orange county school board members

orange county school board members

An overflow room contained more parents and students standing and waiting for their chance to speak. #3 - Stop Using the Board of Education as a Partisan Political Platform. I really thought long and hard about it. She deferred the cost question to the Los Alamitos school district. Ethnic studies empowers students with the information they need to build a more inclusive democracy.. Meanwhile, in Costa Mesa, the Orange County Board of Education held its own press conference and later hosted a special meeting with invited speakers on the same topics: ethnic studies and the more controversial critical race theory, also known as CRT. For the most part, Californias recent success against the virus has been the publics willingness to get vaccinated. I think that eventually when we get around to occupational and educational requirements for vaccines for COVID, we will need a system in which vaccination status can be verified, perhaps in a way thats better than just some paper stock card, Noymer said. The Orange County Schools Board of Education includes seven members who serve four-year terms. "The Orange County Board of Education provides educational opportunities for Orange County students, promotes student achievement, and offers leadership, services, and resources for Orange County school districts, educators, and the community." Meet the Board Meet the five members of the Orange County Board of Education. Kids lose. "However, there are parents that believe that is not the place for a science teacher. Orange County Public Schools Nov 2018 - Present4 years 6 months United States The board is responsible for setting policy and meeting requirements set by the Florida Legislature and State. Ive always wanted to believe in your heart and that you're here for every student, Jacobs offered generously, speaking to Farrant. Ethnic studies provide our students with the opportunity to learn about lives, experiences, cultures, and perspectives that reflect the diversity of our county, our state, and our nation. ", Aguilar added that parents are pushing for a recall because they feel that adult teachers should not be discussing sexuality with their minor children without consent or cause.. Last August, the Orange County board sued Newsom to reopen schools that had been closed because of COVID-19. Newsoms mask mandate for students. Demensio Barton and Carl Brewer both will . Superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District, Dr. Fred Navarro (ret.) If the topic of discussion is a current agenda item, the citizen may be asked to delay discussion until the subject is before the Board at the regular agenda time. But shortly afterward, Chau said he spoke directly to state officials urging them to issue a statewide order. A stand-alone recall could cost the Los Alamitos School District tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Romo added that the teachers are trying to be inclusive and provide a safe space for marginalized groups in the community. Board of Education nor OCDE determines the curriculum of local districts, said OCDE spokesman Ian Hanigan in an email. The California Department of Public Health said the lawsuit is a distraction from COVID-19 mitigation efforts. School board member Melissa Byrd, sharing her own thoughts on Farrant's comments, didnt mince words. 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. The Orange County Board of Education provides educational opportunities for Orange County students, promotes student achievement, and offers leadership, services, and resources for Orange County school districts, educators, and the community. "I am concerned about what they are teaching, about what's being dripped in the classroom with the racism, the CRT, the sexual stuff, everything. The bottom line - No matter who wins in court, taxpayers lose. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), A group of invited panelists, front, listen to public comments at the first of two town hall meetings to discuss ethnic studies and critical race theory at the Orange County Board of Education at the in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Teresa Jacobs became Chair of the Orange County School Board in November 2018. During the Oct. 26, 2021, School Board meeting, a member of the public, Jacob Engels, began reading from a book called "Gender Queer: A Memoir." The book, found in an Orange County Public Schools high school library, is a graphic novel that contains detailed and graphic depictions of sex acts. Agendas and summaries of the Board action may be obtained via the Internet at www.ocde.us or by contacting the Recording Secretary at the Orange County Department of Education, 200 Kalmus Drive, P.O. "To constantly bring it back to making sure that the LGBT community feels uplifted, I think this district has done, you know, gone above and beyond," she added. Beginning January 1, members of the Orange County School Board will earn half of what the Orange County supervisors make. OC Board of Education genuinely wanted to support schools, they could have helped the public understand the best way to open schools safely during the pandemic by allowing its experts to develop a program in collaboration with our local districts. Ron DeSantis. DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS--APPORTIONMENT OF BOARD MEMBER RESIDENCE AREAS. Please send your comments to the Board of Education at: board@orangeusd.org Rick Ledesma rledesma@orangeusd.org Board President Trustee Area 7* Term: 2022-2026 John Ortega "At that age, [she] should not have any notion of that," said Paul. And, on a local level, protecting children has also been a priority for members of the Orange County School Board. Dean of Communications, Chapman University. Board President (But) its none of those things, said Sapna Chopra, a parent from the Orange Unified School District. Download it here. The lawsuit will probably be filed next week, and according to Nada Higuera, an attorney with the firm representing the case,there is no evidence that the decision was prompted by school district officials concerns. Farrant was, in essence, responding to testimony from Clinton McCracken, a middle school art teacher and president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, who