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A group of San Ramon Valley parents has initiated the process to start collecting signatures for a recall petition to oust three members of the local school board over their decision to reverse course on in-person learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notices of intent to recall have been sent to San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board President Susanna Ordway, Board Member Rachel Hurd and Board Member Ken Mintz, petition organizers said on Tuesday morning.
The recall backers said they stand for the many parents in the Valley outraged by the district remaining with remote learning only for the general student population, contrary to what they believe is best for their children’s education, mental health and emotional well-being.
“We do not believe science supports a continued forced remote learning environment,”said Rachel Bailey, a parent of three SRVUSD students and organizer of the recall effort.
“A majority of our country is back to in-person learning in some form, including parts of California and even private schools within San Ramon Valley with no major outbreaks,” Bailey said. “Our children are suffering in an isolated remote environment. There has to be a more balanced approach to education during this time.”
Mintz, who has served more than 15 years on the board combined over two stints, confirmed he was served with the notice this evening.
“It’s unfortunate that a group of parents felt it necessary to take this action because they disagreed with a decision of the school board related to how and when SRVUSD would implement our hybrid in-school option, an issue that just about every school district in the state is dealing with,” Mintz told DanvilleSanRamon.com.
“As you may imagine it has been a difficult decision process at the local level with a number of constraints and considerations including vaccination and testing and the surging pandemic issues locally as well as comments and directives from county health and the state,” he added. “I personally want to get our students and staff back in school as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Hurd, who has the longest consecutive tenure on the current board, said she was served with an envelope containing the notice at her home last Thursday, and was “surprised” by the action.
“I do stand by my decision on Dec. 15 to support the superintendent’s recommendation to pause our planned Jan. 5 opening of hybrid in-person instruction,” Hurd told DanvilleSanRamon.com via email this afternoon. “I understand that at tonight’s board meeting Dr. Malloy will review the decision-making process to clarify some members of the public’s misconceptions about that process.”
“In addition, Dr. Malloy is going to provide us with staff’s further thinking and plans for meeting the needs of our students, especially the ones who are most challenged by the remote-only delivery, and the board will discuss and consider staff’s recommendations,” Hurd added. “The governor released additional guidance last week, which staff needed to analyze and consider. I haven’t yet seen staff’s recommendations and very much look forward to this presentation and discussion.”
Ordway had not responded to requests for comment as of 7 p.m.
The notices of intent represent the start of the process for Contra Costa County Elections Division officials to review the proposed recall petitions for approval, after which the proponents could begin collecting signatures from registered voters in the hopes of spurring recall elections.
A copy of the proposed petition has not been released publicly.
Hurd said the notice she received alleges three grounds for recall: “unwillingness to meet, to discuss and to vote in alignment with her community members in Zone 5; serious matter of violating the Brown Act; and (she) has not demonstrated financial governance and oversight required by a board member and has failed her primary responsibility to ensure accountability.”
In a press release Tuesday, the recall backers cited the school board’s decision on Dec. 15 to postpone indefinitely SRVUSD returning to more in-person learning via a hybrid model that was scheduled to take effect Jan. 5. Board members supported staff’s recommendation to pause any reopenings due to new surge in the number of coronavirus cases.
The board voted unanimously that night to remain with remote learning until Contra Costa County is removed from the state’s most-restrictive purple tier and into the less restrictive red tier, halting SRVUSD’s progress toward more phases of reopening after winter break on Jan. 5 as had been planned.
“Parents and students were blindsided by this sudden reversal,” the recall proponents said. “The phased re-opening was in compliance with health guidelines set forth by both the state and county last fall.”
The backers also allege the board’s decision was in part driven by a letter from the California Teachers Association, on behalf of the San Ramon Valley Education Association (SRVEA), advocating the district pause its plans amid worsening COVID-19 cases in the community.
They further point to the allegation filed with the district by resident Kathleen DeLaney that the school board violated state public meeting laws with its Dec. 15 agenda verbiage, claiming the board failed to adequately provide notice, as required by the Brown Act, about its plans to cancel the return of in-person learning.
