ELECTIONS / PROPOSITION 187 : School Board Accused of Spending Illegally : Moorpark: County coordinator of measure says tax dollars should not be used to campaign against measure.

The county coordinator of a state ballot measure that would deny a public education to illegal immigrants has accused the Moorpark school board of illegally using tax dollars to campaign against the proposition.

Conservative political consultant Steve Frank maintains that the trustees’ decision to report on the initiative’s local impacts is an attempt to cut voter support for Proposition 187 in November.

“They are going to use tax dollars to campaign against (187),” Frank said. “That’s outrageous. They should be spending their money on school books, not on a biased impact study.”

The school board has not only directed staff analysts to report on the “Save Our State” initiative, but also plans to discuss its local effects in a televised meeting and to distribute the staff’s report at district headquarters.

A majority of the five-member board--Tom Baldwin, Gary Cabriales and Clint Harper--has opposed the measure in public comments, while trustees Pam Castro and Greg Barker have expressed concerns about how much money it would cost the Moorpark Unified School District.

Baldwin said the board has acted properly by ordering an economic analysis of the measure.

“It is within our legal rights, and it’s not an improper expenditure of district funds,” Baldwin said. “This is an important issue that will have a great impact on the district, and we want to get information out to voters so they can make an informed decision.”

Baldwin said the board could not use district funds to campaign against the initiative.

Cabriales said he will urge the board to formally oppose 187 at its televised Oct. 25 meeting.

“Our job is to worry about Moorpark’s schools,” Cabriales said. “I think it’s important to let people know how bad this would be for the district. We should stay away from the partisan politics, but I think we’re obligated to inform people of the facts.”

Cabriales said the district would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars if it is forced to expel illegal immigrants from class. He also objects to making teachers and principals check students’ immigration status.

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Baldwin said he would vote with Cabriales, although a formal board resolution against Proposition 187 might “push the envelope” of what is legal because it could be construed as a political act.

The Moorpark trustees’ conclusions on what is permissible in a political campaign are based on legal opinions by attorneys for the California School Boards Assn., board members said. Several school boards countywide have opposed the initiative. But no east county board has taken a position.

Castro also said she could support an anti-187 resolution at the Oct. 25 meeting.

“I would support it as long as it’s based on the facts,” she said. “We first want to look at the facts and get a clear picture of what the impacts will be. That’s our job.”