State Silent on Ban by Education Board

The state attorney general’s office has declined to issue an opinion on whether the County Board of Education has the authority to ban certain groups from sex education workshops for teachers, officials said Friday.

Such an opinion can only be given if Ventura County Counsel James L. McBride has first reached his own legal conclusion on the issue, said Rodney O. Lilyquist, senior assistant attorney general.

Lilyquist’s July 3 letter to McBride will be discussed at the county school board’s meeting Monday. That meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the board room at the county superintendent of schools office in Camarillo.

McBride had requested an opinion from state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren to settle a dispute between Supt. of Schools Charles Weis and three members of the county board.

Weis contends the board did not have authority in March to ban speakers representing Planned Parenthood and AIDS Care from teacher-training workshops. But board members Wendy Larner, Angela N. Miller and Marty Bates said they believe they do have authority.

Weis was not available for comment Friday. But Assistant Supt. Robert Smith said McBride has indicated that he is unwilling to research the issue because he represents both the board and the superintendent’s office.

If the two sides sign a waiver stating they do not find it a conflict of interest, McBride said he may be willing to give an opinion, Smith said.

The county board is also scheduled to discuss two other hot-button issues that were held over from last month’s meeting. Bates has asked for a review of Weis’ $112,000 annual salary and has asked to open an investigation into alleged wrongdoings at Gateway Community School.