Henderson was one of three attorneys who interviewed to represent the Board’s legal interests last week. She says Board President Clifford guaranteed her three votes if she applied. Henderson was not chosen for the position. Clifford has not yet responded to multiple requests for comment.
The decision came just one day after the Gateway Citizens Committee filed a lawsuit against three of the Board members to compel them to follow Board policies.
At a newly-scheduled February 3 Special meeting the Board will interview legal services providers and consider approving a legal services contract. Among those being considered is Tracy Henderson, founder of California Parents United and the California Parents Union.
Board members chose to “bypass” their policy to allow them to discuss appointing a superintendent without having taken the required steps to recruit and select qualified applicants. After a somber warning from Acting District Superintendent Steve Henson, Board members chose not to move forward on appointing a new superintendent. Next steps in the superintendent recruitment and selection process are not yet clear.
Under California Education law school district boards must follow their own publicly-approved policies. For Gateway, those policies include a series of considerations regarding how to recruit and select a superintendent. The Board must also follow California law which states that superintendents must hold valid teaching and administration credentials.
The cautionary legal notice describes the actions of the Gateway Board at its latest public meeting as “profoundly undemocratic” and “unlawful,” alleging the school board violated California’s public transparency law by engaging in whispered discussions and by voting on how to recruit a new superintendent without first hearing public comment.
The meeting included a series of votes on how the district would pursue recruitment of a new superintendent. The board's process angered the public, overlooked its own policies, and appears to have violated the Brown Act.
Over a hundred community members showed up, most in support of the Superintendent. The decision was made by three newly elected members of the board who gave no indication for why they were terminating Harrell.
Caples is running for the position against the incumbent, Judy Flores. During a recent political forum Caples insinuated that Native students are dangerous and suggested placing them in more restrictive educational settings based on their race. Native parents and educators say they fear Caples, if elected, could make public schools more hostile environments for their youth.
A former student alleges months of harassment and an assault by a West Valley teacher and coach in 2003. An internal investigation into those allegations by the Anderson Union High School District, did not meet the standards of Title IX law. Local law enforcement documents show no evidence of an investigation after a report of the allegations was filed by Child Protective Services. The former student began speaking with Shasta Scout after allegations of sexual assault on the West Valley football team became public last year. Her story, and the public records Shasta Scout obtained, indicate important similarities.
