Orange School District’s ‘Crisis’ Is Either Real or Imagined

Re “Recall Gives Voters a Say in Orange Unified Crisis,” Commentary, May 20:

Judith Frutig contends that Orange Unified is in “crisis” and offers as proof that “teachers are leaving in droves.” As president of the school board [and not subject to the recall], I find Frutig’s remarks not only factually incorrect but offensive to our fine schools.

The recall crowd’s claim that teachers are leaving in large numbers is simply untrue. They quote statistics about new teachers, or teachers who have left, without telling you that many of the new teachers are for new schools (are we supposed to leave new schools unstaffed so our “new” teacher count won’t be too high?), and that many who have “left the district” actually retired after years of service.

The truth is, Orange Unified’s teacher statistics are right in line with other districts’. For example, 19% of Tustin Unified’s teachers were hired last year. Orange Unified’s new teachers represent slightly more than 20%.

By virtually every other measure, the district is a success story. Test scores increased last year in 24 of 27 elementary schools. Eighty-three percent of our schools met their academic targets. We have four distinguished schools.

The teachers and the board recently reached an agreement increasing top teacher salaries and benefits more than 23% to in excess of $69,692. All the board members are proud of the great teachers in our schools. Our experienced teachers bring a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to our classrooms. Our new teachers bring youthful energy and enthusiasm. Our rising test scores are proof that our teachers--the backbone of this district--are doing a great job.

So what is the “crisis” Frutig refers to? She knows that people respond to an emergency, so she is using the term to create one. The “crisis” is that the union feels teachers deserve an additional raise. Frankly, the board does also. However, unlike the union, we listened to the district’s independent auditor and set aside money owed for retiree health benefits instead. What Frutig calls a crisis, others call sound financial management. We are not going to offer benefits to our retirees without making sure money has been set aside to meet the promise.

The Orange Unified board is committed to raising teacher salaries as high as possible without failing to meet our other obligations or increasing taxes. Under the current board, test scores are rising and teacher salaries are going up. I am confident that when the voters know all the facts, they will vote no on the recall.

Kathy Ward

Orange

As an elected official, I am writing to take issue with Judith Frutig’s article supporting the Orange Unified recall. I support the board because of its successes raising test scores and standards throughout the district. But regardless of your view on the performance of the board, one thing is certain: Nothing the board has done warrants a $150,000-plus recall--especially when the regular election is only four months away!

A recall is intended to remove from office an official who has committed a crime or gross malfeasance in office, not because a special interest is upset about how the trustees voted. The board increased salaries and benefits from between $39,036 for a new teacher to almost $70,000 for veteran teachers. The average is $51,414, but the union wanted more.

Is the refusal to vote for higher salaries a reason to be recalled? Absolutely not! The prospect of this type of intimidation by a special interest is frightening. Frutig also claims that this recall will give the voters a “rare opportunity” to forge a new majority. Frankly, we cannot figure out what she is talking about.

There are three board members facing recall on the seven-member board. During every regular election, at least three members of the board are up for election. Every other election has four. The recall offers no more of an opportunity to “forge a new and competent majority” than the voters get every election.

In fact, they will have this “rare opportunity” again in November. Frutig’s statements are a smoke screen to make you think there is something special that justifies this recall. The fact is there is no justification. This board is doing a great job. We should be honoring them, not recalling them.

They are focused on increasing tests scores. They are committed to raising standards. The results are showing up on the students’ report cards and test scores. The board has increased teacher salaries. Its members are getting ready for another round of increases, and are committed to increasing salaries as high as possible. I do not support the recall because it is unnecessary, with a regular election just around the corner.

So vote no on the recall, or get ready to go to the polls every Tuesday. I know a lot of politicians who have not voted the way I think they should.

Phil Yarbrough

Trustee

Rancho Santiago

Community College District

There is one fact Judy Frutig mentioned in her article that the school board majority has refused to respond to and would like to see go away. It’s the fact that the parents and community members of Orange Unified started the recall and are directing the recall of Martin Jacobson, Linda Davis and Maureen Aschoff.

These three like to say the “teachers union” is behind the recall because the teachers support it. Teachers are known for supporting groups, causes and individuals that are pro-education; which is why we support the Orange Recall Committee, the recall, and candidates Melissa Taylor Smith, Kathy Moffat and John Ortega for school board.

For Jacobson, Davis, and Aschoff to admit who is really behind the recall would be for them to admit they do not have parent or community support.

This recall is not only about correcting the disaster that these three have perpetrated against the children and community of Orange Unified but also about the parents and community regaining control of their school board and once again making Orange Unified a provider of quality education.

Paul Pruss

President Elect

Orange Unified Education Assn.

Lake Forest

Thank you, Judy Frutig, for writing the truth about the recall. Thank you, Los Angeles Times for printing the truth. When the politicians and outside agitators that endorse the fringe school board majority wake up on June 27 and see a new beginning, they will be forced to reckon with this. . . . “It’s a community thing.”

Melinda Moore

Co-Founder and Co-Chair

Orange Recall Committee

Orange

Judith Frutig explains the “why of the recall” very well. The 241 teachers who quit last year represented slightly more than one-sixth of the entire teaching staff. Teachers have until June 30 of the current school year to resign, and most teachers wait until close to that date to give formal notice. Already more than 40 teachers have resigned this year, and it isn’t even June. We have no way of knowing how many teachers are waiting until June 27 (the day after the recall election) to make a final decision about whether to stay or leave.

Orange Unified has the highest percentage (and the most dramatic increase) of emergency credentialed teachers in the county, 22.4, according to California Department of Education data for 1999-2000. That’s up from 12% in 1997-98 (versus a county average of 7.4% to 9.1% for the same period). Those are two more reasons that I am voting yes for the recall June 26.

Sue Guilford

Orange