinary study of race and ethnicity, which includes the often-overlooked history and contributions of Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans. Celestin told the board, "We have to fight the good fight. Approving the annual budget of the Orange County Department of Education, Receiving the annual audit of the Orange County Department of Education, Maintaining an awareness of the operations and financial conditions of the school districts in the county, Approving the purchase of property for department programs, Serving as Orange Countys appeal board for the adjudication of expulsion appeals and interdistrict attendance appeals, Representing Orange Countys education community and families at the local, county, state, and national level, Informing local communities about the programs and achievements of the Orange County Department of Education, Keep the county focused on learning and achievement for all students, Govern in a dignified and professional manner, treating everyone with civility and respect, Govern within board-adopted policies and procedures, Provide opportunities for input on a diverse range of views from the community to ensure informed board deliberations. Member Lisa Sparks attended by phone. And, on a local level, protecting children has also been a priority for members of the Orange County School Board. The district is made upof residents in Seal Beach, Rossmoor, Los Alamitos and parts of Cypress. Parents like Henny Abraham of Costa Mesa criticized proposals to introduce a curriculum that she said is divisive. Orange County has long pushed against COVID-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic, and residents opposition to face covering rules contributed to the implementation of the statewide mandate in June last year. Dean of Communications, Chapman University. Note: This article has been updated to correct the school district for student Ian Scruton. However, he is concerned that any vaccine passport needs to be handled with care because it will have sensitive medical information and can be a target for hackers. Ethnic studies empowers students with the information they need to build a more inclusive democracy.. 919-732-8126 Phone. For more in-depth information on this candidate, follow the links for each tab in this section. School boards have become a political war zone in the battle for the next generation's minds and beliefs. 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PUBLISHED: July 27, 2021 at 8:25 p.m. | UPDATED: July 28, 2021 at 4:06 p.m. On the same day that more than 200 residents met for an Orange County Board of Education forum on ethnic studies, a new . (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), The Orange County Board of Education, left, panel members and the pubic listen to a speaker during public comments at a town hall meeting to discuss ethnic studies and critical race theory in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. "Trying to be inclusive for kids is one of the biggest things you can do," he said. Orange County Commissioners discuss tax appeal bias, opioid crisis relief funding ; Orange County Schools Board of Education approves 2024 fiscal year budget The Board is grateful to our constituents for coming out to our meeting, sharing your voices and participating in our great American democratic experiment. Currently, the county is dealing with how to educate the public to combat vaccine hesitancy. We cannot be regressive. Josh, a Rossmoor resident, told the board that money spent on a recall is money diverted away from a school and a student's education. A second town hall on the same topics is scheduled for Aug. 24. The school system is not responsible for the contents of any linked site, any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Security and officers milled around. Board of Education is doing is making a statement that they wont allow involuntary vaccination of Orange County children, but nobodys saying that thats going to happen, Noymer said. According to the Associated Press, there are more than 30 school board recall efforts nationwide. Next year, a recall election could occur if the group gathers enough signatures and the registrar's office verifies them. DeSantis wont have to resign to run for president. "The CRT (critical race theory), everything has gone so woke and so left that I can't take it anymore," she told Spectrum News. Laura Byram Hilary Holladay It was raise day at the Orange. Mari Barke, Orange County Board of Education, Area 2 Dr. Ken Williams, Orange County Board of Education, Area 3 Tim Shaw, Orange County Board of Education, Area 4 Dr. Lisa Sparks, Orange County Board of Education, Area 5 John Ortega, Orange Unified Board of Education, Area 2 Angie Schleuter-Rumsey, Orange Unified Board of Education, Area 6 That late-minute decision was roundly criticized by several Board of Education members, who said they would have preferred she show up at the evening forum and present her views. He said the board is reinforcing and echoing the beliefs of people who are hesitant to get a vaccine. McKenna Schueler Board members have previously said that its ethnic studies program is not a study of critical race theory, which is an academic specialization that looks into systemic institutional racism. I'm not happy with the forced indoctrination of gender fluidity that is happening at the middle school.". If you remember correctly, after I pulled back the order a week later, the governor came down with a mandate.. Board of Education, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), New group clashes with O.C. The content on this site is licensed with a Creative Commons license. From among its members, the Board elects a president and a vice president. ", Demonstrators hold up signs during a Los Alamitos Unified School Board meeting in Los Alamitos, Calif. on Tuesday. The voter guide includes descriptions of each California ballot measure and who is spending money for and against each measure. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG), Theresa Montano, a professor at Cal State Northridge, explains that she didnt want to participate in the Orange County Board of Educations forum on ethnic studies and critical race theory because, there are no other experts on the panel and she doesnt like that everyone else on the panel disagrees with her during a press conference by Truth in Education in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. First-term board member Maria Salamanca, a Latina woman who identifies as LGBTQ, added that 40% of books banned in U.S. schools contain LGBTQ characters or themes, and 40% have had a protagonist of color, demonstrating clear disparities. