Placentia-Yorba Linda school district adopts resolution on racism; superintendent to retire

 

Community input will be a key element in a program “to support actions and behaviors that match the diverse needs of our community,” as outlined in a resolution condemning racism recently adopted by trustees of the Placenita-Yorba Linda Unified School District.

The input will come from task forces that will include district, family and student members, according to the resolution, which also promises to “continue our district-wide professional development in all areas of racial bias and injustice.”

The resolution calls on “parents, educators, leaders and all community members to help our children understand and react to racial differences, and to teach our youth how to peacefully speak up against injustice, oppression, racism and inequality, and advocate the role we all play in creating a more just and inclusive world for future generations.”

Another component of the program is establishing an “ethnic studies” course for the district's high schools, along with a pledge “to review our curriculum with a particular focus in 2020-21 on our entire social studies curriculum in an effort to improve many criteria, including a fair and representative inclusion of underrepresented voices.”

The resolution states the district “stands strongly with our Black students, all students of color, staff, families and community and vows to reflect upon its policies, values, goals and missions to ensure its commitment to all.”

And “vows to make decisions with a deliberate awareness of impediments to learning faced by students of color, as well as those with diverse cultural, linguistic or socio-economic backgrounds.”

The resolution was adopted on a unanimous vote by the five elected trustees and included a preferential “aye” vote from Noah Campuzano, the student body president at El Dorado High School, who is this semester's student trustee.

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A new superintendent to replace the retiring Greg Plutko is expected to be hired by the end of the year “to ensure a smooth transition of leadership takes place” before Plutko's departure in December, according to a statement from district spokesperson Alyssa Griffiths.

Plutko is the second top-level retirement this year, coming after Deputy Superintendent Candy Plahy's Aug. 1 departure. Plutko was named to head the 25,000-student district in 2016, after more than 30 years in previous public education roles.

Certain to be in the mix for consideration for the superintendent slot will be the district's three assistant superintendents. Last month, trustees extended their contracts through June 2023.

They include Linda Adamson in education services, a former Rose Drive Elementary School principal who was named to replace Plahy this summer; Richard Lopez in human services, a former Valencia High School principal; and David Giordano in business services.

The 45-square-mile district also includes small parts of Fullerton, Brea and Anaheim.

Nobody challenged City Council incumbents in Yorba Linda, so election was cancelled; water board candidates on ballot for Nov. 3 election

 

While many Yorba Linda residents see the posting of roadway campaign signs each election year as an example of a vibrant democracy, others decry the clutter created by the placards, particularly those violating the city's temporary sign ordinance regarding size and placement.

The latter group might have less to complain about this year, since campaigning for several elective offices won't be necessary. Three City Council and three water board positions aren't on the Nov. 3 ballot because the contests drew only six candidates to fill the six open slots.

This is the first of the city's 29 council elections since 1967 to be canceled, with incumbents Tara Campbell, Beth Haney and Gene Hernandez appointed by the council to new terms that begin in December. The city will save about $70,000 in expenses due to the cancellation.

The high cost of recent campaigns might be one reason the council incumbents didn't draw opponents this year. For the 2018 contest, second-place finisher Carlos Rodriguez raised a city record $102,722 in cash, in-kind services and loans and won his seat with 16,120 votes.

Campbell, Haney and Hernandez had substantial amounts in their election accounts as of June 30: $32,452, $19,365 and $22,672, respectively, after they had already spent $4,767, $5,673 and $5,424, respectively, on campaign-related expenses since Jan. 1.

That money can remain banked for future campaigns (Campbell and Haney can seek third terms in 2024) or used to pay off loans to their campaigns (Campbell loaned herself $5,000 in 2016, and Haney loaned herself $37,670 from her Luxe Aesthetic and Wellness Center business in 2016-17).

Hernandez isn't eligible to run for council again, due to the city's three-term limit law. He doesn't have any outstanding loans, but he could run for other offices, donate to charity, donate to other campaigns or make refunds to his contributors.

The only candidates to file for two director positions at the Yorba Linda Water District were incumbent J. Wayne Miller and first-time candidate Trudi DesRoches. Previously, eight of the district's 30 scheduled elections since 1958 had been canceled.

Miller was first elected in 2016. Incumbent Andrew Hall didn't file for a second term. DesRoches is a manager with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Nobody petitioned to keep the contest on the ballot, so the pair will be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to terms that begin in December. Also appointed to a new term will be Buena Park's Roger Yoh to represent Buena Park, La Palma, Placentia and Yorba Linda at the Orange County Water District.

Incumbent Yorba Linda director Al Nederhood is seeking the two years left on Brett Barbre's term at the county Municipal Water District, after Barbre resigned to be general manager at the Yorba Linda district.

His opponents are Buena Park Mayor Fred Smith and Brea's S & S Home Loans owner-broker Scott Hupp.