LEBEC, CA (Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 at 7 a.m.)—The El Tejon Unified School District Board of Trustees held an illegal meeting on February 1, in which they discussed in executive session issues which must, by law, be discussed before the public. This evening, at 8:30 p.m. they will stage a "re-do" of that same meeting, before the public.
The subject? A proposal to cut 11 more positions from the teaching staff of the schools, possibly slashing the high school teaching staff in half.
The trustees deprived the public of the right to hear their deliberations about an issue of urgent concern to every member of the community. It is unlikely the public will hear the same discussion this evening that was held last Wednesday.
The Mountain Enterprise has an editorial in Thursday morning’s paper asking the board to pass a resolution vowing to the public that they will not ever again violate the public trust and California state law by holding an illegal meeting.
The law provides for the matter of the February 1 special meeting to be litigated in the courts, where the trustees could be be told, because they have violated the trust of the public that elected them, they must record future executive sessions (retaining the recordings in secure storage) so they can be forced to produce the recording if their actions should again come into question. Perhaps that would keep each member of the board aware that items legal to discuss in executive session are very limited, and that they are sworn to conduct the people’s business openly in front of the public, according to the California constitution.
Here is the agenda for tonight’s "special" re-do meeting at 8:30 p.m…..immediately after the board’s normal monthly meeting that begins at 7 p.m. (see the regular meeting agenda at right, in Community FYI).
El Tejon Unified School District
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
4337 Lebec Road; Lebec, CA 93243
PH: 248-6247 FAX: 248-6714
Paula Regan President
John Fleming, Trustee Anita Anderson, Trustee
Dr. Ken Hurst, Clerk Steve Kiouses, Trustee
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
DISTRICT OFFICE, BOARD ROOM
OPEN SESSION: 8:30 p.m. ETUSD Board Room
AGENDAS
Agendas are posted at the El Tejon Unified School district at least 72 hours prior to each meeting as well as at each school site. Any materials required by law to be made available to the public prior to the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the El Tejon Unified School District can be inspected at the following address between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday: El Tejon Unified School District, 4337 Lebec Road, Lebec, CA 93243
SPECIAL NEEDS ACCOMMODATIONS
Assistive listening devices, agenda in Braille and/or alternate formats are available upon request. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, other auxiliary aids and services, or reasonable modifications to Board meeting policies and/or procedures, such as to assist members of the disability community who would like to request a disability-related accommodation in addressing the Board, are available if requested at least three business days prior to the Board meeting. Later requests will be accommodated to the extent feasible. Please contact the Superintendent’s Office, El Tejon Unified School District at 661-248-6247 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (Government Code 54954.2)
HEARING OF INDIVIDUALS ON AGENDA ITEMS
Members of the public shall have an opportunity to address the Board of Trustees either before or during the Board’s consideration of each item of business to be discussed at regular or special board meetings. Each member of the public wishing to speak is requested to fill out “Request to Address the Board Regarding Items on the Agenda (blue card) prior to the start of the meeting. Each person who addresses the Board must be first recognized by the presiding officer.
AGENDA – Page 2
Board of Trustees Special Meeting
February 8, 2012
CONVENING IN OPEN SESSION (8:30 P.M., ETUSD Board Room)
Call to Order – Time ________
MOTION_______SECOND________AYES_______NAYES__________ABSENT__________
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Members of the public shall have an opportunity to address the Board of Trustees either before or during the Board’s consideration of each item of business to be discussed at regular or special board meetings. The time allotted shall be limited to 3 minutes. If a large number of people wish to speak on a specific item, the Board may limit total input to 30 minutes on that item. This time may be used to address any item on the agenda, or any matter of concern within the jurisdiction of the El Tejon Unified School district. The presiding officer must first recognize each person who addresses the Board. Comments must be addressed to the Board as a whole and not to individual members or District employees. The Board and staff are not obligated to comment on, or respond to, addresses by the public.
Whenever a member of the public initiates specific complaints or charges against an employee, the Board President shall inform the complainant that in order to protect the employee’s right to adequate notice before a
hearing of such complaints and charges, and also to preserve the ability of the Board to legally consider the complaints or charges in any subsequent evaluation of the employee, it is the policy of the Board to hear such
complaints or charges in closed session unless otherwise requested by the employee pursuant to Government
Code 54957. The Board President shall also encourage the complainant to file a complaint to an appeal using the appropriate District Complaint or appeal procedure.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION
A. Consideration and Approval of Resolution No. 12-06, Reducing or Eliminating Certain Certificated Services for the 2012-2013 School Year.
MOTION_______SECOND______AYES______NAYES______ABSENT______
ADJOURNMENT
TIME:
MOTION______SECOND______AYES______NAYES______ABSENT_______
This is part of the February 03, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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