Foothills Sentry - December 2022

Foothills Sentry Page 2 December 2022 Wishing you a joyful holiday season! A warm and sincere thank you to our loyal Jadtec customers who continue to support our small, local business. MERRY ACO 4202 jadte c.com $ 15 95 /mo SECURITY JADTEC 714 282 0828 | jadtec.com Be OUSD board members object to “good behavior” policy By Tina Richards A proposed policy statement promoting civil and respectful be- havior within the Orange Unified School District unleashed a swell of controversy and deep disagree- ment at the Oct. 20 meeting of the Board of Trustees. The civility policy was one of many proposed revisions to the board bylaws that are updated biannually, based on state and federal laws and regulations. The statement read, “The Governing Board recognizes the impact that civility has on the effective opera- tion of the district … and expects that all speech and expression will comport with norms of civil behavior on district grounds.” It further stated, “Civil behavior is polite, courteous and respectful to others … Practices that promote civil behavior include actively listening, and embracing varying and diverse viewpoints.” Boardmember Angie Rumsey found the policy “an overreach and unnecessary.” She questioned the words “polite” and “embrac- ing,” noting they were subjective and could mean different things to different people. “We need to protect a person’s right to speak,” she said. "This policy could si- lence necessary and beneficial speech.” Corralling public comments? Trustee John Ortega agreed with Rumsey’s assessment. “We’re putting in a policy direct- ing people how to act,” he said. “People have a right to be pas- sionate in their speech. This vio- lates their right under the consti- tution.” “Civility is the norm with the public,” Trustee Rick Ledesma added. “It’s an insulting policy to tell grown adults that we don’t trust your behavior. When you’re talking about people’s children, you’re going to have passion.” “This policy isn’t about pas- sion,” Trustee Kris Erickson explained. “The greatest move- ments in history have involved passion. We should not be putting limits on substance or content. But,” she clarified, “we need to engage in civil discussion. When there’s anger, people shut up and sit down. We don’t want to veer into bullying, harassment or in- timidation. We don’t want people to be intimidated to speak, par- ticularly those who are already marginalized.” The impetus for a civility pol- icy harkens back to board meet- ings in the fall of 2021, when the public overflowed the board room, pounded on the doors and windows, engaged in inflamma- tory rhetoric, and shouted down anyone who disagreed with them. Sounds of silence “I’ve talked to parents,” Board President Andrea Yamasaki elab- orated, ”who were afraid to come to board meetings. They didn’t feel safe. A civility policy will increase the expectation of good behavior and encourage atten- dance.” Rumsey, Ortega and Ledesma all favored the use of the gavel to halt unruly meetings, and se- curity guards to enforce orderly proceedings. “It comes down to leadership (the gavel),” Ledesma said, “and that’s why we have se- curity.” Erickson didn't accept the secu- rity antidote, noting that enforce- ment does little for verbally ag- gressive behavior. “It’s intimidat- ing to anyone not in a powerful position,” she said. “People come to meetings and don’t feel safe.” “Enforcement is the last thing,” Trustee Kathy Moffat said. “If ev- eryone has a common and known set of expectations, then it doesn’t have to get to enforcement. It’s true of any place you go. The expectations for board meetings should be well known and broad- ly agreed upon.” Uncommon sense “‘Broadly agreed upon’ is go- ing to be different for everyone,” Rumsey contended. “Who makes the decision that things have gone too far?” “It’s obvious,” Moffat an- swered. “The point is to have a meeting that is safe, where we can get our business done.” The board agreed, with some dissent, to change some of the wording in the policy and re- visit it at the next meeting. “This policy isn’t needed,” Ortega chal- lenged, “I can’t support it.” “It’s not going to change our meetings,” Ledesma said. Student Boardmember Ruby Hewitt from El Modena High had the last word. “This policy is very similar to what exists for students. I know what to expect when I walk into a classroom. It’s effec- tive for students, and it should be effective for adults, too. I’m close with the person who held this po- sition last year, and I heard her stories about meetings. It was dis- couraging for me to even go for this position, knowing that [bad behavior] was something I’d be faced with.” The board revisited a slightly revised version of the policy at its Nov. 17 meeting. It was ap- proved 4-3, with Yamasaki, Mof- fat, Erickson andAna Page voting yes; Rumsey, Ortega and Ledes- ma opposed. Orange resident Ashley Clifford, a Team USA artistic roller skater, finished 10th in her division at the world championship in Buenos Aires. Her top 10 finish is an achievement that has not been made in over a decade by a U.S. skater. What makes it even more unique, is that in 2019, Clifford severely injured her knee and underwent meniscus reconstruction surgery. Injuries such as these often put an end to athletic careers; however, she was determined to skate again. She worked with specialized trainers to relearn how to walk and skate, persevered through self-doubt and frustration, and ultimately came back stronger than ever, both mentally and physically. Clifford attributes her remarkable recovery to many people: her mom, dad and sister, coaches, the rehab team, her supportive club at Holiday Skate Center and her loyal friends. Orange skater places 10 th in World Championships Ashley Clifford The Orange City Council ap- pointed Tom Kisela as Interim City Manager, effective Nov. 8. Kisela had retired from the City of Orange in 2021 after a distin- guished 35-year career, including the last five years as the Chief of Police. He will assist the city council while it searches for a permanent city manager. Kisela appointed Orange interim city manager