Police Called to Otay Ranch High SEA General Membership Meeting. Why? SEA Endorsed Candidates Were Attending
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/sep/22/sweetwater-candidate-may-not-attend-teachers-unio/
District tries to bar candidates from union meeting
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 AT 5:31 P.M., UPDATED SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 AT 9:04 P.M.
CHULA VISTA — Three candidates endorsed by the Sweetwater Education Association were told they were breaking the law when they attended a union meeting at Otay Ranch High School Wednesday afternoon.
Candidates Karen Janney, Hector Rivera and Andrew Valencia were met by Principal Jose Brosz, who said their attendance violated a California Education Code section barring campaigning at schools. They were asked to leave. They didn't, and no one was arrested.
"He asked them if they could step outside. They essentially chose to not step outside and remained in our meeting," said union President Alex Anguiano.
Anguiano said the meeting carried on as planned, with the candidates speaking from their seats to thank the union for the endorsement and explaining why they are running for school board.
According to Anguiano, law enforcement officials were in their vehicles in the area.
"The (Chula Vista) Police Department did contact me before the meeting and said that they were there to ensure the peace. I assured him that we teachers would be conducting a peaceful meeting," Anguiano said.
Anguiano said no other district personnel were present. A letter sent to the candidates Tuesday by district personnel said the candidates would be removed by force, if necessary, if they attended the meeting.
The meeting began at 4 p.m. and adjourned about an hour later.
Following the meeting, Anguiano said he thanked Bosz, who remained outside for most of the session, for the use of the facilities, shook his hand and left.
In a letter to Janney, dated Sept. 21, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Rita Sierra Beyers cited the California Education Code and stated: "The use of district property for campaigning is a use of public school property and resources, and the (union) meeting is not a district-approved candidates' forum which all candidates may attend."
The dispute follows allegations made by Anguiano at Monday night's school board meeting that trustee Jim Cartmill distributed campaign materials to students at the Chula Vista Middle School groundbreaking ceremony on Monday.
The union president has called for Cartmill to withdraw from the school board election.
"How can (Superintendent Jesus) Gandara permit such activity with student contact and then balk at permitting school board candidates from addressing teachers in their own lawfully-conducted meeting?" Anguiano said in a statement.
In the district's letter to Janney, the district stated, "sitting district board members have historically adhered to the law and refrained from campaigning on district property."
ashly.mcglone@uniontrib.com • (619) 293-1725 • Twitter @newswriter_gal
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