The Temecula Valley Unified School District Governing Board was forced to rescind Flag policy after the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) ruled in favor of the Temecula Valley Educators’ Association (TVEA), the charging party.

But there is a good chance that both the Flag policy and another rescinded policy, the Parental Notification policy, will be revamped in an attempt to push through for passage in the near future.

The January 14, 2025, Temecula City Council meeting addressed several important topics in a structured agenda. Included is a detailed summary with quotes from the council members on pertinent topics.

Let’s see if these board members prioritize the work of a trustee, come to these meetings prepared, attend every single one and actually do the job of trustee. The five members of the board have each spoken about working together, moving past the division, caring about students, and a desire to do the work. Actions speak louder and words.

Over the years, school voucher programs have gained attention as a means to offer families more choice in education. Proponents argue that vouchers provide opportunities for students to escape failing public schools and attend private institutions that better suit their needs. While the idea may sound appealing in theory, the reality of voucher systems is far more complex and fraught with unintended consequences. In practice, voucher programs have proven to be harmful to public education, inequitable for families, and surprisingly costly for taxpayers.

Every month, we will publish the 1TVPAC Good Governance report card to evaluate TVUSD School Board trustees. 

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.

Niemi falsely claimed that because Anderson and Barham were leading in their respective races, they were essentially board members at that point (misinformation). And that because Schwartz nominated Anderson for the board president position and Barham voted along with him to elect her to the seat, a crime was committed (misinformation).

Tuesday night’s meeting was a positive start toward returning the TVUSD Board of Trustees to an elected body that is focused on doing the work, and governs on behalf of all for the benefit of the students at all Temecula schools.