VOther residents of three of the Orange County School Board's five districts will be asked to elect their school board representatives on the March ballot.
The seats are as follows:
- Area 1: Includes Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, and parts of Garden Grove and Tustin.
- Area 3: Includes parts of Brea, Yorba Linda, Irvine, Orange, Villa Park, Anaheim, Lake Forest, and Tustin.
- Area 4: Includes parts of Fullerton, Buena Park, La Habra, Placentia, and Anaheim.
Orange County Board of Education district map
Orange County Voter Registration Office
)
What does the Orange County Board of Education do?
The OC Board of Education is made up of five elected councilors representing different regions of the county. The term of office is four years.
The board serves several important functions.
- It can approve charter schools and also oversees appeals when local school districts deny charter school applications.
- Hear appeals of expulsion and interdistrict transfer requests.
- approve Local management and responsibility planning by individual school district within the county. These plans are a roadmap for how the district will set and achieve its goals.
- Although it approves the Orange County Department of Education's budget, it does not hire a superintendent because it is elected separately.
What's the problem?
As the Board of Education, Several school district Orange County has become a battleground in a larger political debate over whether and how issues of race, gender and sexuality should be taught in schools.
The commission has sued California Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration several times over the state. Mandatory mask and lockdown During the COVID-19 pandemic. Opponents say the lawsuits were an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds.
of The role of charter schools Issues in the public education environment are also a major concern for the board. The current school board primarily supports charter schools.
Twenty-three of the county's 43 charter schools are authorized by the county Board of Education. Other schools are managed by individual school districts (except those overseen by the State Board of Education).
Area 1 candidates
Jorge Valdez
Jorge Valdez is the current incumbent. He is an attorney appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education in 2022.
problem
Mr. Valdez highlights his role in creating the Parental Bill of Rights policy on the board.included in board policy policy book, states that parents should have full access to the curriculum taught in the classroom and the right for their children to opt out of some subjects. It also says parents should be informed about changes in their child's behavior, including changes in gender identity.
Mr. Valdez is a supporter of public charter schools and the right of students to transfer outside of their assigned school district.
Recommendation
Valdez is supported by fellow school board members, including Rep. Young Kim and OC Superintendent Don Wagner.
References
beatriz mendoza
Beatriz Mendoza has served as an executive for several nonprofit organizations, including the YWCA Orange County and the California Chapter of the League of Latin American Citizens.
problem
In a public statement regarding the vote, Mendoza said she was “deeply concerned about the direction” of the county school board. She said she will prioritize student safety and success, refocus student mental health and cut wasteful spending.
Recommendation
Mendoza has been endorsed by the California Teachers Association, the Orange County Federation of Labor, the Orange County Democratic Party and others.
References
Area 3 candidate
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Williams is the current incumbent. He is a physician who has served as a member of the county's Board of Education since 1996.
problem
In his official voting statement, Williams said he opposes “radical sex education curricula, critical race theory, and 'woke' non-academic educational curricula.”
He said he would promote parent choice and strong charter schools.
He says he will protect him too. suggestion 13 Set a cap on property taxes and oppose new taxes.
Recommendation
Williams is supported by his colleagues on the Education Committee, U.S. Representative Michelle Steele and Representative Kim, as well as Governor Wagner.
References
Nancy Watkins
Nancy Watkins is a former high school teacher and director of the Doctor of Education program at California State University, Fullerton.
problem
Watkins said he will bring a new perspective to the school board. She said she will prioritize fiscal responsibility, ensure students are proficient in core subjects and ensure the board remains accountable to parents.
Recommendation
Watkins is backed by the California Teachers Association, the Orange County Federation of Labor, local school district officials and others.
References
Area 4 candidate
tim shaw
Tim Shaw is the incumbent. He was first elected to the board in 2020 and previously served on the La Habra City Council for 13 years.
problem
In his official voting statement, Shaw said his accomplishments include:parental bill of rightsHe said he would fight to stop the state from “bringing politics into our classrooms.”
Recommendation
Mr. Shaw is supported by his colleagues on the Education Committee, Representatives Steele and Kim, and other local Republican leaders.
References
david johnson
David Johnson is a trustee of the Westminster School District and former vice chancellor of Pepperdine University.
problem
In his public statement about the vote, Johnson said he was running to “stop political warfare within the school” and to stop “frivolous” lawsuits by the board. Johnson said he will prioritize safe schools, reduce class sizes and ensure all children, including those with special needs, are able to excel.
Recommendation
He has been endorsed by the California Teachers Association, California School Employees Association, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and others.
References
Have any questions about the March 5 primary?
We're here to help you understand the 2024 primary election on March 5, including how to interpret the results and track your votes.