spoke during the meetings public comment portion just minutes before. One of the speakers at the pro-ethnic studies press conference was Theresa Montao, a professor at Cal State Northridge who teaches in the Chicana and Chicano Studies department. Gunn Marie Hansen was the superintendent of the Orange Unified School District from 2017 to 2023. McCracken, whose union represents 14,000 teachers and school staff across the county, shared a personal story to emphasize the importance of retaining books in schools that reflect the diverse backgrounds of students, including LGBTQ youth. (Gina Ferazzi . ), To contact the members of the School Board, send an email to: ocsboardmembers@orange.k12.nc.us*. All are in the West Learning Community in Orange County School Board member Pam Gould's District 4. However, some district parents said it's inappropriate for young kids to learn about gender identity at middle school. As Orange County wrestles with vaccine hesitancy, the countys Board of Education on Wednesday night approved a statement against mandatory vaccinations and a resolution against digital vaccine passports. She also said that the paper cards given to people when they are vaccinated could be difficult to keep track of. The Board of Education can be reached by calling (714) 628-4487. Stop the reckless waste of tax dollars, over $5 million and counting, and stand up to career politicians. Trustee Area 2*, Angie Rumsey Starting last year, voters selected a trustee to represent their area for the school board. (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. Is he privileged because hes half-white? (This does not include ad hoc committee meetings. For the 2021-2022 school year, the district mandated that all employees and students wear face masks while inside facilities or in vehicles with others in the car. One student credited the teacher for helping her improve her grades in science. Click here to sign up to receive email notifications about all regular and special called OCS School Board meetings. Parents and students carried competing signs that read "Recall Los Alamitos School Board," "No Recall," and "LGBTQ Inclusion is the Law.". This idea of mandating vaccines is ridiculous to me because honestly this is medical freedom, said a woman named Jenna the board asks public speakers to only give a first name. 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. Ron DeSantis' controversial education policies. Critical race theory is a decades-old academic concept typically taught at the college level that looks at race as a social construct and racism as something that is embedded in governmental institutions and policy. Orange County School Board members reluctantly approved a salary agreement on Tuesday they know many teachers oppose, saying they feared legal challenges if they didn't approve it but. Locally elected school boards and their superintendents are responsible for implementing curriculum that aligns with state standards. ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Orange County residents on Tuesday voted to re-elect two school board members: chairperson Teresa Jacobs and District 1 member Angie Gallo. The school system reserves the right to remove or restrict any links. Paul took exception to a young student who spoke up earlier in support of the LBGTQ community. You can vote for 1 of these 2 candidates. The Orange County board did not present any data that showed adverse effects of masking on children, or acknowledge public health studies that have shown masking reduces the spread of the virus. Trustee Area 4*, Kris Erickson In 2020, the Board of Education promoted guidelines calling on kids to return to school without masks or social distancing, and the Board majority largely defended the guidelines by noting they were formulated by a panel of experts. However, the report was written by OC Board member Ken Williams and Will Swaim, president of the California Policy Center, who also moderated the panel. (Voice of OC, 2020). Though there were about a dozen supporters of the recall, opponents of the recall seemed to have outnumbered them by a count of three to one. And when I heard that these folks were interested in doing something over here, as an alternative, that kind of sold it, Montao said, adding that she made her decision to resign on Sunday just two days before the event. Board members disputed that there is a scientific basis for masking schoolchildren. The board voted 4-1 in favor of each, with the only dissenting votes coming from board member Rebecca Gomez, who serves Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, portions of Garden Grove and portions of Tustin. ), 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? The very policy necessitating their workshop on Tuesday is a "Trojan horse" she said, "to get rid of books of students of color of LGBTQ youth and of religious minorities.". She initially was invited to the boards town hall by member Beckie Gomez, the only Democrat on the board, but withdrew Monday saying the panel would offer a skewed, uninformed view about ethnic studies. 2022-23 Board Members. They ignored almost four thousand community comments in support of masks and social distancing and received four that supported their position. Or is he a victim because hes half Persian and a minority?. But where the conflict arises is on whether, in fact, society is designed to perpetuate racism or whether we have continued to make progress towards a more just society, thanks to the work of all ethnicities, color and backgrounds, In many of its iterations, CRT seems to reject the idea that America is a fundamentally free country, born out of lofty aspirations, and concludes instead that our country is fundamentally flawed and designed only to protect white privilege.. There is one thing they have in common: they are all parents of children who attended public schools in Orange County. The candidates differ in their vision for the priorities for an Orange County Board of Education member. Board Member 200 E. King Street. "You can call it ethnic studies. The first two lawsuits were dismissed, but the November 2021 lawsuit is pending. It teaches hate and rewards bigotry, said Ian Scruton, a student from Capistrano Unified School District who gathered with some 20 fellow Truth in Education members outside Eastbluff Elementary School in Newport Beach. 