Chula Vista- South Bay Union School District Board President Barbara Elliott-Sanders stunned hundreds of parents, educators and community members at the outset of the January 21 board meeting by gaveling down a boisterous crowd and stating in direct violation of law that “…our meeting is to conduct the business of the district. It is our meeting. It is not a meeting for the public.” South Bay residents reacted with displeasure and joined in a chorus of “boos” that appear to represent a community that feels a disconnect with its board members and district administration. The complete quote appears below:

“Speaking as the President of the Board, we are extremely interested in the diversity of the audience and the diversity of the voices to be heard. But I do want to- maybe some of you know this maybe some of you are not aware- that the purpose of this meeting is for the school board to conduct its business. We are a meeting that is happening (boos from audience) We are a meeting, our meeting is to conduct the business of the district. It is our meeting. It is not a meeting for the public.”

A disappointed Southwest Teachers Association (SWTA) President Lorie Garcia stated, “The lack of understanding of the board president regarding the general public’s ownership and control of its local schools is troubling. It shows an unwillingness on South Bay administration’s part to appropriately educate the board on the role and responsibility of a school board trustee.”

Education attorney Fern Steinner explained, “The Brown Act makes it clear that the public has a right to attend and participate in School Board meetings. The School Board is required to conduct its business with very limited exceptions in a transparent open manner.  Any suggestion that the meeting is not a public meeting at which the School Board conducts its business misstates the Board’s status under the law.”