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG), Mari Barke, center, president of the Orange County Board of Education speaks at a press conference prior to a forum about about ethnic studies and critical race theory at the Orange County Board of Education in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. NEW Board Policy Lookup Page . I agree with them that forcibly vaccinating anyone, let alone a child, would be an evil thing. Board members, who are elected to four-year terms, approve charter schools and hear interdistrict transfer and expulsion appeals. Aug. 4, 2021 11:46 AM PT. Camryn Pak is a reporting intern for The Orange County Register from north Orange County. They also said they will emphasize the importance of teaching ethnic studies, not just in Orange County but nationwide. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. pic.twitter.com/Y6V2fGW8Ox, Since day one, I've only been attacked, Farrant complained. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, Most of Yosemite Valley is closed due to potentially perilous snowpack and flooding, The Great Big Highly Specific Guide to Disneyland, Mom influencer who said Latino couple tried to kidnap her kids convicted of false report, Cooler weather to bring rare May rain, snow into Southern California, Three women, one man die in Mojave mobile home shooting, What was behind the protest against an archaeologist at last weeks L.A. Times Book Festival, Column: If not cops or guns, what will it take to make us feel safe? Is he privileged because hes half-white? Kids lose. Recently, county Board of Supervisors meetings have been overtaken by dozens of members of the public who have railed against vaccine passports. Similarly, neither the O.C. Still, the cost of a possible recall election was a big concern for some parents who spoke out against the recall effort. It is to make sure that they have the best at their fingertips. Some educators, including Los Alamitos Unified Superintendent Andrew Pulver, have said the two teachings are separate and they tout ethnic studies as a means of teaching empathy and helping achieve racial justice and equity. The Orange County Schools Board of Education includes seven members who serve four-year terms. Unofficial survey data show that roughly 11% of the Santa Ana district families want their children to continue virtual learning, chief communications officer Fermin Leal said. Print Version. "And the fact that it is happening at that grade and lower is sexualizing our children in the classroom formally. Whats happening is taking away the freedoms of parents and of all people to be able to decide whether they want to have a genetically modifying experimental drug put into their body or be cut out of society potentially. The bottom line - No matter who wins in court, taxpayers lose. The school system retains control over what links will be placed on system-related websites; however, the linked sites themselves are not under the control of the school system, its agents, or its employees. McCracken, preside of the Orange County teachers union, said on Tuesday its a shame the school board has to spend all of this time updating policies as a result of unnecessary culture wars created by DeSantis and Florida lawmakers. One was settled for. AAP has previously said that universal masking is key to reducing transmission largely because a significant number of students are not yet eligible for a vaccine. "When a teacher asks a student in a confidential setting how they prefer to be addressed, that shows that he respects his students that they are safe being themselves in that classroom, and that they have an adult who believes in them," Moran told the board. Apr 23. Members are elected for terms of four years. As the Orange County Board of Education, and in conjunction with its own California County Boards of Education and the California School Boards Association Professional Governance Standards, we have an agreed upon understanding of our unity of purpose to: Each board member receives $562.61 for compensation for attendance at meeting(s) of the Orange County Board of Education each month. With your support, we can reach and inform more voters. The school system retains control over what links will be placed on system-related websites; however, the linked sites themselves are not under the control of the school system, its agents, or its employees. Farrant responded to her colleagues criticism defensively, and also later defended her use of the term "trans whatever" in reference to a theoretical transgender student during a January school board meeting. School board chair and former Orange County mayor Teresa Jacobs, in discussion afterwards, agreed with the sentiment shared by McCracken, and said the board should in the future discuss what they can do to ensure kids have access to books that reflect their diverse experiences and identities. The board also approves the annual budget of the Orange County Department of Education, which is distinct from the board. Glenn . They have exploited their positions to pursue their own political agendas. At least two districts, Santa Ana Unified and Anaheim Union High, have decided to make ethnic studies a requirement for high school graduation, something California legislators also are considering as a statewide mandate. We weren't able to find anything that matched your search criteria. Trustee Areas Board members disputed that there is a scientific basis for masking schoolchildren. A Seal Beach resident who identified herself as Dorothy told the board that she supports the recall and will campaign to remove the board members. 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Trustee Area 6*, Andrea Yamasaki QUESTION: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s anti-vaccine organization, Childrens Health Defense, joined this lawsuit. Power Authoritys CEO ousted as board addresses transparency issues, Anaheim Transportation Network powers up a new electric fleet, High fidelity: Audiophiles celebrate the joy of music on Record Store Day, Clothesline Project hangs sexual violence out to dry, Chicas Tacos builds a better (and unconventional) taco, Longtime ambassador at Five Crowns restaurant gets help from his community, Encore: Summer concerts and Sunset Cinema return to OC Parks. apage@orangeusd.org Principal, San Juan Hills High School, Dr. Dan Burch (ret.) Email Office 365. Board Member But shortly afterward, Chau said he spoke directly to state officials urging them to issue a statewide order. The school board is responsible for shouldering the cost of a recall election. News reporter for Orlando Weekly, covering general news, local government, labor, housing, and other social and economic justice issues. jortegajr@orangeusd.org Trustee Area 3*, Madison Miner School districts can adopt Californias curriculum, tweak it the way they want, or ignore it altogether. The number of "A" schools in Orange County Public Schools improved, with 59 schools earning an "A" in 2021-22 compared to 39 that would have received an "A" in 2020-21, if school . Aguilar, who claims to represent 2,000 parents in the district, is attempting to recall three board members Megan Cutuli, Scott Fayette, and Chris Forehan who were elected last year and starting four-year terms. Trustee Area 2*, Angie Rumsey NEW POLITICAL BOUNDARIES The Orange County School Board unanimously voted Dec. 14 on Proposal 16, which sets the new boundaries for each of the seven School Board members' districts. Board President Mari Barke apologized Tuesday evening to the other invited speakers of the forum, who she said were slandered by Montao. Board member Ken Williams read a portion of the resolution against vaccine passports aloud during the meeting. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), Wenyuan Wu, left, speaks at a press conference about ethnic studies and critical race theory prior to a forum at the Orange County Board of Education in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. When it comes to the vaccine passport, Noymer said the analogies to the Nazis is over the top. Starting last year, voters selected a trustee to represent their area for the school board. I never read about any characters like me in a single book in elementary, middle or high school.. She previously worked for PBS NewsHour and joined The Times in 2015. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Superintendent, Newport Mesa Unified School District, Dr. Suzette Lovely (ret.) Dr. Rebecca Romo, a clinical psychologist who lives in the district, refuted a recall website calling the teacher's pronoun incident and a similar incident when a teacher asked students about their sexual identity at another middle school as grooming kids for sexual activity. The surge in cases has prompted Los Angeles and Bay Area counties to mandate indoor masking, regardless of vaccination status. A school board member on the Orange County Board of Education North Carolina was caught on video harassing parents who were handing out information cards about issues in the district to parents in a carpool line. Franklin McCuneAdministrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Board Specialist, 200 E. King Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278(919) 732-8126 ext. Proponents estimate they'll have to collect between 1,600 to 1,800 signatures from registered voters at each targeted recalled trustee's district. School board member Melissa Byrd, sharing her own thoughts on Farrant's comments, didnt mince words. The O.C. This in accordance with the Education Code Section #1090. The Voter's Edge California voter guide provides in-depth information about what's on your ballot. Andrew Noymer, a UC Irvine professor of population health and disease prevention, said the Board of Education is stirring the pot with its statement on vaccination mandates for children. Orange County School Board member Alicia Farrant speaking at a rule development workshop on April 4, 2023. Stop the reckless waste of tax dollars, over $5 million and counting, and stand up to career politicians. Members of Truth in Education on Tuesday said their group was formed to counter the Orange County school boards opposition to ethnic studies and critical race theory. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). She has covered education, the pandemic, the vaccine rollout and breaking news throughout California. But Farrant, who has a history of complaining about the presence of books with LGBTQ themes in schools, made a point of saying that indoctrination can go quite a few ways and that there are other children in the school district as well who deserve attention. They ignored almost four thousand community comments in support of masks and social distancing and received four that supported their position. The Orange County Board of Education consists of five lay members who represent the five trustee areas of the county. Superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District, Dr. Fred Navarro (ret.) I dont need to become a genetically modified organism which is literally, literally, truthfully, what this will do to people, because this vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, its not really a vaccine like anything thats ever happened before., A woman named Laurie said Chaus presumed intent was destructive and evil., We should all refuse to be strong-armed into accepting the COVID passport on any experimental drug, especially this mRNA one, she said. (Gina Ferazzi . Trustee Area 4*, Kris Erickson The OC Board of Education also filed a lawsuit against the County Committee on School District Organization when it did not rubber stamp the Board approved election map. Board Member Ben Brazil is a former features writer for TimesOC who now works as a News Desk multiplatform editor for the Los Angeles Times. The resolution, slated for discussion by Orange County Public Schools at a board meeting Monday, was proposed by board member Chelsea Quintern in compliance with a state law signed by Gov. Please send your comments to the Board of Education at: 1401 North Handy Street, Orange, CA 92867, Orange Unified EDGE - Strategic Plan 2019-2025. Gavin Newsom to reopen schools for in-person instruction has voted to challenge him again over a state mandate requiring K-12 students to wear masks in classrooms and other indoor campus facilities, saying the rule is a burden on children. School board districts are not analogous in any way with county commission districts. Melissa Moran, who has a daughter in the teacher's class, told the board that the pronoun question was a sign of respect. arumsey@orangeusd.org Board of Ed nor OCDE would have a role in setting policy relating to vaccinations.. The Los Alamitos school board is not alone. In May, OC Board member Ken Williams told the Voice of OC that critical race theory and the ethnic studies curriculum pushes an anti-religious narrative. The current system, our system, your childrens system, is outdated. During a rule development workshop on Tuesday focused on redeveloping policy regarding classroom and library materials in Orange County Public Schools to be in compliance with state law, school board members spent over an hour reaffirming their commitment to the protection of LGBTQ students, in response to comments from first-term board member Alicia Farrant, a member of the conservative activist group Moms for Liberty. Health Care Agency Director Clayton Chau has repeatedly said that children need parental consent to get a vaccine, and the county is not issuing a vaccine passport..