Superintendent John Malloy stands by the Dec. 15 meeting agenda and denies any Brown Act violations occurred.
But Malloy has recommended the board approve an “unconditional commitment response” to the allegation that agrees not to use the same agenda verbiage in question, while not admitting any wrongdoing, in the interest of avoiding potential litigation. The board are scheduled to discuss that matter at their regular meeting tonight.
Hurd and Mintz are longtime school board members, while Ordway is in the middle of her first full term. All three earned their current four-year term in fall 2018; they were appointed after no election was held because they were the only candidates to file for the three open seats at that time.
Hurd is in her fourth consecutive term, having sat on the board since 2006.
Mintz has had two stints on the school board, with his most recent tenure beginning with an appointment in 2009. He previously served a single term from 1992-96.
Ordway has served on the school board since June 2018, when she was appointed to fill a vacancy.
The recall backers said they could not include new board members Laura Bratt and Shelley Clark in their petition effort because state law prevents recalling officials within 90 days of taking office. Bratt and Clark won election on the Nov. 3 ballot and took their seats last month.
These people are elected to represent the community, not exclusively represent the union. Favoritism is one thing, playing fast and loose with state laws is another. This board is reckless and irresponsible, and willfully ignorant of the voices the community the represent that go against the will of the union. If they are abdicating their responsibilities, they should just commit to that abdication fully and vacate their elected position as well by resigning immediately.
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) has made Herculean efforts to survey and accomplish the desires of parents who quite frankly cannot grasp the reality of this pandemic.
These poor administrators and Board members have spent months exhausting themselves with extraordinary patience trying to come up with a plan to get us all back in school while navigating the reality that 600,000 Americans or more are expected to die from this deadly virus by Spring. The parents screaming to take off the parachute don’t comprehend the realities of what that really means to Contra Costa County because all they feel is their own personal frustration.
Unfortunately, the Board and the parents gunning for them are not experts in global pandemics and have no choice but to abide by the dictates of science and thank God they ultimately made the only decision that keeps our community safe.
Thank you SRVUSD and please know that there are many parents who support your decision and who do not need to see the bodies splattered on the ground to know that the parachute is working!
This is absolutely ridiculous.
ICUs are full and we are losing 4,000 people per day due to the pandemic. These parents expect the pandemic and the necessary precautions to cater to their convenience. The lack of concern about community spread is appalling and this behavior is self centered, entitled, and willfully ignorant of our current reality. This board and the superintendent are facing very tough choices and cannot possibly please everyone, but anyone who truly believes our schools should be open while hospitals stagger under the weight of overwhelming deadly covid cases is simply unwilling to face reality. I’m embarrassed for these parents.
I am embarrassed and disgusted by this small group of parents who would rather the district spend money fighting this ridiculousness than to actually take steps to mitigate the virus…thus getting us to Red. Please stop giving them a platform for their madness. How about speaking to the thousands of parents and community members who support and agree with the decision by the Board.
Our hospitals are full, our case count is increasing on a daily basis at the rate in which our total case count was for the entire 6 months prior. People are dying, but hey, some entitled rich folks in Danville want their kids out of the house so they can see their yoga instructor.
This is absolutely ridiculous.
ICUs are full and we are losing 4,000 people per day due to the pandemic. These parents expect the pandemic and the necessary precautions to cater to their convenience. The lack of concern about community spread is appalling and this behavior is self centered, entitled, and willfully ignorant of our current reality. This board and the superintendent are facing very tough choices and cannot possibly please everyone, but anyone who truly believes our schools should be open while hospitals stagger under the weight of overwhelming deadly covid cases is simply unwilling to face reality. I’m embarrassed for these parents children, to live with such short sighted and selfish individuals who want to use them as pawns to get what they want is disturbing .
