If it wasn’t for the advice of legal counsel, Jonathan Pearl, at the April 17 meeting of the Murrieta Valley Unified School Board, trustee Eleanor Briggs might have moved full steam ahead with a Brown Act Violation. 

MURRIETA— After a debate that spanned two school board meetings, MVUSD president Nick Pardue succeeded in removing more than half of the district's social workers at the end of this school year. 

The Murrieta Valley Unified school board approved new school boundaries Feb. 13 without answers to many questions posed by community members and other board trustees. 

 As the new Murrieta Valley Unified School District board wrestles with its first major action, a few board members are raising legitimate concerns from their constituents about traffic congestion and student bus ride time. 

It was almost as if trustees were having two separate discussions at the Jan. 23 MVUSD board meeting. While most board members were focused on the issue of overcrowded schools, one trustee was focused on self-preservation as he downplayed redistricting complications. 

Remember, Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate the people in your life and the values that bring you together. With patience and a little effort, you can navigate political discussions while keeping the holiday spirit intact.

When people fail to vote in these crucial races, the consequences can ripple through communities, affecting everything from public policy to the quality of daily life.