We urge you to attend the school board meeting at the Poway Unified School District (PUSD) this evening (6pm PT, 12/14). Please speak up to demand the school district hold its leadership accountable.

On November 9th, Del Norte High School Girls' Softball Team members and coach took it to the school board to accuse PUSD Superintendent Marian Kim Phelps of engaging in conflict of interest, abuse of authority, harassment and retaliation. Their courageous action has brought public attention to the conduct of the PUSD leadership, with the board meeting video being viewed for over 11,000 times.

To everyone's disappointment, the PUSD school board did not take any disciplinary action against Phelps, other than an obligatory and ambiguous announcement of an independent investigation. On November 27th, the student and her family directly harmed by Phelps filed a lawsuit against all PUSD leaders.

To add insult to injury, we have learned from the softball team that the so-called "independent investigation" targets the team rather than the perpetuator, Superintendent Phelps! This is blatant abuse of power!

Members of the softball team will again speak at the PUSD board meeting today (12/14). I encourage you to attend the meeting in support of these students.

Astonishingly, the school district has put an agreement for opinion research with an estimated cost of $45,000 to $55,000 onto the consent calendar (Item 5.3.h) in the meeting agenda. This means the board will be able to vote on the agreement, funded by school bond, without discussion and input from the community. When the leadership refuses to listen to parents and community members in spite of a lawsuit, how can we trust them to spend the bond money responsibly? More importantly, since PUSD leaders started to embrace the anti-merit and divisive ideology of diversity, equity and inclusion, PUSD students' math and English proficiency rates have gone down in the last three years, while chronic absenteeism has risen to unprecedented levels. These leaders of public education have betrayed the trust of parents, students, and the public, with the track record of unethical conduct, indoctrination and fiscal irresponsibility!

We call on you to participate in the PUSD board meeting today (Thursday, 12/14) at 6pm at 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128. Please fill the request form to speak on Item 4.2 or Item 5.3.h. Please see below CFER's suggested arguments:

1. The school district should investigate Superintendent Phelps, not the softball team.
2. The school district should settle the lawsuit as soon as possible, instead of wasting taxpayers' money on a challenge they will most likely lose.
3. The school district should fire Superintendent Phelps or put her on administrative leave.
4. PUSD school board trustees should resign.
5. With a leadership that is not accountable to parents, students, taxpayers or voters, the school district should not spend the bond money frivolously.

The public comment session (Item 4.2) usually starts between 6:15 pm and 6:30 pm and ends at around 7 pm. Please arrive at the school district headquarters in time to submit a request for public comment.

Thank you!