Laguna Beach School Recall

Often times people who believe that they are thinking are simply rearranging their prejudices. Within that context I question the motives of Citizens United for Responsible Education (CURE) and their intent to connect the activities of the Laguna Beach Booster Club with the current recall drive directed at myself and three of my colleagues.

The Laguna Beach Booster Club does not come under the jurisdiction or control of the Board of Education; therefore, the current controversy over alleged violations of CIF rules should not involve the Board of Education. Furthermore, charges of conflict of interest involving school board members participating in organizations affecting their children is fallacious reasoning.

If this philosophy were to prevail, it would not only negate board members from belonging to Boosters, School Power and the PTA, but also would keep them from voting on matters affecting their children’s classroom teachers, like salaries and leaves of absence. The absurdity of this theory and its ramifications amaze me.

The fact that the Laguna Beach Booster Club, more specifically the football boosters, has recently been implicated in the recall controversy stands as confirmation that this is a single-issue recall with one primary focus.

CURE, and those agencies and individuals supporting its cause, have sought to discredit my service and involvement in the Laguna Beach School District primarily due to my convictions, related to the issue of chemical dependency within the educational system, how that philosophy was applied to Cedrick Hardman and my continued support of Hardman in his successful effort to rehabilitate and redirect his life.

I am appalled at the preoccupation with discrediting, condemning, publicly maligning and impugning reputations. When components of a recall effort are shrouded by misrepresentation of facts, emotional outcrys, and hidden agendas, then constitutional rights are being abused--not upheld.

CHARLENE RAGATZ

Laguna Beach

Ragatz is a member of the Laguna Beach Unified School District board