COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:

I am writing to thank the Independent for its continued reporting on the Ocean View School District.

Your editorial (“Time out needed, May 15) correctly affirmed that I am not a “go along and get along” guy when it comes to matters of public interest and the children.

In spite of administration resistance and a lack of board interest, I have proudly spoken out in favor of parental rights to request teachers by name.

My investigations discovered a physical education locker shortage in middle schools and a multi-thousand-dollar water wastage problem at Star View.

The fact of Huntington Beach City errors and omissions that caused them to request a million-dollar land giveaway was exposed by my work.

Administration immediately removed cookies placed by the district and added protective Terms of Service as a direct result of my “Cookie Monster” news release.

Failure by the district to correctly name itself on legal documents was identified by me. And there are many more issues in process. In my role as trustee, I have worked diligently and spoken out to bring positive improvements to the school district. It is my responsibility to speak up and speak out on matters of public interest.

Left to its own devices, the district would bury all problems where the public can’t see them. There would be one big happy face and the district slogan would be, “…smile, Smile and SMILE SOME MORE! Don’t worry, be happy!”

And the public would be left without access to areas of concern and opportunities for improvement.

The Independent correctly identified the Litigation Committee of the Whole as retaliatory. This committee is a “Star Chamber” attempt to stifle my public speech.

I will not be stifled, and I will continue to bring the families and voters of our district all the news; the good and the bad.

JOHN BRISCOE is an Ocean View School District Board of Trustees member.