Therefore the Orange County Board of Education declares its opposition to vaccine or health digital passports, mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations or any future legal use of digital documentation of health records, Williams read. 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. Aug. 4, 2021 11:46 AM PT. Hansen began serving as interim superintendent in September 2017 and was appointed full superintendent in December 2017. We lift up everyone, board member Angie Gallo asserted, adding that while all children deserve attention, its important to lift up children who are marginalized, on account of poverty or any other life circumstances. The Orange County Schools Board of Education includes seven members who serve four-year terms. The voter guide includes descriptions of each California ballot measure and who is spending money for and against each measure. Click here to sign up to receive email notifications about all regular and special called OCS School Board meetings. The District 3 and. Member Lisa Sparks attended by phone. 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. 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 . These lawsuits are a disappointing distraction from a common goal getting kids back into schools safely and limiting the spread of COVID-19, the department said. It is to make sure that they have the best at their fingertips. Newsoms mask mandate for students. 12010 | franklin.mccune@orange.k12.nc.us. Board members Mari Barke, Tim Shaw, Lisa Sparks and Ken Williams were present for the Tuesday vote. Use "return" to select this candidate. 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. People here tend to be more on the cautious side.. 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! 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. It serves nine schools and nearly 10,000 students. Ron DeSantis. 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. Board President Mari Barke apologized Tuesday evening to the other invited speakers of the forum, who she said were slandered by Montao. "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. If the 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. 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. I think this district has done a good job of making sure that kids all feel included, Farrant said. 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 . Board members, who are elected to four-year terms, approve charter schools and hear interdistrict . What the O.C. How districts choose to enforce the rule on campus is up to them. 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. Superintendent, Capistrano Unified School District, Dr. Rudy Castruita, USC Professor of Clinical Education, Dr. Rocky Cifone (ret) Dean, South Orange County Community College District, Deputy Superintendent, Educational Services, , Capistrano Unified School School District. Hillsborough County School Board member Jessica Vaughn, whom DeSantis recently targeted for defeat in the 2024 election, suggested the survey and letter were timed to send a message as the . The school system provides links as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement of the site by the school system. But sometimes your words suggest that you don't understand quite what it's like to walk in those shoes, and how important it is for us to show our support to our kids.. Board of Education nor OCDE determines the curriculum of local districts, said OCDE spokesman Ian Hanigan in an email. DeSantis wont have to resign to run for president. O.C. Trustee Area 6*, Andrea Yamasaki The bottom line - Undermining public schools undermines the quality of our kids education and the quality of our communities. From among its members, the Board elects a president and a vice president. 919-732-8126 Phone. 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. Tajiana Ancora-Brown Walt Disney World Resort The OC Board of Education filed two lawsuits against the elected OC Superintendent of Schools. They ignored almost four thousand community comments in support of masks and social distancing and received four that supported their position. Comments shall be limited to three minutes per person and thirty minutes for all comments. 200 Kalmus Drive Locally elected school boards and their superintendents are responsible for implementing curriculum that aligns with state standards. Thank candidate for sharing their information on Voter's Edge. Last August, the Orange County board sued Newsom to reopen schools that had been closed because of COVID-19. The school system reserves the right to remove or restrict any links. Costa Mesa, CA 92626, Non-Discrimination Policy 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. 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. 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. The district is made upof residents in Seal Beach, Rossmoor, Los Alamitos and parts of Cypress. But many of the students that went up to the podium spoke glowingly of their teacher. Site 113-H-W-4, located at 10393 Seidel Road in Horizon West, is now Horizon High School. 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 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.. Franklin McCuneAdministrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Board Specialist, 200 E. King Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278(919) 732-8126 ext. With Voters Edge, you have all the election information you need at your fingertips. Aguilar said they hope to place the recall on the mid-term ballots next November to save time and money for taxpayers. 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. 200 E. King Street. "The parents are here to regain control over what is being enforced on and taught to their children," he added. School board districts are not analogous in any way with county commission districts. "This assertion is false blatantly and empirically maligning two of our youngest and best and brightest teachers.". To: Andrew B. Thomas, Attorney for Orange County School Board, Orlando. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "However, there are parents that believe that is not the place for a science teacher. 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. Retaining books in school libraries that are accessible and which represent their experiences, she said, can be part of that. Phone: 714.966.4012. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot. Principal, Aliso Niguel High School, Jane Russo (ret.) The Orange County Board of Education consists of five lay members who represent the five trustee areas of the county. "We're making it so difficult to have those aspirational and inspirational leaders in our classrooms," Pam Gould with the Orange County School Board said. As of 2022, the current school board members, in order of district number, are Angie Gallo, Maria . 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We have an entire month for them [LGBTQ people] not only in June, but also in October, said Farrant. "He wanted his students to know that they are in a safe space," said a student who did not want to be named. "There are no grooming behaviors represented of the teachers cited on the yes on recall website," she said. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), The Orange County Board of Education, left, listens 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. Next up in Orange County Commissioners. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. I really thought long and hard about it. