School district’s troubles finally heard

Tom Harman

At the Dec. 7 Ocean View School District meeting, more than 100

people attended to condemn school board President Barbara Boskovitch

for a list of her personal transgressions using her position as a

board member.

To hear the passion and anger of the speakers was unprecedented in

the district. The speakers related stories of their suffering due to

Boskovitch’s behavior. The speakers talked about her starting a rumor

about Harbour View Principal Roni Ellis and her using her friendship

with Huntington Beach Police Chief Kenneth Small to open an

unnecessary investigation into the family of a child who had done

nothing wrong.

A principal described how Boskovitch had the superintendent harass

a principal into resignation as a condition of the union’s support

for her reelection.

Others spoke of how she used pictures of children in her campaign

flier without the permission of the parents, how the school district

is paying for attorneys fees for her personal actions, how two board

members have been denied information in closed session, and how she

withheld other information for open session.

These things allegedly have taken place over a period of time.

There is a clear pattern of the district administration not replying

to any allegations. If they did, it was to deny all and to use the

district’s lawyers, which are paid by the taxpayers, to keep things

quiet. I suspect much of this was done to hide it all from the public

until after the election.

Supt. James Tarwater received condemnation from community and

staff members for his part in allegedly covering up these activities

and, most of all, for not supporting one of his most loyal

principals. He chose to defend Boskovitch. Just one month earlier he

swore he would find out who was spreading all the vicious lies about

Boskovitch. He didn’t have to go far, the truth came to him. Silence

and fear are now running the district.

Boskovitch is a tough politician. Her main support comes from

nonschool people: city politicians. She has the unconscionable

support of two other board members, Carloee Focht and Sharon Holland,

who are backed by the teachers union. They have not evidenced any

remorse or condemnation of Boskovitch’s behavior.

They can’t. Her power base understands that it will have to endure

some flack, but then it will be back to special-interest politics.

It’s the Bolsa Chica land and the union getting first call. So if you

think it is all about the kids, forget it.

This is a story about the abuse of power. The Independent has paid

no attention to any of it. This silence is very disturbing, for all

it takes is good people remaining silent for tyranny to live.

CHARLES OSTERLUND

Huntington Beach