It was not the meeting which many had anticipated, yet as the saying goes “it is, what it is.”
On Monday, Sept. 12 it was a standing room only audience as the Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees assembled for the monthly meeting at the OJUSD Tech Center.
While the meeting began with the positive acknowledgement of Oakdale High School’s FFA Team, it is fair to say that many were in attendance for ‘Consent Item 12.9’ which was the appointment of a new board member, as a result of board member Larry Betschart submitting his resignation, effective Sept. 30.
Before getting to the business at hand, OHS FFA students were acknowledged for first and second place awards at the Stanislaus County Fair. Superintendent Dave Kline also made mention of the group earning the fair’s prestigious John Thurman Award for the fifth year in a row.
“I want to acknowledge two groups of people,” Kline stated following the student acknowledgement. “Our absolutely outstanding Ag teachers, who spend an endless amount of time with our kids to make sure that they’re ready for performance at the fair.
“Also I want to thank our parents,” he continued. “Thank you for working with your kids, being patient, following through on everything that’s required of you. It really shows when it comes fair time, because of endless championships that our kids win.”
Upon review of the Consent Calendar, newly appointed OJUSD Board President Mike House pulled item 12.9 at the opening of the meeting. No other items were pulled. An audience member asked for a repeat of the item that was pulled and, after House indicated what item it was, the meeting continued. Item 12.9 “Approval of Process to Fill Board Vacancy - Trustee Area 2,” was omitted from the agenda and then the remaining consent items were approved.
Public comment was next on the agenda and continued to see a division in the community concerning the current OJUSD board and sentiments on their overall performance.
Brittany Gain was the first to speak during public comment, introducing herself as the daughter of Board President House.
Gain shared with the board that given the mood of the past two years’ meetings, she felt she had to speak. During her address to the board, she mentioned notable longtime Oakdale families, many of which currently have members serving on the board.
“Good people who have served on this board with nothing to gain, except pride in their schools and community,” Gain stated. “They have given their time without any compensation to speak of. Away from their families and careers to make Oakdale schools what they are today.”
Not to be misunderstood in any way, Gain shared her father had been a member of the OJUSD Board for most of her life, as well as half of his. She additionally noted that her father began kindergarten at Cloverland Elementary and graduated from OHS in 1975. She also shared sentiments of fondness for those new to Oakdale and Oakdale schools.
“Some of the most amazing people I know are new to Oakdale,” she said. “They bring new ideas, enrich our community and make us stronger, but they are not going to want to be involved if they are going to be publicly ridiculed at meetings,” she said.
“It shocks me when I hear people say that they can’t trust this board to successfully run Oakdale schools. They bleed red and gold,” she shared through a passion filled voice. “You’ve been attacking your own team, too blinded by anger to recognize it.”
As if written like a courtroom drama, longtime community member Henry Dotinga was next to address the board, requesting an apology for the decisions made by the board during the pandemic and the way in which it was handled by the board, CDC and the Public Health Department.
“Are we all just supposed to forget it happened?” Dotinga questioned. “I don’t think so, let’s revamp.”
The community member went on to review the timeline from the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020 to current day.
“What you chose to do was follow Public Health Guidelines as if they were law and for that you should be embarrassed and ashamed,” he said. “Where’s your apology for violating our students’ rights to informed consent in an education that their parents pay for?”
As the wait continued for addressing Consent Item 12.9 the meeting continued, reviewing a number of other items on the agenda. The evening also included some thoughts from trustees regarding the resignation of board member Larry Betschart, in attendance at his final meeting.
“I’m sure his impact will be felt for years to come,” House said of the loss to the board, “but immediately the impact I see is because of his expertise, his knowledge and his contacts we have a school farm that is second to none. A lot of that is because of the efforts of Larry Betschart.”
Trustee Diane Gilbert additionally noted how the board was able to secure private funding sources and grants for the school farm which were a direct reflection of Betschart’s efforts and contacts.
“The district literally saved hundreds of thousands of dollars, where then those funds were able to be used for other projects,” Gilbert said. “Larry tends to be of all of us the more quiet one, but his impact is far from quiet. His legacy is significant.”
As the discussion turned to a review of upcoming events, an audience member spoke up inquiring as to what was to happen with the empty board seat as a result of the Betschart resignation, the ‘Item 12.9’ that was pulled from the agenda.
The board collectively stated that due to the threatened litigation regarding the issue, the district’s legal counsel recommended they not discuss it and therefore, it was removed from the agenda.
If the seat sits open 60 days, it will result in a special election.
“We may have a very well publicized special meeting, but we don’t know at this time,” House stated, further noting that if this should result in special election, it won’t be until March, 2023.
The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled on Monday, Oct. 10 at the OJUSD Tech Center. Open session will begin at 6:30 p.m.
