6
T he C oast News
APRIL 8, 2022
SDUHSD community criticizes ‘disingenuous’ hearing By Laura Place
ENCINITAS — The San Dieguito Union High School District board once again voted against rescinding a controversial redistricting map in a split vote on Wednesday, despite an ongoing lawsuit alleging violations of the California Voting Rights Act and pleas from community members for leaders to start the process over in good faith. This marks the second meeting in which the board has scheduled a public hearing to reconsider the adoption of Map 8 and still voted to keep it in place, with the Republican majority of trustees — Michael Allman, Maureen Mo Muir and Melisse Mossy — maintaining control in a 3-2 vote. Trustees Julie Bronstein and Katrina Young, both Democrats, advocated heavily for the board to rescind the map, cure and correct alleged Brown Act violations, and accept the San Diego County Office of Education’s offer to take over the process. “This process has gotten so wonky that I think we would be better off having the San Diego County Office of Education handling it at this point,” said board member Julie Bronstein. The Office of Education was still reviewing the actions taken by the school board regarding the map as of Thursday, spokeswoman Jennifer Rodriguez said.
GERRYMANDERING?
The lawsuit regarding the map was filed by two district parents in February and alleges that the map disenfranchises a third of voters, particularly the Hispanic and Asian communities in Carmel Valley and Solana Beach which are split into multiple areas on the map, and gerrymanders areas 5 and 2 to target specific board members. Due to the significant redrawing of boundaries in the map, Bronstein would have to run for re-election in Area 3 with a completely different population than those in area 5 who elected her to the board via special election last year. In addition, the locations of areas 1 and 2 were inexplicably swapped, leaving Area 2 without a trustee and Young now sharing Area 1 with Muir. The origins of Map 8 are murky at best. District staff on Wednesday identified Ty Nguyen as the individual who submitted the map but could not confirm their connection to the district. Lisa Montes, a resident
rect and cure the violations by March 28. On Wednesday, Muir shut down Young’s attempts to speak in an open session about the alleged violations, stating that legal counsel had advised all discussions on the topic to be held in closed session. Discussions about the Brown Act were similarly avoided on March 4. The lawsuit has since been amended to include allegations of Brown Act violations. The next hearing for the case will be a status conference at 8:30 a.m. on April 18 in San Diego County Superior Court. Judge Matthew C. Braner, the judge assigned to the case, will likely decide a trial date at that point, according to Briggs. The goal is to have the matter settled before the arrival of the priTRUSTEE JULIE BRONSTEIN shares side-by-side visuals of the district’s former trustee area map, known as the Cranberry mary elections in June. “It’s gonna be tight. Map, and the adopted Map 8, the lines of which just barely edge Bronstein from Area 5 into Area 3. Photo by Laura Place That’s why the judge is gonna try to get a decision as of Solana Beach’s historic quickly as possible,” Briggs La Colonia de Eden Garsaid. dens neighborhood and one of two plaintiffs in the lawCANCELLATION By Anna Opalsky recognized for my small cation. suit, said residents will conIN QUESTION ENCINITAS — The contribution, it’s hum“I worked with a coutinue fighting for a fair map Questions also arose ple 100 board members Wednesday regarding the despite the disappointing San Diego County School bling,” Young said. Boards Association recent“...I think one of the throughout the county and vote on Wednesday. sudden cancellation of the “This evening the ly named Trustee Katrina reasons I was nominated every once in a while, I board meeting scheduled Young, of for this award is that I al- find someone who I think for March 24. San Dieguito Union High the San ways value kindness and stands out by their accomSchool District board votWhen pressed by BronD i e g u i t o diplomacy,” Young said. plishments and their vied to keep Map 8 in place, stein, Mossy and superinUnion High “This has been a difficult sion,” Shea said. “[Young] tendent Dr. Cheryl Jamesdespite a huge community turnout opposing it and S c h o o l year across the board for seems to be focused on Ward revealed that the calling for it to be rescindD i s t r i c t education … so I under- children and what's best meeting was canceled beed,” Montes said. “We