Florida Republicans pass anti-union bill, reject Democrats attempts to soften its blow, Grills Seafood owner says Bud Light partnering with trans person has brought us into hell on Earth, Florida Republicans vote to lower gun-buying age, scrapping change made after Parkland shooting, Florida House agrees to boost funding for Visit Florida's tourism-marketing efforts, By Jim Turner, the News Service of Florida, Floria education officials target Leon County superintendent for opposing Gov. This is in direct violation of Nuremberg trials and using everyone as guinea pigs.. 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.. While I support parents, and I am a very big supporter of parents opting out of inappropriate content that they believe for their child is inappropriate, I do not support other parents telling my kids what they can and can't read at the policy level, at the district level, or the state level because I don't want other parents to parent my children with their values, Salamanca said. Principal, Aliso Niguel High School, Jane Russo (ret.) The OC Board of Education filed two lawsuits against the elected OC Superintendent of Schools. Board of Education. At times, the crowd clapped or jeered at speakers on the podium. Montao said the other panelists were not experts in the field and oppose teaching the subject. It's the same thing. Earlier this month, the statewide teachers union filed a petition alongside the Florida Freedom to Read Project and Families for Strong Public Schools, challenging new rules from the state Department of Education on this matter, which they characterize as part of a "censorship agenda" by the DeSantis administration. Outside, two police cruisers parked in the parking lot. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), The Orange County Board of Education, left, panel members and the pubic listen 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. When it comes to the vaccine passport, Noymer said the analogies to the Nazis is over the top. If the topic of discussion is a current agenda item, the citizen may be asked to delay discussion until the subject is before the Board at the regular agenda time. The Board of Educations forum, which can be viewed on YouTube, was still going on as this story went to print. Byrd, an OCPS parent and a former teacher, decided it was time to bring her experience to the board. And most of all, thank you for advocating for your children and their future.. We weren't able to find anything that matched your search criteria. A school board member on the Orange County Board of Education North Carolina was caught on video harassing parents who were handing out information cards about issues in the district to parents in a carpool line. 200 Kalmus Drive One student credited the teacher for helping her improve her grades in science. Romo, who said she specializes in helping survivors of child sexual abuse, stated that the teachers did nothing wrong. 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. And I'm not happy. The very policy necessitating their workshop on Tuesday is a "Trojan horse" she said, "to get rid of books of students of color of LGBTQ youth and of religious minorities.". Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. The OC Board of Education has sued Governor Newsom three times since the summer of 2020. Board members are elected for a four-year term by the electors of the trustee area which they represent. OCCTA president and art teacher Clinton McCracken speaks out against politically-motivated book bans in Orange County public schools. (Gina Ferazzi . Access additional information about this contest in the tabs in this section. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. Gunn Marie Hansen was the superintendent of the Orange Unified School District from 2017 to 2023. The district is overseen by the Orange County School Board, a body of seven elected officers, each board member sitting for a particular geographic district. 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. Many speakers have also mentioned that the county should not mandate vaccines for children or adults. The Orange County Board of Education which last year unsuccessfully sued Gov. (This does not include ad hoc committee meetings. Last August, the Orange County board sued Newsom to reopen schools that had been closed because of COVID-19. I personally was the one who talked to the state about having it as a mandate, Chau said last August. Are they trans? "I look back since November and feel proud of all that we have accomplished, including reopening our schools with adherence to state requirements, increasing our wellness program counselors, and increasing our efforts to maintain our schools where each and every child feels safe and valued," said Forehan in an emailed statement to Spectrum News. Irvine Unified School District is also enforcing masking indoors, while offering virtual alternatives to meet student needs. Trustee Area 5*, Map Prepared by Davis Demographics, November 24, 2014. Board President Board members disputed that there is a scientific basis for masking schoolchildren. Retaining books in school libraries that are accessible and which represent their experiences, she said, can be part of that. Critics, however, say that schools have melded the two and that the ideas of critical race theory have seeped into K-12 curricula, teaching children that people are divided into groups, with some as victims who are oppressed, and whites as the oppressors, leading to divisiveness and intolerance. All the latest on Orange County from Orange County. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Orange County Commissioners discuss tax appeal bias, opioid crisis relief funding ; Orange County Schools Board of Education approves 2024 fiscal year budget The Board has as its secretary and executive officer the County Superintendent of Schools, who is elected by the people every four years. And, on a local level, protecting children has also been a priority for members of the Orange County School Board. arumsey@orangeusd.org A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? But there is a great push for everyone in the community to align with the beliefs of the LGBT community.. NEW POLITICAL BOUNDARIES The Orange County School Board unanimously voted Dec. 14 on Proposal 16, which sets the new boundaries for each of the seven School Board members' districts. Trustee Area 3*, Madison Miner Muller plans to run for the school board. School board chair and former Orange County mayor Teresa Jacobs, in discussion afterwards, agreed with the sentiment shared by McCracken, and said the board should in the future discuss what they can do to ensure kids have access to books that reflect their diverse experiences and identities. Colleen Shalby is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Advisory Legal Opinion - AGO 80-26. Orange County Public Schools is located in Orlando, Florida. ", Aguilar added that parents are pushing for a recall because they feel that adult teachers should not be discussing sexuality with their minor children without consent or cause.. The Orange Unified School District Board of Education welcomes your input. Across the country, conservative parents and political groups have organized and protested at their local school boards over the same issues: mask mandates, returning to campus, and curriculum on ethnic and cultural books and studies. 