Fairfax Faculty District board approves choosing of LA legislation company hours just after release of critical grand jury report

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Passions ran high at a meeting of the Fairfax School District board last night time, where by you could evidently listen to attendees yelling “shame on you” to some of the board members.

The meeting took area just several hours right after the release of a Kern County Grand Jury report calling the Fairfax School Board “divided and dysfunctional.” The report claims the board has unsuccessful to make it possible for public comment all through conferences, violated its very own bylaws and ethics laws and unsuccessful to just take motion relating to allegations of abusive conduct by the recent board president, Palmer Moland. 

Past week, Moland backed a resolution to terminate the district’s contract with its authorized counsel, but some board customers stated they were by no means provided a cause why. In the conclusion, Moland and fellow trustees Alma Rios and Jose Luis Tapia voted 3-2 to terminate the agreement.

Last evening, the identical board customers again voted 3-2 to retain the services of an additional regulation company out of Los Angeles. That conclusion enraged numerous members of the group in attendance, who argued that the trustees have not been transparent in their selections. 

“I are not able to believe that that you have the guts to sit in this article and say you care about young ones. You never treatment. You have your individual agenda,” mentioned Maria Hernandez.

“One person does not rule this district, never has, under no circumstances will,” said Patsy Rowles. “I have been on the board for almost 30 years, and by no means in my everyday living have I experienced to set up with one thing like this.” Quite a few community users are launching a recall energy to oust Moland, Tapia, and Rios.

President Moland released a assertion on Thursday, saying throughout his time on the board, he lifted worries about mistakes in economic data and claimed that he begun to be targeted by many others for the reason that of this.

“I have tried out my best and will continue on to be an advocate for the local community for moms and dads like myself and other individuals. I hope for enhancement and features of the Board relocating ahead,” he claimed.

Interim Superintendent Lora Brown also introduced a statement addressing the Grand Jury report.

“Because the contents of the report relate exclusively to the district’s publicly elected board of trustees, it would be inappropriate for me to comment a person way or the other whether I agree with the results,” she stated. “I will of system do what the community and board sense is most effective for college students. What I can say is that my target and dedication is on making sure that the district is conference the requirements of our learners and their families.”