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. The Board of Educations forum, which can be viewed on YouTube, was still going on as this story went to print. We weren't able to find anything that matched your search criteria. 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. 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. Plan B COVID-19 Safety Processes & Protocols, 2021-2022 APPROVED SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS, Hillsborough Elementary School (Year Round), Budget & Capital Needs Committee of the Whole, Student Achievement Committee of the Whole. Shalby grew up in Southern California and graduated from George Washington University. By From a desire to raise literacy rates to concerns about teaching materials, the 120 people running for more than 40 school board seats in Orange County offer a wide range of reasons for wanting . Byrd, an OCPS parent and a former teacher, decided it was time to bring her experience to the board. (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. L.A. has a new answer. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. "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. We have to be enlightened. Aguilar, who once ran for a seat on the school board in 2016 but lost, said the two other board members aren't being targeted because they are up for re-election next year. The current system, our system, your childrens system, is outdated. On Tuesday night, parents and students filled the Los Alamitos Unified board room. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Board member Ken Williams read a portion of the resolution against vaccine passports aloud during the meeting. Schools lose. That I am a bigot, that Im a hater., She added, When parents are coming in, they're frustrated and asking for a higher standard, it is not to marginalize children, or to, you know, make certain children feel like they're not good enough. A personal commentary by former Laguna Beach Unified School District Superintendent Sherine Smith, explaining the four priorities she has for the OC Board of Education. Supporters of Californians state-mandated ethnic studies during a press conference by Truth in Education in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Established in 1987, the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools develops and focuses community resources to make a meaningful difference in the success of Orange County Public Schools students and teachers . They have exploited their positions to pursue their own political agendas. mminer@orangeusd.org 9 likes, 0 comments - Orange Public Schools (@opsdistrict) on Instagram: "On Saturday, April 29th, the Office of Humanities, led by Executive Director Karen Harris and the . It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Not educrats, not administrators but constituents.. How districts choose to enforce the rule on campus is up to them. Inside is where the action took place. On the same day that more than 200 residents met for an Orange County Board of Education forum on ethnic studies, a new group gathered to say it will push back against what they termed the boards misinformation and lies.. For the past year and a half, the five-member board has heard raging debates from parents over safely reopening school campuses amid the coronavirus pandemic, the ethnic studies curriculum, which some have misconstrued as critical race theory, and current student mask requirement at schools. They could have addressed the teacher shortage crisis, increased the average Florida teacher pay from its abysmal 48th in the country, and focused on school safety, McCracken said Tuesday. All the latest on Orange County from Orange County. Spotlight Schools conducted individual Zoom interviews with each of the candidates as well as exchanged emails. Robert Aguilar, an organizer of a parent committee to recall Los Alamitos School Board members, served three board members with "notice of intention to circulate recall petition" Tuesday night. Outside, two police cruisers parked in the parking lot. They were selected by board members to equalize the districts that have become lopsided as growth continues at a rapid pace in certain areas, such as Pam Gould's District 4. As I have done throughout my career in education, kids come first and will remain my focus.". Many speakers have also mentioned that the county should not mandate vaccines for children or adults. Others have a strategy in place. Cutuli and Fayette did not return a Spectrum News request for comment as of press time. Principal, Tesoro High School, Deni Christensen (ret.) "I look back since November and feel proud of all that we have accomplished, including reopening our schools with adherence to state requirements, increasing our wellness program counselors, and increasing our efforts to maintain our schools where each and every child feels safe and valued," said Forehan in an emailed statement to Spectrum News. Even a tiny comment could twist a kid's brain.". Board Member Some of the terms and procedures the new rules require are vague, or not clearly defined. As the fourth largest district in the state, it is home to 202 schools and 206,058 students. What are the most critical issues for your trustee area and how do you propose to address them? The current Board majority has deliberately misled the public and created controversy to undermine our schools. Enter your address to get a personalized list of candidates and ballot measures, including biographies, top priorities, who supports each candidate, and more. Use "return" to select this candidate. Website Publishing Policy, This website is maintained by the Orange County School District Hillsborough, North Carolina Translate Language. New group clashes with O.C. The Board has repeatedly proven itself to be a strong supporter of parental rights and vehemently condemns and opposes any effort to curtail parents authority to make the best choices for their children. Board Clerk "And the fact that it is happening at that grade and lower is sexualizing our children in the classroom formally. The Board is grateful to our constituents for coming out to our meeting, sharing your voices and participating in our great American democratic experiment. The Orange County Board of Education which last year unsuccessfully sued Gov. