Representation remains a taxing issue for school board
Representation remains a taxing issue for school board
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments A presentation for a School Resource Officer (SRO), given by Tehachapi’s new Chief of Police, Jeff Kermode, appeared to be the only item the board could agree on during the May 22 regular meeting. The board invited Chief Kermode to come back in June for a follow-up discussion on the program that will facilitate one full-time officer to perform law enforcement, preventative education, counseling and mentoring services for all TUSD students. If approved, the district and the police department will be equal partners in the program, for a shared cost of $73,646 a year.
“I’ve had experience in districts utilizing an SRO and have nothing but positive feedback,” said Interim Superintendent Mike McGuire, adding “You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. This will be a big plus for the community and a big plus for the kids.”
McGuire’s positive contributions also ended with the issue of law enforcement as the meeting moved on to the question of legal representation for the district as indecision, disorder and division reigned for the remainder of the lengthy meeting.
With board member Holly Hart absent, the board was deadlocked, 3-3, on a motion made during the May 8 meeting, to change to Kern Legal Services for legal representation. The district’s current contract with the firm of deGoede, Dunn, Martin and Associates, of Fresno, expires on June 30.
The vote remains split between the incumbent members and those elected in November. Hart’s swing-vote was expected to decide the issue, but she chose to abstain during three separate motions aimed at resolving the issue of legal representation.
Abstentions aside, Hart offered a heated and emotional lecture, urging a change of vote from the old guard, in favor of a return to the “local preference,” of Kern Legal Services.
“I will not run this district,” Hart began, referring to a comment made by McGuire that she is controlling the board. “I will not sit here and be the swing-vote and be referred to as the ‘dark horse,’ by the paper,” she said. “One of you all has to give.”
Hart continued to refer to a “brain drain in this community,” suggesting that support for the local economy should begin with an effort to build relationships closer to home.
McGuire admonished the board that a decision needs to be made on legal representation as soon as possible.
“I think you need to vote on this second motion tonight,” he said, prior to the third and final motion’s failure. “You need to make sure we are protected after the interim superintendent leaves.”
McGuire made several similar remarks, referring to himself in the third person and referencing his temporary position, including his vocal support for the sale of Wells Elementary School, an action George Shaw, of the California Department of Education’s Department of Public School Construction expressed opposition to when he met with McGuire at the request of board members on May 17. McGuire told the Tehachapi News he planned to inform the board of the outcome of that meeting via letter, at a date after the May 22 board meeting.
That topic digressed from the agenda, which called for a discussion of the current status of the plans for the possible refurbishing of Jacobsen Middle School, which according to Julie Auvil, Chief Administrator of Business Services for TUSD, could cost as much as $17 million for a like-for-like remodel, meaning no add-ons.
City Councilman Stan Beckham and City Manager Jason Caudle were among the handful of audience members attending the meeting. Beckham announced during the May 7 city council meeting that doing business with the TUSD was akin to trying to work with a “divorcing couple.” After the spectacle of this meeting, Beckham’s new take has changed to include “a custody battle.”
A special meeting of the board is scheduled for May 30.
See article "Looking at a dilemma from outside the bubble" for Shaw’s recommendations.
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