will board, first stand that people will for their education.” cause Mossy was unable to not let this stop us from term board disagree with each other, Melisse Mossy, who attend, despite there still holding the school district member of but I’ve always tried my has represented Solana being a quorum. Young and accountable. We continue YOUNG the year. hardest to make sure that Beach on the San Dieguito Bronstein noted that they with the lawsuit.” The award will be it’s done with respect and school board since 2018, were not afforded the same Of the dozens of comtreatment when they could presented to Young at the understanding.” said that Young’s nominamunity members who Honoring Our Own cerenot attend meetings, and Young currently rep- tion was “well deserved.” spoke during public comquestioned the reasoning mony on May 7 at the San resents Trustee Area 2, “I find her to be rement Wednesday, all but Diego Sheraton Resort and the district comprising sponsible, professional, behind this decision. one called on the three During public comMarina. Carlsbad and Encinitas. caring, compassionate and unswayed board members ment, Solana Beach City “I’m grateful to have She was elected in 2020, well spoken,” Mossy said. to rescind Map 8. Despite been given this honor and after serving on the La Councilwoman Kelly Harthe strong showing against less expressed concerns to be recognized, but at Costa Canyon High School Anna Opalsky, a sophthe map, Allman and Mossy the same time there's so board of directors. omore at Torrey Pines High that the meeting was declaimed that just as many Young was nominated School, is a Coast News layed in order to “stack the people were in favor of many people in the county vote,” adding that she has that are doing really hard by Rick Shea, president of intern reporter covering keeping it. work and so for me to be the County Board of EduSan Dieguito. never seen any of her own “We got literally hunmeetings canceled due to dreds of emails, and it was an absence when there was about split,” Allman said. torney representing the said. to properly post agendas still a quorum. “The 40 people we have two parents in the lawsuit, “As a 20-year resident on the district website for here tonight are the 40 peo- echoed attendees’ criti- BROWN ACT board meetings that oc- who has had tremendous ple we have here tonight. cism of the public hearing, TALKS SHUT DOWN gratitude and respect for curred Feb. 10, 17 and 24. It’s not that anybody isn’t claiming the board was In a February letter to the district board of trustBriggs, the attorney listening, but these are simply “going through the representing the two par- the district, Briggs argued ees, I'm here to tell you this judgment calls we have to motions.” ents in the lawsuit, also that any actions taken at board has lost its compass, make.” “They clearly were claims that the district com- those meetings regarding and I really hope you find Several individuals committed to a gerryman- mitted numerous Brown the map are null and void, your way back starting tosaid the board’s attempt to dered map before they Act violations by failing and urged leaders to cor- day,” Harless said. hold a public hearing after ever heard from the public. already adopting the map What they did last night felt insincere, and disap- proves that nothing the pointment surged through- public could stay would out the room after the make a difference,” Briggs board’s vote. Turning 65, 65+ and retiring, newly eligible “It feels a little disingenuous, because I have for Medicare at any age? Jensen Accounting Inc. so many questions about Tax, Accounting & the deadlines, and is my Bookkeeping Services input gonna really go anywhere?” one speaker said. Local Health Insurance Agent with 21+ years of experience serving all of California. Quickbooks Advisor, Quicken Cory Briggs, the at-
School boards group honors Trustee Young
Need Medicare Insurance? Call me today to prepare or sign up!
& Peachtree, Setting up QB, A/P, A/R, Bank Credit Card Reconciliations, Monthly Financials, Payroll
1040 Individual, S Corp, Corp, LLC, Non-Profits Fiduciary Tax Returns Quality & Timely
562-230-4351 jensenaccountinginc.com lillian@jensenaccountinginc.com
No fees ever for advice, quotes, sales, and service. • Offering Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance • Individuals, Families, Medicare, Small Groups, CoveredCA • Complimentary Advice, Quotes, Sales, and Service Always • Life Insurance, Long Term Care, and Disability; Short and Long Term Business hours: Mon. thru Fri. - 9am to 6pm; Sat. 10am -3pm
Mary Eblen
760-212-4312 California Insurance License # 0D00281