Let’s file this under a waste of time and funds– fund these entitled whiners are taking away from our kids! FUNDS that could be better directed at helping open our schools for in person learning given the framework that PROFESSIONALS produce not a bunch of parents having a temper tantrum with too much time on their hands. It’s nice of these folks to jump on the bandwagon of actually watching board meetings NOW- as these are the same people that NEVER watched any before ….while WE all worked and collaborated with the district, donated and worked as volunteers. The fact is, the majority of parents in this district are happy. So stop wasting peoples time and stop taking our tax dollars from our kids!
We should all ignore this cry for attention with hopes and dreams of having their 15 minutes of fame on the nightly news. This particular group is loud, but they are not mighty in size. They they to control the narrative by twisting facts and highlighting other peoples stories to benefit their cause. I use to be a part of their Facebook group until I listened to the podcast the two bullies, who are clueless about policy and procedure in education, made as if they are some educated saviors. (Spoiler Alert, they are not either.) Everyone in their “Back to School Now Safely” Facebook Group (they should really drop the safely, because that isn’t a priority) that disagrees with them gets bullied or tossed out of the group. Life in an echo chamber for people who think they live on island.
Anyone else super happy the names of those heading this up are published so you can scan the sign up genius to avoid volunteering with them? Just some humor in a really tense moment here. We’ve lived here for 16 years and LOVE our kids schools and district. It’s why we moved here. I don’t think they are giving our district and the people who, let’s face it, have a thankless job that not many take on. I mean, it’s hard enough for me to get volunteers at the elementary school. They are doing a great job considering everything that isn’t in their control. Rachel Hurd may not remember this, but I met her in person when I was pregnant and very emotional and she was just so kind to me. I hope the parents behind this drop this. This is not good for the community. You’re really trying to divide people. That’s never good for our children to see.
Absolutely ridiculous! The SRVUSD has gone above and beyond to take into account the safety of both the teachers and students and take into account parents’ feedback. The board made the right decision to POSTPONE in person school. Please enlighten me to which public school districts around here are doing in person learning? Please don’t speak on behalf of all the parents because most of us don’t agree with these views. Thank you SRVUSD for all you have done! We support you.
If anyone is able to listen to the school board meeting right now, it’s clear who is creating the divide. Stop the cash grab from our kids people! I want my boys back too, but not with you people telling us how. Parent your kids, not the district.
Thank you to our dedicated school board and school district for your effort and dedication to serve not only our students, but community. We picked remote not out of fear or that our family was scared, but because we value our health and our communities health too. These are the lessons bigger than what is found in a text book. It is sad that some adults do not get that. Fortunately these adults are not our leaders. You are. For that we are thankful.
“Every dollar going to lawyers, is every dollar NOT going to students in the district.” -San Ramon Valley School District Lawyer just said that on the meeting. So, who is with to bring a civil case against these parents listed trying to take money from our kids? I think THAT is how we deal with them. Enough of this already.
Parents, listen up. This is what happens when you don’t say “no” to your children. They grow up to adults that can’t wrap their minds around boundaries and someone telling them no. My neighbor texted me this article she was so upset by this. Nope. We stand with the board and the district. Not a group of people looking to make money on the backs of our kids.
How did we get here? Oh, that’s right. A small group of entitled parents that think it’s okay to take tax dollars from school kids. What.A.World.
I’m so confused why people would do this. I am just glad I don’t know anyone involved with this. We moved here 3 years ago to be a part of the community and not to tear it apart.
It’s unfortunate they even have to entertain these people. My 6th grader nailed it: “Adults acting like children and throwing tantrums because they didn’t get their way.” I have not been in the office since March 2020, why would I want to send my kid to school if we are in stay at home orders?????
Respectfully, these are such difficult and challenging times for everyone, especially those with children and parents dealing with their educational needs. Perhaps the SRVUSD should contact the private school that Gavin Newsom’s children are attending in Sacramento and seek their guidance and assistance.
DaveG you are taking that statement out of context. The attorney was talking about the board’s obligations to comply with the Brown Act. That had nothing to do with the recall effort. There was never any mention of lawyer fees in connection with the recall, because there will be none. No lawyers are needed for that.