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. Subject: Reapportioning school district. Superintendent West Covina Unified School District, Beverly Hempstead (ret.) LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. In the first week of school, a teacher at Oak Middle School greeted his students and sent out a survey asking them their preferred pronouns during class. Mark Celestin, a longtime teacher, coach and educator in the district, commended the board and urged them to continue their good work. You can access your list by navigating to 'My Choices'. 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. Orange County will close mass vaccination sites at the Anaheim Convention Center, OC Fair & Event Center, Soka University and Santa Ana College. School board member Melissa Byrd, sharing her own thoughts on Farrant's comments, didnt mince words. They were selected by board members to equalize the districts that have become lopsided as growth continues at a rapid pace in certain areas, such as Pam Gould's District 4. I think this district has done a good job of making sure that kids all feel included, Farrant said. A stand-alone recall could cost the Los Alamitos School District tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Currently, the county is dealing with how to educate the public to combat vaccine hesitancy. 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. Rick Ledesma I never read about any characters like me in a single book in elementary, middle or high school.. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), Chairs set up in at the Orange County Board of Education have the names of invited guests attending a town hall meeting to discuss ethnic studies and critical race theory at the Orange County Board of Education in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Please send your comments to the Board of Education at: board@orangeusd.org Rick Ledesma rledesma@orangeusd.org Board President Trustee Area 7* Term: 2022-2026 John Ortega Virtual learning could be an alternative for students who decline to wear a mask, public relations officer Annette Franco said, but most are opting for in-person instruction. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), Wenyuan Wu, left, speaks at a press conference about ethnic studies and critical race theory prior to a forum at the Orange County Board of Education in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Superintendent, San Bernardino County Office of Education, Dr. Joe Farley (ret.) The Orange County Schools Board of Education includes seven members who serve four-year terms. Drew Sells, a biology teacher at Los Alamitos High School who spoke in support of the teacher, said the teacher at the center of the controversy did nothing wrong. It is to make sure that they have the best at their fingertips. Superintendent, Cypress School District, Dr. George Giokaris (ret.) We have to be inclusive. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG), Elina Kaplan, left, speaks at a press conference about ethnic studies and critical race theory prior to a forum at the Orange County Board of Education in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Following public comments, Williams, who proposed the resolution and statement, said the board should be taking a leadership role against vaccine passports because the idea is invasive and runs afoul of personal health data., Once this concept gets going its like a wildfire, and it just continues to grow, Williams said. As the fourth largest district in the state, it is home to 202 schools and 206,058 students. Orange County has long pushed against COVID-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic, and residents opposition to face covering rules contributed to the implementation of the statewide mandate in June last year. And finally, here is Alicia doubling down on her transphobia once again by saying whatever were calling them. Site 113-H-W-4, located at 10393 Seidel Road in Horizon West, is now Horizon High School. She also said that the paper cards given to people when they are vaccinated could be difficult to keep track of. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG). #3 - Stop Using the Board of Education as a Partisan Political Platform. Costa Mesa, CA 92626, Non-Discrimination Policy Download it here. Use "return" to select this candidate. But many of the students that went up to the podium spoke glowingly of their teacher. From among its members, the Board elects a president and a vice president. O.C. Ben Brazil is a former features writer for TimesOC who now works as a News Desk multiplatform editor for the Los Angeles Times. Principal, Tesoro High School, Deni Christensen (ret.) "The parents are here to regain control over what is being enforced on and taught to their children," he added. The school system is not responsible for the contents of any linked site, any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. With your support, we can reach and inform more voters. "We are committed to providing our students the support they need at this time to continue to be academically successful. 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.. McCracken, preside of the Orange County teachers union, said on Tuesday its a shame the school board has to spend all of this time updating policies as a result of unnecessary culture wars created by DeSantis and Florida lawmakers. There was some concern, 'Why would an adult man be asking minor children under the age of 14 about their sexuality?'". Ron DeSantis. This earned her swift pushback from her colleagues. "What he did was in line with the law," said Sells to Spectrum News. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Orange County and other California sites to close mass COVID-19 vaccination centers, Pen mightier than the tweet at Great American Write-In, Heritage Hill Historical Park to host Rancho Days Fiesta, O.C. The lawsuit will probably be filed next week, and according to Nada Higuera, an attorney with the firm representing the case,there is no evidence that the decision was prompted by school district officials concerns. He said the board is reinforcing and echoing the beliefs of people who are hesitant to get a vaccine. As of 2022, the current school board members, in order of district number, are Angie Gallo, Maria . For the past year and a half, the five-member board has heard raging debates from parents over safely reopening school campuses amid the coronavirus pandemic, the ethnic studies curriculum, which some have misconstrued as critical race theory, and current student mask requirement at schools. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. McCracken, whose union represents 14,000 teachers and school staff across the county, shared a personal story to emphasize the importance of retaining books in schools that reflect the diverse backgrounds of students, including LGBTQ youth. Both have been labeled problematic by the DeSantis administration, which has welcomed the support of groups like Moms for Liberty that have galvanized a wave of book banning across the U.S. Floridas new policy governing what materials can and cannot remain in schools has consumed hours upon hours of school boards time, including in Orange County. AAP has previously said that universal masking is key to reducing transmission largely because a significant number of students are not yet eligible for a vaccine. Trustee Areas Superintendent, Tustin Unified School District - Professor - USC, Dr. Herb Fischer (ret.) The board also approves the annual budget of the Orange County Department of Education, which is distinct from the board. I'm not happy with the forced indoctrination of gender fluidity that is happening at the middle school.". A petition went to the state Supreme Court asking it to review the case, but was ultimately denied. The board voted 4-1 in favor of each, with the only dissenting votes coming from board member Rebecca Gomez, who serves Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, portions of Garden Grove and portions of Tustin. Board President Mari Barke apologized Tuesday evening to the other invited speakers of the forum, who she said were slandered by Montao. They ignored almost four thousand community comments in support of masks and social distancing and received four that supported their position. Thu, Apr 6, 2023 at 9:42 am. Parents and students carried competing signs that read "Recall Los Alamitos School Board," "No Recall," and "LGBTQ Inclusion is the Law.". You must select at least 2 candidates to compare them. rledesma@orangeusd.org (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG), Roselinn Lee, a teacher in the Santa Ana Unified School District, speaks during a press conference by Truth in Education in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. *All mail correspondence to and from the Orange County Schools is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law, which may result in disclosure to third parties. apage@orangeusd.org Trustee Area 7*, John Ortega Neither the O.C. Contact Your School Board Member While children have largely escaped coronavirus infections, its still possible for a child to contract and spread the virus. Board member Williams concurred, adding that the opinion of residents was key to the decision. Ethnic studies empowers students with the information they need to build a more inclusive democracy.. Date: April 1, 1980. Gomez was the only board member wearing a mask during the meeting. "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. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. (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. Current and former students said it was the teacher's way of creating an inclusive and welcoming classroom experience. But Farrant, who has a history of complaining about the presence of books with LGBTQ themes in schools, made a point of saying that indoctrination can go quite a few ways and that there are other children in the school district as well who deserve attention. L.A. has a new answer. Capistrano Unified School District, for example, said it is still reviewing state guidance and working out plans ahead of the Aug. 17 start date. Recently, county Board of Supervisors meetings have been overtaken by dozens of members of the public who have railed against vaccine passports. 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. 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. In 2020, the Board of Education promoted guidelines calling on kids to return to school without masks or social distancing, and the Board majority largely defended the guidelines by noting they were formulated by a panel of experts. However, the report was written by OC Board member Ken Williams and Will Swaim, president of the California Policy Center, who also moderated the panel. (Voice of OC, 2020). Barke stated they would pursue yet another lawsuit. Visit Us. She deferred the cost question to the Los Alamitos school district. Also, we do not teach CRT in K-12 schools. Melissa Moran, who has a daughter in the teacher's class, told the board that the pronoun question was a sign of respect. Challenge Coin Recipients Represent the OUSD EDGE! Is he privileged because hes half-white? (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. 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. A native of South Florida, Jacobs graduated cum laude from Florida State University with a degree in Economics and enjoyed a nine-year . Board of Education, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), New group clashes with O.C. Stop the reckless waste of tax dollars, over $5 million and counting, and stand up to career politicians. Dean of Communications, Chapman University. "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. She is interested in Asian-American issues, education and how communities come together. 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. The OC Board of Education filed two lawsuits against the elected OC Superintendent of Schools. Supporters of Californians state-mandated ethnic studies during a press conference by Truth in Education in Newport Beach, CA, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Ken L. Williams, Jr., D.O. I dont know what my kids are going to be told when they walk into school as my 6-year old is about to enter first grade, Abraham said. 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. In Orange County, a number of districts offer ethnic studies or are considering doing so. on Schools are for inculcating facts and knowledge, and not advancing vaccination mandates for children who are at very little risk of the COVID-19 pathogen.