LETTER TO THE EDITOR:Newcomers fit for school board

As a teacher living and working in Costa Mesa, my union surprised me by endorsing Karen Yelsey, who is running against Serene Stokes, and Sandy Asper, who is campaigning against Judy Franco.

The union could have played it safe and either issued no endorsements or simply supported the incumbents, because Stokes and Franco are certainly not anti-teacher! Instead, the union leadership strongly and repeatedly said that we need a school board that neither rubber-stamps district decisions nor shies away from attacking the dismal Sacramento education bureaucracy.

While I didn’t participate in the endorsement conversations, I did attend the open discussions with the candidates. Since I’ve worked with Franco on Measure F, I initially wanted the union to endorse her. She spoke well, but Asper, who I didn’t know before, spoke with commanding knowledge and understanding of the district and education. Because of her 38 years of experience in teaching, I expected her to get the endorsement before I listened. It wouldn’t have mattered. She would have earned the support of the union anyway.

The most difficult discussion was with Serene Stokes, during which she reminded me of why all of us, including old NFL quarterbacks and me, eventually need to retire: We slow down and miss things. On the other hand, Yelsey was vigorous. She has toiled at the grassroots of PTAs for 18 years and, with her Wharton MBA, understands financial concerns quickly. We need her fresh talent on the school board.

Sandy Asper, Karen Yelsey and Michael Collier, who is running for an open seat, all have spoken on the most pressing concern facing Costa Mesa parents that the school board can address: redesigning our local schools so that they not only help the less privileged but also attract students from the wealthy and moderately wealthy. The flight to non-Costa Mesa schools must be reversed. These disappearing students are the strongest indictment against the incumbents. It is a disgrace.

In short, the teachers union decided in this era of testing, expansive special education and changing demographics that a strong school board is more necessary than a reasonably teacher-friendly school board. The union believes that we need trustees who actively fight the complacency that has overtaken the district, where high-stakes testing has justified placing bureaucratic needs above the more important needs of children. The board doesn’t communicate with us on this sad situation. While endorsing new faces may backfire on the union, it highlights the main reason why most teachers became teachers: to do what’s best for the children.

DENNIS ASHENDORF

Costa Mesa