[Editor’s Note: At last night’s meeting, the President of the School Board explained in detail the Board’s perspective on the always controversial topic of speech and freedom.]
Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. In our country, with specific exceptions, people have the right to say just about anything they want. However, just because someone has the right to say something doesn’t mean the person is right for saying it.
Kathy Paspalis and I are elected officials. We, like all the other Board members, ran for office for one purpose, and only one purpose, to try to make our schools better for our students. That’s it. As elected officials, we knew going in ,there would be criticism, some justified, and other times not justified. It’s part of the position.
To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, here’s an excerpt from an email I received from a dissatisfied parent:
[Quote] Hello, Mr. Zeidman, you lying charlatan, evil, unlawfully acting, discriminating criminal. [End quote.] Frankly, I wasn’t sure what a “charlatan” was. I had to look that up. I knew all the other insults. The email actually got worse, if that is at all possible.
You might think that an individual Board member, perhaps the President of the Board, can unilaterally make a decision affecting the students. That’s just not the case. In fact, a majority of the Board members must agree before the Board can do anything. I cannot change the curriculum. Karlo cannot add a music teacher. Steve cannot institute cuts. Pat cannot contract with the community colleges to enhance our students’ experience. Kathy cannot deny a special education child treatment, or determine which treatment is appropriate. It just doesn’t work that way.
Indeed, when it comes to special education, individual Board members, and the Board as a whole, have little or no say in at least 99.9 percent of the cases. We may be advised as to the status. But for the most part, we don’t micromanage, especially in matters where we don’t have the requisite expertise.
Therefore, when we are credited or accused of doing something, whether it is positive or negative, regarding Special Education cases, I always wonder, why? I know of only a handful of the Special Education students, and I only know that because I was their Little League coach and their parents shared this information. I know one other special Ed student, because, well, he’s my son.
If you want to criticize me, or my Board, please feel free to do so. You have every right. Tell us we were wrong on our decision regarding AP testing. Explain to us that Maya Cohen should have been on the soccer team. Criticize our hiring practices or the salaries we pay. Tell us we cut the wrong positions.
However, before you criticize in areas outside the Board’s purview, make certain you understand the manner in which, under California law, the Board operates.
Now, with respect to Patricia Jaffe, Patti Jaffe is, I believe, the longest tenured employee in CCUSD. She started decades ago as a teacher’s aide, and has risen as far as any employee can, to now hold the position of Superintendent. While I don’t know the details of Patti’s bank accounts, I know for certain that she didn’t accept the position of Superintendent because she needed the money.
Patti is a tireless worker, doing what she believes is best, at all times, for our students. Patti has always put the students first and foremost. She is one of those precious individuals who truly loves working with children and she does everything that she can to help your children, my children, all of the students in the District.
Tommy Lasorda claims to bleed Dodger Blue. If that is the case, Patti would bleed CCUSD Blue and White.
Patti’s job is not easy. She has to run an over 6,000 student district with a budget that decreases hourly. She makes decisions she believes are in the best interest of the District. That is precisely what she is paid to do. You don’t have to agree with all of her decisions. I don’t always. But that doesn’t mean that you should call her corrupt, a criminal or anything else of the sort.
Again, you have the right to speak to us about any subject. Just because you speak, however, doesn’t make it right.
