Temecula High School (Photo: Michelle Mears for California Globe)
Temecula School District Staff Cut Lights and Video During Public Board Meeting
Attempt to censor Board Trustee from disclosing State and District Overreach over parental rights
By Katy Grimes, August 31, 2024 8:34 am
The following is a press statement the Globe received Friday:
The intense battle over parental rights in California’s schools took another dramatic turn at Tuesday’s Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) Board meeting.
In clear violation of the Board’s procedural rules, two Board members silenced fellow Trustee and Presiding Officer Jen Wiersma as they walked off the dais in the middle of a public hearing, with staff cutting the video feed and turning off the lights on the assembled crowd.
Presiding Officer Wiersma was in the middle of presenting a letter to the public clarifying the legal status of the TVUSD’s parental notification policy when the hearing abruptly ended.
Wiersma stated, “It’s shocking that my duty to provide oversight as an elected official was canceled due to an opposing viewpoint on the part of my colleagues up for re-election.” “I wrote a letter to provide transparency on the conflicting communication regarding our legal parental notification board policy between the California Department of Education (CDE) and a recent ruling from a superior court judge who validated the board policy on parental rights. I’m within my legal authority to provide accurate information to the public even as my colleagues try to bury it,” she added.
“The silencing of a duly elected board member raises serious questions about the state of local governance and the rights of parents to be fully informed about policies that directly impact their children,” said one concerned parent who witnessed the meeting.
Background
Past district communications have led to confusion among TVUSD staff and students about their rights and protections due to conflicting messages with a CDE determination declaring the policy discriminatory while a recent ruling from a Court judge affirmed parents in the policy stating, “the district’s purpose in involving parents in the decision-making process and restoring trust is furthered by mandatory parental notification…”
After nearly thirty minutes of public comment was heard on the agendized item to send a letter from Jen Wiersma to parents and teachers clarifying the legal status of the policy, board members Steve Schwartz and Allison Barclay, currently standing for re-election, abruptly interrupted the reading of the letter and theatrically stormed out of the building ending the quorum. District staff cut the lights and video feed, left the room and refused to listen to Wiersma’s views opposing the CDE and Superintendent Woods unilaterally stripping policy from the parental notification policy without a majority vote of the school board.
As a result of the public recording being terminated without officially being adjourned by the Presiding Officer and Clerk, Jen Wiersma, the superintendent left the dais, and the lights were turned off, leaving Wiersma and remaining attendees in the dark- both literally and figuratively.
This unexpected turn of events has only deepened concerns about the transparency of the decision-making process within the Temecula Valley Unified School District. AB1955 which prohibits requiring school employees from disclosing information related to a stu-
dent’s gender identity without the student’s consent, has been at the center of the parental rights debate.
Critics argue that the bill infringes on the fundamental rights of parents to be involved in critical aspects of their children’s lives. With the law not set to take effect until 2025, the legality and future of AB1955 remains uncertain as it faces legal challenges from multiple school districts and the Orange County Board of Education.
In the meantime, the actions at least night’s TVUSD Board meeting suggest that the battle over parental rights in California is far from over ~and that even local school board members are not immune to being silenced.
Jennifer Wiersma can be found on X @realjenwiersma
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Surely there is a law regarding the endangering the public by purposely turning off the lights of a public gathering.
Or pulling a fire alarm in the capitol building in D.C.
RULE: Black? No problem; White? Death by a thousand cuts.
Are you kidding or just really stupid. until you have been a person of color that cannot walk through a store or have family over without being suspected of nefarious acts yoy dont get a valid opinion onthe matter.
That whole scene was gross. theycommitted an act of terrorism and they arw all still alive. The responce to acts terrorisms is usually death when you are caught in the act as a person of color.
When we are peacefully protesting it is unheard of for all of us to walk away alive historically.
We are done hearing such ridiculous statements if reverse racism. the fact that they are alive proves it does not exist.
says the racist who invalidates everyone but their own world view.
nobody gets an opinion but you … is that it? sounds pretty racist to me.
but your not just a racist .. but a fool as well.
As a former elected official, let me just say that STAFF CANNOT DO THAT.
Staff exists to carry out the orders of the electeds – period. Each and every staff member who participated in that literally broke their contracts and can be fired for cause, which they should be.
And considering the direct the election implications, they can be charged with misuse of government funds/etc. with political intent.
It is a fine line that is crossed far too often, but this is obvious – Riv Co DA Mike Hestrin needs to step in.
Let’s see that happen. Definitely. It’s not just this district, it’s ALL districts who dare to be sensible and do the right thing and their reward is these stupid and dangerous games. And it goes beyond school districts. This unacceptable B.S. cannot continue to happen without consequences. Fire staff who are responsible and get D.A. Mike Hestrin on the phone.
You were an elected official? Then you should know Robert’s Rules of Order and realize that board member Wiersma was the one not following parliamentary procedures. She can’t just throw a tantrum and get her way. Watch the board meeting.
Ah! Open and Transparent government strikes again!
The actions of turning off the lights by staff and the board members storming out is outrageous and in clear violation of their jobs. fire them! Temecula residents take note of these board members, Steve Schwartz and Allison Barclay, currently standing for re-election! Out with them.
Only Districts that have something to hide from parents would have this amount of turmoil. Sounds like it was planned in advance, which amounts to a conspiracy. What’s shocking is that anyone would vote for members of this board who pulled off this stunt to censor unwanted opinions.
This is the worst piece of garbage reporting I have ever read. Did the reporter even watch the meeting online or take the time to read the proper procedures for board meetings? Board member Wiersma is no victim here and no procedural rules were violated. According to Robert’s Rules of Order, a board member can “call the question” at any time, which ends the discussion on agenda items and calls for a vote. Board member Schwartz called the question, it was seconded by Board member Barclay, and Board member Wiersma then threw a tantrum. When she refused to follow proper procedures, Schwartz and Barclay left the meeting. With no quorum, the meeting is adjourned. It is interesting to note that Board member Wiersma did the SAME EXACT THING to Barclay and Schwartz at a board meeting on Aug 9, 2023. At that meeting, Wiersma wanted to hire another new law firm, Faith and Freedom, and voted yes to “call the question” giving Barclay and Schwartz no opportunity for discussion. Wiersma is no victim here, just a hypocrite!
As the article states at the beginning, this was a press statement the Globe received Friday, and published verbatim.