Notice of Intention to Recall paperwork filed against FUHSD board president

On Tuesday, April 6, a group of parents and community members filed a Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition against Diane Summers, the president of the Fallbrook Unified High School District Board of Trustees. According to a press release, the parents stated that they "came together under a common goal to ensure that anyone elected to the board of trustees followed the bylaws and fulfilled their obligation to the students."

Summers has 10 days to respond to the Notice of Intention. At that point, petitioners have 10 days to file the petition to recall with the Registrar of Voters office. While the group apparently doesn't have an official name, an early version of their website, http://www.ReclaimFBschools.com, has been launched.

According to the group, after many months of frustration, the Recall Petition was filed following board approval of a plan to return students to the classroom only two, half-days a week at a "special meeting" held on March 29. The board meeting was held by Zoom without sufficient public notice, according to the parent group. The attendees that did make it and wanted to give input reportedly were left in the waiting room only to be granted entry after the public comment time had ended.

Last month, the group claims, Summers allowed a Classified Union member to speak on the reopening outside of public comments, while families and students were denied the same access to be heard by the board. Another grievance was from the December meeting. The group claims Summers permitted Superintendent IIsa Garza-Gonzalez to belittle students and families, who had properly submitted requests to speak, by giving her final comments that unilaterally discredited reopening comments from the families and students that spoke before her.

The Notice of Intent to Recall Petition also comes after many of the county and state restrictions were lifted, allowing for more than two days a week of in person learning. All other elementary and middle schools in Fallbrook returned to in-person learning five days a week several months ago.

The San Diego Union School District, the third largest school district in the state, and other more affluent districts in North County are returning to in person instruction four days a week. Under Summers' leadership, the much smaller FUHSD has elected to return students to less in person time than what is currently being allowed by the county and state which is outrageous to many parents and community members in Fallbrook.

The parent group believes the decision is only increasing the divide between the "haves" of more affluent communities and "have nots" of Fallbrook's Title I High School of 71% minority students, despite the national warning that student populations such as FUHSD's are the ones most irreparably harmed by this year of virtual learning.

Victoria McSheehy said, "While the non-return to school has been implied as due to safety concerns, the return to school was actually driven by a union agreement for a one-time 2.75% base salary payment to any school staff that return in person for the remainder of the year."

"As the students in our town are suffering, our school board continues to plow ahead with their own selfish goals, under the guidance of Diane Summers," said Heidi Roderick, parent of two Fallbrook High School students. "Grades have plummeted, and mental health has suffered. Diane Summers continues to disregard her elected duty of getting the students back into the best learning environment allowed. If President Summers is not recalled, the future of our children will continue to be in jeopardy," concluded Roderick.

Under the recall, the group claims that Summers has failed in the fiduciary duties as an elected trustee to "act in the best interest of the students and constituents of the Fallbrook Union High School District," pursuant to the board's bylaws and has incompetently led the school board by:

moving to a limited two day a week hybrid model when the county and state have allowed for 100% in-person learning.

improperly notifying the public with special/emergency meetings.

hindering, ignoring and mocking public comments.

lacking clear communication of changes made that directly affect students, families and class requirements including changing school procedures related to PSAT and SAT needed for college acceptance and scholarships.

not requiring board members to recuse themselves when they have a conflict of interest in voting on financial matters involving pay raises and pension funding.

It is the parent group's contention that the job of the board is to work and negotiate with the unions to prioritize children. While the high school teachers and staff have representation from their unions, the parents and students feel they have not been represented by Summers and the other trustees of FUHSD.

To resolve a lack of representation, parents and community members filed the recall petition hoping for quick and effective changes to benefit all Fallbrook students, ensuring access to educational opportunities being afforded high school students in neighboring districts across San Diego County.

"FHS students have had to sit at home watching their younger siblings return to hybrid learning since October 2020," said Nora Maier, parent of a 11th grader at Fallbrook High School. "They have had to sit at home looking at their screen for hours being robbed of their foundational high school memories. They should be allowed to return to school to the fullest extent possible to further their education."