Whittier : Group Starts Recall Over School for Troubled Youths
A group of 50 angry West Whittier residents served notice this week of their intent to recall three Whittier City School District board members after the board failed to remove a school for troubled youths from their neighborhood.
The group served notice to David R. Thomas, John C. McFarland and Owen E. Newcomer at Monday’s meeting. Their recall petition must still be approved by the county clerk before organizers can begin gathering signatures.
The Whittier Community Day Center School opened in October as a last-resort school for as many as 34 area students in grades five through eight who faced expulsion for a variety of problems, ranging from truancy to vandalism to drug possession.
Community members said some students have gang ties and could get into fights with local gang rivals. “We are not against the program or the students, but we are angry with the board’s lack of notification and the lack of regard for the community,” resident Raul Gonzales said.
Board members insisted that the school is safe. “I believe in the school and I support it,” McFarland said.
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