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? But many of the students that went up to the podium spoke glowingly of their teacher. Board member Williams concurred, adding that the opinion of residents was key to the decision. One parent called it a waste of time and money and at the expense of the students' education. The O.C. Prepared by: John W. Williams, Assistant Attorney General. pic.twitter.com/Y6V2fGW8Ox, Since day one, I've only been attacked, Farrant complained. 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. Email Us. Colleen Shalby is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. School districts can adopt Californias curriculum, tweak it the way they want, or ignore it altogether. Mark Celestin, a longtime teacher, coach and educator in the district, commended the board and urged them to continue their good work. Fax. Superintendent, Newport Mesa Unified School District, Dr. Suzette Lovely (ret.) Allowing a diversity of books on school shelves isnt forcing children to adopt any sexuality or racial identity, she added, despite claims of indoctrination in schools from so-called parental rights advocates. The other is pending and continues to rack up legal fees, paid by taxpayers. Superintendent West Covina Unified School District, Beverly Hempstead (ret.) The OC Board of Education filed two lawsuits against the elected OC Superintendent of Schools. Subject: Reapportioning school district. Support our public schools - fight for high quality education and safe and healthy facilities. Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! The board called the governors and executive agencies use of emergency decrees a violation of constitutional and statutory law, referring to the latest student mask rule as a burden that compounds the harm to Californias children previously caused by prior school closures and unwarranted masking requirements.. Spectrum News is not naming the teacher because there is no criminal wrongdoing. At Newport-Mesa Unified District, the current policy is similar: Indoor masking will be required, and any issue that arises will prompt a discussion with the student and parent. County Orange County Office of Education Superintendent of Schools Orange County Supervisor, District 2 Supervisor, District 4 Supervisor, District 5 Assessor District Attorney Auditor/Controller Clerk/Recorder Sheriff/Coroner Treasurer/Tax Collector MeasuresOpen drop down menu Local City of Huntington Beach Ballot Measures Measure A Superintendent, Carlsbad Unified School District, Kathy Kessler (ret.) While I support parents, and I am a very big supporter of parents opting out of inappropriate content that they believe for their child is inappropriate, I do not support other parents telling my kids what they can and can't read at the policy level, at the district level, or the state level because I don't want other parents to parent my children with their values, Salamanca said. Putting aside for the moment, the lack of sound, medical or scientific basis of the governors requirement to mask school children who in general are neither at risk from COVID-19 nor likely to spread it and putting aside the lack of any thoughtful well-considered transparent balancing of substantial harms of forced masking of juveniles against the reported benefits, the governor and the state level administrative agencies do not have the power to continue the state of emergency indefinitely, the board said. Learn More. 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. 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 . Laura Byram Hilary Holladay It was raise day at the Orange. The mostly right-wing board has stirred controversy, especially during the pandemic. You can access your list by navigating to 'My Choices'. The Orange County Board of Education is challenging Gov. Across the country, conservative parents and political groups have organized and protested at their local school boards over the same issues: mask mandates, returning to campus, and curriculum on ethnic and cultural books and studies. Camryn Pak is a reporting intern for The Orange County Register from north Orange County. I personally was the one who talked to the state about having it as a mandate, Chau said last August. 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. A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Disneyland lot in Anaheim. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. #2 - Stop Reckless Spending of Tax Dollars. Montao said the other panelists were not experts in the field and oppose teaching the subject. 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According to a tracker from the Florida Freedom to Read Project, a parent-led activist group that's critical of book banning (and Farrant, for that matter), at least 11 books have been challenged or removed from Orange County Public Schools, including Genderqueer (a book Farrant herself challenged) and This Book is Gay. The judge upheld the County Committee decision. News reporter for Orlando Weekly, covering general news, local government, labor, housing, and other social and economic justice issues. The parents blame the school board for fostering what they say is a growing leftist woke agenda, said Staci Muller, a Seal Beach resident who pulled out her two kids from the district and spoke at Tuesday's school board meeting. 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. Please enable scripts and reload this page. ayamasaki@orangeusd.org Many in our community feel that, you know, we can lets look at the children as a whole, and let's focus on their character development, not necessarily what sexuality they have, or maybe religion they have or, you know, where they maybe originated from.. 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. Following public comments, Williams, who proposed the resolution and statement, said the board should be taking a leadership role against vaccine passports because the idea is invasive and runs afoul of personal health data., Once this concept gets going its like a wildfire, and it just continues to grow, Williams said.

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