Leece’s positions are not good for students
Cyndie Borcoman
I have serious concerns about Wendy Leece returning for another
term of office for the Newport Mesa school board.
Leece prides herself on having moral courage to stand up for
controversial issues. Though it is admirable to bring up opposing
views to facilitate discussion and explore all aspects of an issue,
dissenting when the welfare of many students in the district are in
peril is not commendable.
Leece represents the Westside of Costa Mesa. There are a great
many families that are at the poverty level. She talks about the
ideology of “no student left behind,” but the federal programs that
aid disadvantaged students she opposes.
Leece has stated that the local government should be in control of
how these funds are dispersed and to whom. If she is re-elected and
like minded candidates as well, Title I programs, the breakfast and
lunch program providing a much-needed meal to hungry students and the
remedial program are at risk of being eliminated. Leece routinely
votes against accepting federally funded programs. Yet these are the
very programs that help disadvantaged children get a step up
educationally. If Newport-Mesa does not take advantage of these
federally funded programs, the money to fund low-achieving schools
and assist low-performing students will come out of the general
school budget.
Leece has gone on record opposing the teacher’s union. She was
listed last year as an elected official that advocated for the
organization “Stop the Union Takeover” in Orange Unified School
District.
Leece attended many of the school board meetings in Orange
Unified. Orange Unified has gone through many tumultuous years by
having a board majority that was in direct opposition to most of the
teachers and administrators. Many gifted teachers and administrators
left the district after years of bickering. Finally, the school
members were recalled and peace and harmony returned to Orange
Unified. One of my biggest worries would be if a similar situation
occurred in Newport-Mesa.
At a recent local voter forum, Leece credited herself to be an
independent thinker criticizing the other school board members. I
take issue with Leece’s assertion that she is a free thinker. She
takes the exact same position as her cohorts, the recalled school
board members from Orange Unified. They, too, wanted to ban books,
citing the adult nature of the themes; they voted as a block against
federal funds that assisted disadvantaged students including student
health and counseling centers; they wanted to have creationism taught
in the classroom; and they remained in direct opposition to the
teacher’s union.
I believe the price is too high for our children to have Wendy
Leece re-elected.
* CYNDIE BORCOMAN is a teacher and Newport Beach resident.
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