As the Community for Better Schools continues its recall effort,
opposition is building.
As the Community for Better Schools continues its recall effort, opposition is building.
Opponents of the recall of three Aromas-San Juan Unified School Board members, called Friends of Our Schools, are attempting to express their side. Most feel the recall effort is emotionally based and doesn’t recognize how hard it is to run a district.
Trustees Andy Hsia-Coron, Rachel Ponce and Sylvia Rios Metcalf are the trustees in question.
“I don’t think this group (CBS) speaks for the broad community at large,” said Leslie Austin, parent and spokesperson for FOS. “CBS is a mix of very sincere people and highly hostile people. They do have a unifying theme – they feel they weren’t heard. Everything’s so emotionally based – that’s the worst kind of decision making.”
Patty Brown, also a parent and spokesperson for FOS, agrees that CBS members don’t feel they were listened to, but asks, what does “being listened to” mean?
“I believe the Board listened. They didn’t respond directly,” Brown said. “What does it mean to be heard? Does it mean I will listen and take it into consideration or does it mean I will do what you say?”
Brown said the recall effort is misguided and an overreaction.
The cost of a recall election amid the current statewide budget cuts in education also worries opponents. Austin said she has been told by the San Benito County Election Office that a recall election could cost the district $45,000. Districts are charged for recall elections according to state election code.
“$45,000 for a small district is not just a drop in the bucket. It’s a significant sum,” Brown said.
The cost of the election adds stress to a community that is already tense about budget cuts, Austin said. Opponents would rather CBS wait until the November 2004 elections when the three trustees are up for re-election.
FOS is made up of parents and community members. Austin admits that some members are people who have spent years working with the district and some know the trustees.
Opponents also question the reasons Hsia-Coron, Ponce and Rios Metcalf are being recalled. Austin said she thinks the Hispanic representation Ponce and Rios Metcalf bring to the Board is important since 46 percent of the district is Hispanic.
Brown expressed fear that people from Aromas would replace trustees Ponce and Rios Metcalf, who are from San Juan Bautista.
Currently, FOS is challenging CBS’ proof of publication – one of the steps in the recall process. First, trustees are given a notice of intention to recall. They file an answer to the notice then the recall proponents have seven days to turn in a proof of publication of the notice of intention to recall in a newspaper of general circulation and two copies of a mock petition.
Since the ASJUSD crosses county lines, it isn’t clear which paper is best to meet the “general circulation” requirement. CBS published the notice in the Register-Pajaronian in Watsonville. Election code states that the publication must be published at the proponents’ expense at least once in a newspaper of general circulation.
The term “general circulation” is adjudicated to a paper by a county’s superior court. The Hollister Free Lance, Pinnacle, Register-Pajaronian and Monterey County Herald have that distinction. The problem is that there was another paper of general circulation that served more people in the ASJUSD’s jurisdiction, said Karen Forcum, county counsel.
Austin said CBS should publish the notice of intention to recall in the Free Lance, Register-Pajaronian and Monterey County Herald to cover the whole school district. According to numbers from each paper’s circulation departments: the Register-Pajaronian delivers to about 180 homes in Aromas and six in San Juan with two newspaper racks in Aromas and none in San Juan; the Free Lance reaches no homes in Aromas and 145 in San Juan with no newspaper racks in Aromas and two in San Juan; and the Monterey County Herald is delivered to 28 homes in Aromas and 19 in San Juan Monday through Thursday and 35 in Aromas and 19 in San Juan Friday through Sunday with one newspaper rack in each city.
The San Benito County Elections Office had referred the matter to the San Benito County Counsel, which is expected to reject or accept the proof of publication by today. County counsel has sought letters of proof of circulation from each paper.
If rejected, CBS must either take the issue to court or start over for the third time.
Despite the different goals of FOS and CBS, the group’s members are not enemies with respect on both sides, Brown said.
FOS’ next meeting is June 15 at 7 p.m. For more information or the location of the meeting, call Austin at 726-1825.
