Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District continues to draw speakers during public comment; trustees increase substitute pay

 

The public comment portions of the monthly trustee meetings in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District continue to draw speakers with strong opinions on educational issues.

About midway through 2021, the number of speakers increased dramatically from most prior meetings, as the coronavirus pandemic brought out several dozen speakers, who presented opinions both pro and con on school closures and mask requirements.

Beginning with the December 2022 meeting, individual speaker comments were limited to a maximum of three minutes each, down from the previous maximum of five minutes each.

And trustees established a sliding scale of speaking times based on the number of individuals who completed forms prior to the start of the public comment period: one to 10 speakers, three minutes each; 11 to 15 speakers, two minutes each; 16 to 30 speakers, 1.5 minutes each; and 31 or more speakers, one minute each.

So far this year, speakers have ranged from nine in January to 35 at a June 6 session. Others: 13 in February, 17 in March, 25 at four April meetings, 17 in May and 27 at a June 20 meeting, including 10 for a public hearing on a charter school plan (five pro, five con). No July meetings were scheduled.

Topics included a range of issues, with some speakers addressing multiple issues. January and February subjects included arts programs, student health and safety, starting the school year earlier, meeting decorum, censoring books, critical race theory and Black History month.

March and April topics included the district's impacted schedule policy, school library books, needs for wellness counselors and the sudden reassignment of an assistant superintendent.

May's main topic was charter schools, while other subjects included student teachers, racism in schools, El Dorado High School field lighting, mental health and the supervision of students.

In the two June meetings, 21 speakers supported El Dorado science teacher Judy Rehburg, who was placed on administrative leave after parent complaints about sex education subject matter in her physiology class. Five speakers voiced opposition to the teacher's lessons.

Other June meeting concerns: El Dorado field lights, removing inappropriate library books, needs for guidelines for teachers and a library materials policy, support for teachers and appreciation for former Rose Drive principal and assistant superintendent Linda Adamson.

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Sizable pay increases await substitute teachers when district campuses reopen Aug. 29.

To remain competitive with surrounding districts, daily substitute pay jumps to $200, up $50; special education substitute pay increases to $205, up $33.57; and long-term substitute pay increases to $220, up $28.

The district will hold a hiring fair for substitute teachers and special education aides July 25 noon to 4 p.m. at 1301 E. Orangethorpe Ave., Placentia. Aide pay starts at $18.12 per hour.

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustees to consider charter school petition; district sees top management changes

 

Action is expected on a petition for a charter school within the boundaries of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District when the district's elected board members meet Aug. 8.

The petition from the California Republic Leadership Academy seeks to establish a school for transitional kindergarten through eighth grade for a five-year period beginning July 1, 2024. A public hearing on the charter proposal, which is the third in district history, was held June 20.

The purpose of the hearing was to allow the board to “consider the level of support for the petition by teachers employed by the district, other employees of the district and parents,” according to a charter document.

Petitioners are not requesting to use district facilities “at this time,” but they have until Nov. 1 to request the use of facilities – “if needed” – for the 2024-25 school year, based on requirements in state law.

The transitional kindergarten through eighth grade enrollment will be implemented in phases, beginning with students through fifth grade in 2024-25 and adding one grade level each year through 2027-28, if the charter is approved.

The charter proposes to meet common core state standards by teaching classical texts and documents to the students, who will be called “scholars.” The 690-page petition is available at https://bit.ly/3CbwVdp.

In 2019, a petition for a South Coast Academy charter school was withdrawn by organizers before trustees could schedule a public hearing, and in 2009, a public hearing was held fora petition from Charter School Development Systems. But organizers failed to appear, and trustees denied the petition as “not...consistent with sound educational practice.”

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The past two months have seen major changes to the district management staff, with three of the five top-level officials already departed due to resignations and another soon to retire.

Latest to leave is Linda Adamson after nearly three years as assistant superintendent of educational services. She resigned effective June 30 and was replaced by Olivia Yaung, human resources director and former Valencia High School principal, who began June 20.

Issaic Gates began June 22 as assistant superintendent of human resources, replacing Rick Lopez. Lopez was assigned new duties April 19 and resigned effective June 30, with Nancy Blade serving briefly in an interim role.

Gates was director of secondary education in the Inglewood Unified School District and a former San Marino High School principal. Alex Cherniss, who began as superintendent May 1, replacing Michael Matthews, is a former San Marino Unified School District superintendent.

A nine-week application period closed June 30 to replace David Giordano, who is retiring Sept. 30, after eight years as assistant superintendent of business services, a position he previously held for three years in the Brea-Olinda Unified School District.