Dear Community, I believe I am one of the whiny entitled parents struggling with my kids mental and emotional health trying to get them back on campus safely. Yes safely. I am guilty of not being involved with the district, not digging into the platforms of those who ran for school board prior to this pandemic. I care now, I do not want to see depressed kids trying to recover from this so I am actively participating now. Wow, what I/you can learn from getting involved is immeasurable. If you do not get involved you have no idea the history, stories and information you can learn. I am not disrespectful, I know there are two sides to everything – anyone is welcome to join any/this facebook group “Back in School Safely.” You all understand social media, you cannot control comments, sometimes passion takes over but it has been a place for collaboration and comradery. We are trying to bring awareness, agility and action to the board and district.
St. Isidore School in Danville has been open the entire year, with in-person education for the first 4-5 hours of the day and remote education for the remainder of the day. So far, it’s worked very well and the community hasn’t experienced any outbreaks. So, for those who say it can’t be done, you’re wrong. Perhaps the SRVUSD should ask St. Isidore School how they are doing it…I bet they’d be willing to share their approach. That might be more useful than just reflexing to remote education for the entire year. Parents of St. Isidore School students care just as much about their kids’ health as SRVUSD parents do. Just a thought…
“Parents and students were blindsided by this sudden reversal” -No. Even our friends that have younger kids that selected hybrid in elementary did not feel blindsided. We all stay current with the news and know what is happening with Covid. It would have been incredibly irresponsible for the school board and district to go on as planed and start hybrid in January. Part of living in a pandemic means you we all need to take things week by week, sometimes day by day. Don’t monopolize the time of these people and distract them from doing the work they need to do to get all of our kids back in school. I feel for those saying that the children are dealing with mental health issues. Seriously, sending them back to school is not a cure. Please get them help. Schools educate the kids, you gotta parent.
@Common Sense guy. You can’t compare apples to oranges. St. Isidore is a private school. I think you should change your name.
There are few PUBLIC schools open in CA. Period. And the school board did not cancel in person school, they have postponed until we get back to RED. Parents need to act like adults and accept that things don’t always go their way. Be patient like the rest of us and focus your energy and something productive!!!!
The harm the school district is causing our kids will last a lifetime. These teachers unions and school board officials are gutless and ignoring all of the facts about the virus. It’s why many are moving out or enrolling kids in Private schools. What an embarrassment.
Ok Mike. Right SRVUSD is the ONLY district doing this. Please.
I’m parenting and check in with my kids everyday to see how they are doing emotionally and am doing my best to comfort them during these trying times.
Districts still in remote just to name a few!
Albany
Berkeley
Dublin
Hayward
Pleasanton
New Haven
San Francisco
San Mateo
Livermore
Mike…the fact St. Isidore School is private has absolutely nothing to do with my comments. I was pointing out that you can certainly allow kids back in school, if you use the right approach, as St. Isidore has done. There is nothing stopping SRVUSD from doing the same. The fact there are few public schools open in CA might be true, but I’ve given you a local example of how some schools are doing it…very successfully. I don’t have kids in school now, so it doesn’t affect me, but I would think that facts ought to be valued a bit more than feelings, no? Just common sense to me.
@Common Sense Guy
These people just throw every excuse at the wall and hope something sticks. Why these people that have the option to stay remote all year demand to take the choices away from other is unbelievable. When presented with any evidence of in-person education working locally (St. Isidore, Kids Country) nationally (Texas) or internationally (Sweden) they always make up some outlandish excuse about how that’s “different.”
They can homeschool forever. Good for them. Why do they want to take away school from everyone else when it’s proven safe time and time again?
Bravo!! Please tell me where to sign the recall petition. Our current school board is a joke. Let’s not forget they did this to us in August and October as we approached the other potential hybrid start dates. This board is a total puppet to the teacher’s union SRVEA. John Malloy himself was pushing for in person starting on Jan 5th and then suddenly changed course right before the Jan 5th proposed date. They are not representing the districts they serve.
