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 tone was set early by the leaders of the Murrieta Valley Unified School Board as new members were sworn in and officers were elected at the Dec. 17 meeting. New board members Christine Schmidt and Eleanor Briggs quickly fell in line with trustee Nick Pardue to elect him president.

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.