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A few clicks over on the web, Long Beach Report has posted a couple of emails from LBUSD school board candidates Dr. Felton William and Rosa Diaz. Williams is the incumbent who has seen, during his tenure, improving test scores and consecutive awards as a Broad Prize finalist. Diaz is his challenger who, it has been reported, receives 98% of her campaign funding and support from the Teachers Association of Long Beach. Williams’ campaign, or a PAC on behalf of Williams campaign, sent a mailer last week linking Diaz to TALB and also disgraced LBUSD school board member Michael Ellis. Ellis is in his seat because of TALB, in fact because of the same TALB support that Diaz is getting in this election. Diaz says, “My name is Rosa Diaz, not TALB and not Michael Ellis,” which from what I can see is the high point of her communication. What is troubling is that in her email to that website she says,
“The employment status of the Superintendent has nothing to do with my candidacy, nor does Mr. Ellis. It is a shame that you are more concerned about protecting someone’s job instead of making sure our youth are prepared to get a job.”
As I read that, Diaz is once again acknowledging that TALB has a goal to terminate the employment of Superintendent Chris Steinhauser—the Superintendent who has led the District to a Broad Prize one year and as a finalist every other year eligible. The Superintendent who has led the District in improving test scores, building new schools and navigating through budget difficulties imposed by the state. Diaz in her comments implies that she is not concerned with keeping Steinhauser in his job—and if that happens, say goodbye to future Broad finalist awards and hello to Los Angeles Unified type leadership and education. The Superintendent has excellent leadership in departments throughout the district—leadership that TALB has challenged, leadership in the form of principals that TALB has tried to have removed and/or fired (one such effort headed by Diaz).
Say “NO” to Diaz and “Yes” to Williams, please re-elect this incumbent.
In the other school board race, incumbent Jon Meyer is up for re-election against two challengers, Karen Thomas Hilburn and Paul Crost (TALB-endorsed and an attorney who has represented TALB and other labor unions as part of his practice). If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote then the top two candidates will head to a run-off. Should there be a run-off I assume it will be between Meyer and one of the challengers, who immediately will be backed by TALB so they can try to gain another seat on the school board. Vote for Meyer and avoid the run off.
Two years ago when board member Mary Stanton was running for re-election in our district against challenger Jim Deaton, one of three TALB picked and supported candidates, I received a call in the evening. On the other end of the line was a teacher calling on behalf of Deaton. I asked why TALB was spending so much money on three candidates for the school board—why they were trying to garner a majority of the board. She replied, “Because teachers need a voice on the school board.” Well, a majority with a mission of dismantling the successful leadership and administration of one of the top school districts in the nation annually is certainly more than a voice.
Keep the majority voice of the LBUSD school district with the parents, with the community, with the teachers who just want to teach and not get involved in politics. Vote Williams and vote Meyer.
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