A Lesson in Governance

I have been amazed and appalled at the same time, at the manner in which certain members of the Poway Unified School District's Board of Education comport themselves. I spoke at the last School Board meeting where I called for Board President, Kimberley Beatty to step down. This is a huge statement and one I do not take lightly.

I watched Ms. Beatty as she went about the business of running Board meetings and listened as she spoke. I read with amazement an opinion piece she penned for a community news paper where she assailed the Superintendent of the district as well as the President of the teachers union. Her open, public comments were written in a manner that brought discredit to the Superintendent, staff and the President of the Teachers union. The opinion piece was signed by her, as Board President. Ms. Beatty later was interviewed by a high school student for an article in the school's newspaper. When she didn't like the way the piece was written, she re-contacted the student. This contact caused the student much concern and angst. All this, in direct conflict with Board Policy.

The San Diego County Grand Jury recently published their investigation into the way Trustees in the San Diego Unified School District conduct themselves. The theme of the investigation is one very similar to the goings on with Trustees in Poway. The Board in Poway has very specific policies detailing the role, responsibility and conduct for Board Members. Ms. Beatty and Sellers have either not read the policies or have simply decided they do not apply to them.

The conduct, allowed by members of the public, by Ms. Beatty at Board meetings has reached a point where she has lost control and has allowed the meeting to denigrate into nothing more than a rant against the Superintendent and the District. The orchestrated presentations by seven vocal members of the public are clearly done with input and consultation with Ms. Beatty and Sellers.

The lack of professional conduct and adhering to Board policy has allowed for the district's staff to be abused and created a hostile work environment. You need look no further than the comments made at Board meetings; that appear in various articles in the on-line Pomerado News, Voice of San Diego and Union Tribune; the vitriol words and comments directed at the Superintendent and District staff.

Ms. Beatty and Sellers need a Lesson in Governance. They are two individuals who will be unwilling to do this because in their minds, it's everyone else that has gotten it wrong and they are doing what they were elected to do. I for one do not believe what is going on with the Board of Education is what the voters had in mind when they voted for a change. It is time for the silent majority to speak up and have your voices heard. Your silence is approval for the disruption and destruction being done by these two individuals.