Pro-Parent groups against the recall say a lot could be in jeopardy if the board loses its majority to special interest groups.
A newly elected pro-parental rights majority on the Orange Unified School District board is already being threatened by a special interest power grab from unions who want to recall two trustees that voters put in power just over one year ago.
Both OUSD Trustee Madison Miner and Board President Rick Ledesma are being targeted by unions for their staunch efforts to protect children’s safety in schools and allow parents to be notified by the district if their student is dealing with a mental health crisis.
“It’s essential to note that protecting students is my sole purpose, and the radical recall movement has made it clear that their quest for power over the children is nothing more than a strong political maneuver to influence and shape the children of OUSD,” Miner said. “This has nothing to do with protecting or educating children,” she added.
Since being elected, Miner and Ledesma say they have followed through on their campaign promises to parents: defending parental rights, fighting for curriculum transparency, improving student test scores, prioritizing student safety, and ensuring proper education is being taught to students.
Yet, teachers’ unions are backing the recall, and according to the California Teacher’s Association, many unions are afraid that what is happening in Orange could be a “pilot” for school boards across the state.
Orange Unified Education Association President Greg Goodlander even called parental rights supporters “enemies” in a recorded zoom meeting.
If the board were to lose their pro-parental right majority due to the recall – a lot could be up at play. A pro-parent group against the recall of Miner and Ledesma, Protect OUSD Kids, says the district could return even worse than where the two trustees found it in late 2022, meaning more curriculum secrecy, divisive ideology seeping into the classroom, lack of parental rights and involvement with their own children, and bad fiscal management.
Election day is March 5 for voters to decide on the recall, with polling centers expected to open March 2.
