Group Seeks to Oust 3 School Trustees

An Oxnard community group has mounted a recall campaign against three school board members, two weeks after trustees confirmed their decision to transfer Oxnard High School Principal Daisy Tatum to a new school.

Parent Terry Merricks, head of the Grassroots Committee to Maintain Dignity, on Wednesday served Oxnard Union High School District trustees Bob Valles, Steve Stocks and Nancy Koch with a notice of intent to recall.

“It’s time for the voice of the community to be heard,” she said. “And we will be heard.”

Valles said he stands by his decision.

“We, as the board of trustees, have to determine what’s best for the overall district,” he said. “And my priorities are not concerned with the recall. They are concerned that the kids get a good education.”

The recall process is long and difficult, said Bruce Bradley, county assistant registrar of voters. First, the board members have seven days to respond to the notice. Then the community group must publish its intent in a newspaper and give the registrar a petition stating reasons for the recall effort.

If the registrar’s office approves the petition, the community group has 160 days to collect 10,000 signatures for each board member. Then the registrar would schedule a special election--at a cost of $135,000 to the county--or include the vote in the regular November election.

Merricks said the three trustees were targeted because of their vote to move Tatum. She said the group isn’t trying to recall Art Hernandez, who also voted for the transfer, because he was wavering on his decision.

About 100 parents and community members attended two previous meetings to express their support of Tatum, who has stated that she doesn’t want to leave Oxnard High School.

On July 1, Tatum will become principal of the district’s new community day school program, designed for expelled and low-performing students, as well as those who are doing independent study.

Supt. Bill Studt called it a lateral move; Tatum will maintain her principal’s title and salary. Channel Islands High School Principal Jim Nielsen will replace Tatum at Oxnard High.