Ann Katzburg, President of SRVEA, does not represent the students as she claims. She is an embarrassment and is acting in a shameful manner.
Where can I sign the petition?
County still needs to officially provide the number of signatures required for the petition. Once that number is known, signatures will be collected the next day.
I applaud our hard-working teachers, administrators, board members, and school staff members. Everyone is doing their best during this dangerous global pandemic that’s killing thousands of people every day. Shame it hasn’t yet infected those stupid and selfish parents trying to recall our dedicated board members.
Gotta get that petition rolling!
“The recall backers said they stand for the many parents” #factcheck Nope. I want my kids back but my wife and I also know the answer to solving this problem in a pandemic isn’t recall the school board. Which, someone just shared a clip of the School Board meeting last night where this was discussed. GRAFT who ran and lost the school election is threatening the school board that they will “recall and replace you.” You lost the election. You don’t get to come in and threaten people and have your pals hand over a seat to you because you feel entitled to it. Everyone needs to move on and do something productive with their time.
Everyone sounds like President Trump nowadays ????
This group of parents are not entitled. We are not throwing tantrums. We are demanding the rights of our children be given to them. SRVUSD is not alone in this demand, many districts across CA are speaking up. This has nothing do with regional entitlement. Every single child deserves the right to a fair and equal education and a CHOICE of where they receive it.
When the public officials want to serve special interests over its constituents, we will make noise. Civilians using their voice in order to be heard is not a tantrum. There has been EVERY attempt made to be listened to.. and they have failed to hear any one of us. Parents demand CHOICE. Choice, as so many do with so many different rights, and this is NO different. Ken, you may scold and state your disappointment… I am disappointed you have failed at your role and have brought it this far. Shame on you.
The choice is clear- listen to our voices and give us choice as was promised, or we will force being heard. There is enough demand in numbers to certify a recall, and we do demand accountability.
Not only has this board shown is inability to serve its constituents, it has broken the law, and as well, the district is on track to be completely insolvent by 2022/23. When there are no kids to teach because they have left, teachers will be laid off. When the district is insolvent, what happens to your home values? They will plummet. This board has a duty to uphold fiscal responsibility and they have failed! Take some time to understand this recall, what thousands of families are saying and bring CHOICE back to our students.
My wife and I typically do not respond to these articles but there is so much division being brought about by this group of parents in the community, we thought we’d offer our lens. The California Constitution states a free public education for K through 12th graders. Public school is in fact open. It may not be how it was in the past due to accommodations needed for a pandemic, but it is open for business. You always have choices. You have the choice to continue on with a free public education, or if you dislike the government involvement in educating your child (public schools are a state/national institution), you have the choice to enroll your child in private school or select a homeschool program that meets your approval. For many years, schools in Danville have been run by parents that treat the schools as private schools because we are fortunate to live in a more affluent community. However, here is your reality check; The District is governed not by parents wants and whims, but the county and state. The answer is doing what is best with the right choice for your family, not creating a division based of your privilege and wants. Please reflect on how this approach is serving your group, our community and you individually. You are not moving our world forward by trying to initiate a recall, seat your own people in those seats (we just had an election and the candidate in district 2 which you backed did not win, as most candidates don’t that run on one issue), and continue to bully your way into the limelight spouting really hurtful things about school board members, the Superintendent and fellow parents and school teachers. Very few are going to sympathize with that approach and will organize to ensure your recall does not happen based on the golden rule.
@JesseT
The California Constitution also allows for recall elections. Funny how you can subscribe so heavily to one part of the California Constitution yet act like another part of that same document is somehow anti-democratic.
Also, what evidence to you have that “very few are going to sympathize” when you have no real involvement in the movement? What data do you have to support that comment? I have data to support the converse as the petition to recall was signed by 30 parents in a matter of seconds after it was announced. There are scores of social media posts both here and elsewhere asking directly “where can I sign the petition!” How many are in this comment section alone?
Stop trying to substitute reality with your own prejudices and imaginations. This is happening, this has support. The ostrich still has to deal with reality regardless if it’s head is in the sand or not.