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. To receive these services, please contact our Social Services Coordinator Lakesha Hart at Lakesha.Hart@ocsdsc.org or (803) 516-6052. This earned her swift pushback from her colleagues. In a 4-0 closed-session vote, the board approved a legal challenge that targets the governors emergency rule-making powers, which includes the recent school mask mandate issued as California schools are fully reopening for in-person learning against a troubling coronavirus uptick fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant. A teacher's pronoun question to his students has sparked furor in Los Alamitos Unified. Many speakers have also mentioned that the county should not mandate vaccines for children or adults. Before joining the Daily Pilot in September 2016, he was a reporter for City News Service, a Southern California-based news service. Last year, protests erupted when the board considered and later approved an optional ethnic studies curriculum for the high school and social justice teaching standards for district teachers. The Voter's Edge California voter guide provides in-depth information about what's on your ballot. Cutuli and Fayette did not return a Spectrum News request for comment as of press time. The three new schools opening in West Orange County for the 2021-22 school year have been named. 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. This week, we introduce the candidates for Orange County School Board chair. Please try a new search. 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. ayamasaki@orangeusd.org 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. Glenn . Board member Beckie Gomez had departed before the vote. Access additional information about this contest in the tabs in this section. Any individual desiring to address the Board is asked to complete a request form which may be obtained from the Recording Secretary. Get In Touch. Web: www.ocbe.us, Orange County Board of Education responsibilities include:. The board is an advisory body and does not have the authority to implement rules over the countys school districts, It doesnt matter what a school district wants it matters what parents want, Williams said. 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. Parents and students carried competing signs that read "Recall Los Alamitos School Board," "No Recall," and "LGBTQ Inclusion is the Law.". However, some district parents said it's inappropriate for young kids to learn about gender identity at middle school. Its hurtful, and its insulting, Byrd said, of Farrants claim that LGBTQ youth are prioritized, or held to a higher standard above others. 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. Last year, the board went from an at-large election system where anyone in the district can run for a seat to five trustee voting areas. A native of South Florida, Jacobs graduated cum laude from Florida State University with a degree in Economics and enjoyed a nine-year . Published - October 4, 2021. The goal: Win command of more of Florida's 67 school districts and unseat board members who dissent from Gov. The other is pending and continues to rack up legal fees, paid by taxpayers. Celestin told the board, "We have to fight the good fight. 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. Are they trans? (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), Overflow seats were set up outside the Orange County Board of Education for a town hall meeting to discuss ethnic studies and critical race theory in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Board of Ed nor OCDE would have a role in setting policy relating to vaccinations.. As Florida school districts face a rising number of challenges to the presence of LGBTQ-themed books in schools, Farrant said the Orange County school district has gone above and beyond in affirming LGBTQ youth to a fault. Board Member That being said, I think the digital vaccine passport needs to be implemented with enormous care and not kind of cobbled together overnight at the drop of a hat.. At times, the crowd clapped or jeered at speakers on the podium. Students between classes at Costa Mesa High School in November. Gomez said schools already have the ability to look at a registry for immunizations in California. A petition went to the state Supreme Court asking it to review the case, but was ultimately denied. Board members disputed that there is a scientific basis for masking schoolchildren. One was settled for $3.2 million in attorney fees. Trustee Area 3*, Madison Miner The judge upheld the County Committee decision. The current Board majority has deliberately misled the public and created controversy to undermine our schools. We can't push fear or reaction. She also said that the paper cards given to people when they are vaccinated could be difficult to keep track of. She is interested in Asian-American issues, education and how communities come together. Next year, a recall election could occur if the group gathers enough signatures and the registrar's office verifies them. 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. 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. The Orange Unified School District Board of Education welcomes your input. Laura Byram Hilary Holladay It was raise day at the Orange. Capistrano Unified School District, for example, said it is still reviewing state guidance and working out plans ahead of the Aug. 17 start date. Board Clerk Marlys Davidson, president of the board, also did not return an email seeking comment. (Gina Ferazzi . Schools lose. Number: AGO 80-26. Gunn Marie Hansen was the superintendent of the Orange Unified School District from 2017 to 2023. Instead, they stacked the panel with political partisans to create a white paper and then pretended it was the product of a serious, robust discussion. The teacher's pronoun survey issue is the latest uproar at Los Alamitos Unified District, which has become the center of Orange County's cultural and political issues relating to students and children. Supporters of Californians state-mandated ethnic studies during a press conference by Truth in Education in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. According to the Associated Press, there are more than 30 school board recall efforts nationwide. What are the most critical issues for your trustee area and how do you propose to address them? They ignored almost four thousand community comments in support of masks and social distancing and received four that supported their position. The surge in cases has prompted Los Angeles and Bay Area counties to mandate indoor masking, regardless of vaccination status. The first two lawsuits were dismissed, but the November 2021 lawsuit is pending. This is in direct violation of Nuremberg trials and using everyone as guinea pigs.. 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.. Download it here. At the Board of Education meeting, several members of the public echoed the anti-passport sentiments shared at the Supervisors meetings. She deferred the cost question to the Los Alamitos school district. And, on a local level, protecting children has also been a priority for members of the Orange County School Board. Current and former students said it was the teacher's way of creating an inclusive and welcoming classroom experience. 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. While children have largely escaped coronavirus infections, its still possible for a child to contract and spread the virus. Some of the terms and procedures the new rules require are vague, or not clearly defined. I never read about any characters like me in a single book in elementary, middle or high school..