On Monday morning, Temecula voters gathered at the Ron Roberts Regional Library in Temecula to sign recall petitions for three Temecula Valley Unified School Board (TVUSD) members who have politicized the school board while supporting policies that are out of compliance with standards set forth in the CA Education Code. The city and its outstanding school district are being tarnished by decisions to banish “Racism” and “CRT” that are dog whistles to far right groups seeking to erode support for our public schools.  

Community members are angry about the negative attention brought to its well-regarded schools. Thirty-seven-year resident Jeff Kingsberg, on hand to sign the petition, stated “The new majority rolled through our district like a tank division, destroying our institutions as they undercut professional staff.” 

At its last meeting, the TVUSD board majority voted down a fully vetted K-5 curriculum because it referenced Harvey Milk’s civil rights advocacy in teacher resource materials. In the words of TVUSD Board President Komrosky; “Why even mention a pedophile?” 

Retired teacher Kathryn Barnett, who has an elementary school grandchild, was very concerned about the vote against the adoption of the curriculum; “We don’t want whitewashed history.” 

For others, their decision to support the recall is a result of the regular, ongoing acts of bad governance that began in November with the new board majority and will not end until it ceases to hold that majority.  

Educator Jenne Scharf, who assisted in gathering the signatures, explained;

“This is about the incessant onslaught of bad governance since they orchestrated the takeover.” 

With hundreds of Temeculans driving to the location to participate, all signs indicate frustration has boiled over. Recall petition organizer Skylar Tempel believes residents are channeling that frustration; “We received over three times the necessary signatures for each of the three trustee areas.