Orange Trustees Vote to Apply for U.S. School Grant

Orange Unified School District trustees, who just two weeks ago took a firm stand against accepting federal grant money, tempered their position Wednesday night by unanimously allowing officials to seek a $5-million technology grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The four-member conservative majority, which rejected $15,000 in federal career development grants in May, supported seeking the technology grant because the funds come with virtually no “federal strings.” Unlike the career grant, which amounted to “socialism” in the view of the conservative majority, the technology grant would facilitate classroom learning in a vital area, trustees explained.

“This grant is for computers in the classrooms, paid for by our tax dollars,” said Trustee Bill Lewis, who consulted Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) to ensure the technological grant would not bring federal interference along with it. “The [rejected grant] was for school-to-work, which is a social program where they mold our children from the top down in the image the federal government wants.”

Orange Unified’s 7-0 vote on the application Wednesday marked the second time conservative trustees made good on a promise to personally review every bid for grant money--a policy no other district in the county has adopted. The review process is part of a larger campaign by the conservative trustees to maximize local control and minimize the role of other agencies--particularly the federal government--in school affairs.

Contending that the schools increasingly were acting as social service agencies, the conservative majority on the board in April had considered seeking a prohibition of all grants not related to academics but backed off under community pressure.

Conservatives expressed confidence that the federal government--which Lewis likened to a “drug dealer” in May--would not unduly intrude upon their district as a result of seeking the technology grant.

“Any time it’s a federal grant, that’s a red flag for me,” said Maureen Aschoff, a board conservative. “But I feel good about what I see. . . . It allows the school site to decide where and how to use the money.”

In contrast to other recent meetings that drew hundreds of spectators as trustees reviewed grant applications, Wednesday’s board meeting attracted only 25 people. School officials said preparations for today’s graduation probably kept attendance down.

In a highly competitive process, officials with the U.S. Department of Education anticipate awarding only 23 such technology grants nationwide. The grants, which will be distributed over a five-year period, are earmarked for programs that enhance learning with technology.

Orange Unified will seek a $5-million grant, which, if won, would require the district to match the federal funds. With the grant money, Orange Unified officials said, they would expand cable lines for Internet sites, establish a districtwide technology training center and initiate other telecommunications projects.

Though applauding the approval for the grant, many parents, teachers and even other trustees were bewildered with the apparent change of heart among the conservative majority: Aschoff, Lewis, Max Reissmueller and Martin Jacobson.

“It just doesn’t compute for me,” said Trustee James Fearns, who consistently votes in the minority on issues. “Before, they said the dealing with federal government is like dealing with drug dealers. Now, this grant demands matching funds. If you don’t call that a hook, I don’t know what is.

“I don’t see how they can rationalize this. I’m just going to quit trying to figure out human behavior.”

Though they realize the funds will be difficult to obtain, some trustees said it would have been foolhardy not to seek them.

“It would be nuts for the board to pass on a chance for $5 million. We have to prepare our kids technologically speaking for the year 2000,” Trustee Rick Ledesma said. “And if we didn’t go after these grants, you can bet our competitors in nearby districts would.”

Orange Unified’s policy of reviewing individual grant applications was created after the board retreated from an unprecedented proposal to ban all grants providing medical, dental or psychological services on district campuses. The board backed away from the ban in April after hundreds of parents and community and school groups angrily protested the proposed policy.

The debate stemmed from a trustee proposal to eliminate a popular health and social service program at Lampson Elementary School in Garden Grove, which is attended by largely low-income children. The program supplies them with basic care from doctors, dentists and psychologists.

The district serves 27,000 students in Orange, Villa Park and parts of Anaheim Hills, Garden Grove and Santa Ana. About 37% are poor enough to qualify for free breakfasts provided by the federal government.