MOORPARK : School Board Votes Against Prop. 187

Saying Proposition 187 could kick 360 local students out of school, the Moorpark school board has unanimously opposed the “Save Our State” ballot initiative that would deny educational services to illegal immigrants.

However, the board failed to support a “conscientious objector” clause suggested by member Tom Baldwin. Baldwin said that the board should not discipline teachers who refuse to follow Proposition 187’s requirement that they report students who are illegal immigrants to authorities.

“Why should a person have to risk their job to follow a law that is immoral?” Baldwin said in an interview. “I don’t think we should be putting our employees in that position where they have to make a choice between their job and doing something they consider wrong.”

But the proposal died for lack of a second.

“Obviously there was no support on the board to allow civil disobedience,” trustee Pam Castro said.

Officials estimate that Proposition 187 could cost the Moorpark district $644,000 in state funds and $500,000 in federal funds each year. It also could force the district to spend about $60,000 to verify immigration status of students, about 28% of whom are Latino and 6% of whom may be illegal immigrants, Baldwin said.

The board resolution also contends that Proposition 187 is illegal because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that undocumented immigrants cannot be denied a public education. However, the Yes on 187 coordinator for Ventura County scoffed at the resolution, saying it will have little effect on popular support for the measure.

“Every city and school district opposed Proposition 13. (But) the people didn’t care, they wanted to save their homes,” said political consultant Steve Frank. “In this case, Proposition l87, the people don’t care what the bureaucrats and elected politicians say, they want to save their tax dollars.”