Parents have given the Aromas-San Juan Unified School Board
until May 1 to rehire Aromas School Principal Mary-Ann Tucker
before they go forward with their effort to recall board
members.
Board members John Ferreira, Andy Hsia-Coron, Rachel Ponce and
Sylvia Rios Metcalf were served with notices of intent to recall
their positions Wednesday during a special board meeting at Anzar
High School.
Parents have given the Aromas-San Juan Unified School Board until May 1 to rehire Aromas School Principal Mary-Ann Tucker before they go forward with their effort to recall board members.
Board members John Ferreira, Andy Hsia-Coron, Rachel Ponce and Sylvia Rios Metcalf were served with notices of intent to recall their positions Wednesday during a special board meeting at Anzar High School. Shannon Haberman of the firm Margies Angels served the notices.
Parent Julie Conrad, who is co-organizing the recall effort with 15 other parents, said trustees have failed to be receptive to parent and teacher concerns regarding the Board’s decision to not renew Tucker’s contract, which later resulted in her resignation.
More than 100 community members attended the Board’s April 2 meeting to protest its decision, but they felt they were not being listened to, Conrad said.
Making the situation more of a trust issue was the rumor circulating that Tucker was asked for her resignation the day of the Board meeting before people voiced their concerns, Conrad said.
“Mary-Ann is a big piece of this, but the issue now is that people don’t feel they’re being heard,” she said. “Because someone asked her (Tucker) for her resignation before the (April 2) meeting, it’s apparent that they didn’t plan on listening.”
After the public’s reactions at the April 2 meeting, Ferreira said he was not surprised about the notices of intent to recall.
“I’m certainly disappointed that this recall effort is now underway. I don’t support it,” he said. “I may not agree with the Board’s decision, but I support the decision as a board member. I think this is going to be very divisive to both communities.”
Metcalf was not shocked by the notices either and said community members made their feelings and intentions very clear at the April 2 meeting.
“I’m very sad and disappointed that it came to that. This was one of the toughest decisions we’ve had to make,” Metcalf said. “I definitely heard what people said (April 2), which made the decision that much harder.”
Hsia-Coron remains confident that the Board made the right decision.
“I think the Board was justified in the decision that it made. There is nothing to be ashamed of in that regard,” he said.
Ponce were contacted but did not respond by press time.
According to Section 11020 of the California Education Code, registered voters can recall board members and demand an election for a successor. The notice requires at least 10 signatures of registered voters and states a ground for recall. The statement reads, “The grounds for recall are as follows: Your persistent, conscious and willful disregard for the expressed wished of parents, teachers and school staff in the Aromas-San Juan (Unified) School District.”
Ferreira and Metcalf said the rumor about Tucker being asked to turn in her resignation before the Board meeting was not true.
“It’s not the case that I know of. There have been so many rumors,” Ferreira said. “… I can understand. It’s a very emotional issue. Mary-Ann Tucker is a very nice person. I can see how people can become attached to her.”
Currently, community members are not sure if they want to recall Ferreira. The group will meet Monday to make a decision. Ferreira originally voted against not renewing Tucker’s contract at the March 5 Board meeting, but voted to accept Tucker’s resignation at the April 2 meeting.
“I don’t think his accepting Mary-Ann’s resignation should be damning in itself,” Conrad said.
Conrad said she likes Ferreira and feels he is receptive to listening and making changes.
“Now, the other three (besides Ferreira and board member Jeff Hancock) have done everything but (be unreceptive),” she said.
Metcalf said she was receptive and took public comments to heart.
“I gave a lot of thought to what I heard. It’s a real handicap to not have the ability to discuss the details in public,” she said. “It’s frustrating not having the whole story, but, unfortunately, the law prevents us from doing that.”
To recall a school board member, 750 signatures must be gathered. The signatures are then verified by the county clerk’s office and then sent to the county Board of Supervisors to be placed on a ballot for a special election.
Community members are aiming to get 1,000 signatures and are hoping to have the recalls on the November 2003 ballot, Conrad said.
Even though there is a May 1 deadline to rehire Tucker, the group plans on continuing with the recall efforts to make sure they have everything needed for the November election, she said.
The notices allow for the recallees to submit a statement within seven days. Ferreira and Metcalf said they plan on submitting a statement. Both the notices to recall and answer statement are intended for the information of voters, according to the elections code.
