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ORANGE : School Trustee Chief Expected to Keep Post

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Maureen Aschoff tonight is expected to become the first Orange Unified School District trustee since 1961 to be elected to a second consecutive term as president.

But she will first take some criticism from Trustee James Fearns, who said he is furious over maneuvering that has polarized the board.

“While I was in San Diego, unbeknownst to me . . . we found that Maureen is going to be the next board president again,” he said.

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Fearns said he opposes Aschoff’s presidency for a number of reasons. “Under her tenure this past year, the board has been mired in rancor and has seen little direction,” he said, reading from a statement prepared for tonight’s meeting.

The seven-member board divides into a majority group comprising Aschoff, Max Reissmueller, Martin Jacobson and Bill Lewis, and a minority including Fearns, Rick Ledesma and Robert H. Viviano, the board’s vice president.

Aschoff said the board’s majority has lobbied her for two months to accept the president’s seat again.

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“I think, basically, the majority of the board has confidence and trust in me,” she said. “I agree that when I took over the presidency last year, we had turmoil and conflict and it was some job to sit in that hot seat. . . . I personally think we have had a good year.”

Jacobson said Aschoff is the most competent to hold the job because she keeps board members informed and does “not abuse the power of the office.”

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