Beverly Hills School Board Action Item
This letter came across our desk and we thought it was worth sharing. It has been slightly altered for length. This is an action item that needs immediate attention.
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Dear Beverly Hills Residents and former residents,
The Beverly Hills Schools have historically been the bedrock of our City. Presently, the behavior and leadership of several of our board members raise questions about whether they are obstructing critical efforts to improve the quality and stability of our schools.
A recent example was the troubling conduct witnessed regarding the blocking of Dr. Stern as Vice President at the December 16th board meeting.
Please read through this email and consider participating in the action items below. If you are as frustrated regarding the hubris, cruelty, destruction of norms, chaos, abuse of power and disregard for laws around our nation and feel hopelessly powerless, here is your opportunity to take action in your own backyard.
It was clear during the December 16th school board meeting that there was a coordinated and executed plan to block Dr. Stern from her rightful position as Vice President and instead voted in Sigalie Sabag. It was a troubling public ‘takedown’ that included shaming and false accusations against a fellow board member. Equally significant- it was a violation of California Code and the BHUSD bylaws. The Board’s own bylaws state the following: “Selection of the vice president shall be determined by rotation based on how long each member has served on the Board during their current term on the Board. If two or more have the same term of service, then they shall serve as vice president in descending order of the number of votes received in their most recent election.”
Dr. Stern received 7,102 votes in the last election. Sigalie Sabag received 6,681.
The district’s contention that the process used to install Sigalie Sabag as VP did not violate the law IS A LIE!
The political machinations, verbal attacks and accusations against Dr. Stern can be seen in the video at the end of this email.
This incident was not the first time that these board members demonstrated contemptuous behavior. Throughout the term, rather than engaging in a productive dialogue on policy, staffing, fiscal responsibility, etc., three Board Members repeatedly engaged in intimidation, dismissiveness, and bullying toward Mrs. Marcus and Dr. Stern when they did not align with their positions. There was often demeaning comments and attacks toward parents, teachers and community members who made statements or wrote to the board about legitimate concerns.
Regrettably, many parents and teachers are fearful of voicing concerns for fear of reprisal from these board members. That is why your voice is imperative! Your support is greatly needed, and there is power in numbers.
Here is how you can help:
1. Attend the next school board meeting:
Tuesday, Jan. 13th at 5 PM, Hawthorne School- 642 North Rexford Drive.
2. Public Commentary: It is your presence that is most important. If you choose to speak, speakers are allotted two minutes. Or you can call in to make a statement during public commentary. You can fill in the form below in advance if you wish to make a public comment or have your written comment read aloud.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5q_t19cgQDyjGbvME2YMyyGgnlFqbrGVUgYZrS37WfaM6Nw/viewform
3. Email the School Board: If you are not able to attend the school board meeting, please write to the school board and Superintendent, Dr. Alex Cherniss, to voice your objections before Jan. 13th. Below are the contacts to board members and Dr. Cherniss followed by a ‘suggested template’ for a letter to them. This is strictly a suggestion. Please, if inclined to write or make a statement, use your own sentiments regarding your concerns.
Full Board- board@bhusd.org-
Individual Board Members:
Amanda Stern - astern@bhusd.org
Rachelle Marcus - rmarcus@bhusd.org
Judy Manouchehri - jmanouchehri2@bhusd.org
Russell Stuart - rstuart@bhusd.org
Sigalie Sabag - ssabag@bhusd.org
Dr. Alex Cherniss (Superintendent) - acherniss@bhusd.org
SUGGESTED TEMPLATE FOR LETTER TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT (from an anonymous parent):
Dear Beverly Hills School Board Members and Dr. Cherniss,
I am writing to express extreme outrage and shock at the despicable harassment, libel, and slander of Dr. Amanda Stern. Not only was Dr. Stern the rightful member to succeed as Vice President, but her 7000+ voters have a right to the representation of who they voted for and expected.
The board majority has no regard for the well-being of your district. Will this unlawful choice help with rapidly dropping ranking, an exodus of families and low academic standards?
The board’s majority's egregious actions are well-publicized. All are watching and demanding that the Vice Presidency be restored to the member whom the bylaw explicitly named.
Dr. Stern has consistently been the voice of reason in the face of tremendous upheaval from the unprofessional bullying from her colleagues. She not only holds the highest degree and accolades in education but has prioritized student achievement, wellness, campus safety and other critical matters.
I am writing to demand that the board correct their behavior, which is not only contrary to the bylaws of your own creation but also grossly unfair and casts a dark shadow on the district and the reputation of Beverly Hills.
Thank you
If you want to dig a little deeper, see below:
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM DECEMBER 16TH MEETING:
Please watch two segments from this link- refer to the times below when clicking on the link.
1. Fast forward to 1:08:38 and watch through 1:15:30.
2. Dr. Stern’s final response- start at 1:54:30 through 1:56:30
Please share this email with other residents, and thank you for taking an interest in this matter.
Peter Ostroff’s commentary from his column in The Beverly Weekly (full text can be read on pg. 4 from this link)
“I am concerned that residents who watch or attend meetings of the Board of Education will be so offended by the behavior of some of the Board members that they will be less likely to send their children to our schools or, if their children are enrolled, will be inclined to remove them from the schools... The organization meeting on December 16 was one of the worst as it included entirely gratuitous and apparently false ad hominem attacks on one of the members and disregard, in part, of the By Laws of the District. “