The Antioch Unified School District Board of Trustees must act against Board President Antonio Hernandez as he is a liability to the district.
Tonight, Trustees Gary Hack, Mary Rocha, Dr. Jag Lathan, or Dr. Clyde Lewis must call for a censure of Hernandez followed by a call for him to resign as Board President or simply call for his removal altogether.
While I understand the desire to prematurely make calls for action and ensure the community an outcome some may desire, or even grandstand for TV time, you cannot do that. Especially when one does not have the facts or been debriefed. Let alone publicly speak on a personnel matter—a complete no-no!
By him speaking on the job of the superintendent, who has not been reviewed by the way, he has created a possible lawsuit. His actions against Ken Turnage II likely will result in a lawsuit at some point.
Foolishly, how can Hernandez call for a resignation of Superintendent Stephanie Anello when the Board has not been debriefed of the district’s handling of discipline handed out by alleged bullying by Turnage and the placement of a desk on a roof? However, Hernandez claims the District handled it inappropriately? How is this even possible?
Meanwhile, he likely broke Board Policy for acting as if he was speaking on behalf of the board to the media. Even worse, he likely committed an FPPC and Brown Act violations for his little pow-wow after a Board meeting when he used district resources for an impromptu community forum while calling for other board members to be recalled—the video feed was cut off from the public. He simply could have moved that pow-wow to the parking lot, a coffee shop or a pizza parlor to continue. Instead, he continued from the dais while using school resources—a no-no!
For all the talk on alleged bullying by Turnage, what is apparent is the bullying of Hernandez to the Superintendent all captured on video, social media, or statements in the media—even going back several years now. Where is that outage? Anello likely has a case against Hernandez should she choose to take legal action.
Ironically, the incident in question occurred 15-months ago where Kim Atkinson spoke in public comment to share her story—versus using the Ed Code or other legal means necessary. The Board thought so much about her testimony, it took no action nor sought out a debrief.
As soon as a TV hack reporter shows up, it’s world record speed to find some sort of “fall person”. And only after the union got its new contract and a school bond passed a public vote. Either the timing was dumb luck or this was all planned.
Had Hernandez, let alone the media outlets done any homework before speaking out, it would have become known this “desk” in question is not an actual employees work desk, but rather a spare desk that was sitting in the paint shop. I also have it on good authority that more than a dozen employees were interviewed in the original investigation which was conducted HR Director Rob Martinez followed by another investigation by Carrie Wells in the human resource department (former principal at Heritage High School in Brentwood). No one was ordered either, but rather many chose to participate voluntarily in the prank that was agreed to ahead of time.
This fake outrage is nothing new for Hernandez who is reactionary at best with strong words and no substance (see school safety, elected officials on campus, Halloween costumes). People get riled up without facts.
Even more ridiculous, twice now, he has called for a special meeting to oust the Superintendent knowing he did not have a quorum—once was bad enough but twice for political theater purposes is embarrassing. Does no one care about his waste of staff time and resources while throwing the Ed Code out the door?
While the District still has yet to respond to a Public Record Request (they requested more time), several employees are ready to speak out against this silliness, however, they do not want to get out in front of a personnel matter until its complete while also claim they are being intimidated by repercussions from the union president whose wife is one of the main complainants–note to Mr. Union President, you should temporarily step-aside instead of rallying members for your wife’s cause. Nor should you be speaking ill-will towards the District you work for at CSEA meeting with other districts.
Basically, according to several employees in the District, this comes down to complainants who don’t want to be held accountable for their lack of productivity and want to pass the blame onto others for bad work ethics.
Truth is, Hernandez has been a dud as a trustee, has accomplished nothing and is now attempting to grandstand on 15-month-old news all ahead of an election year where he could seek re-election or run for another elected position—rumored to be Antioch City Clerk.
This is like watching a replay of 2016 when then Superintendent Dr. Donald Gill was placed on administrative leave only to retire later. At this point, the Board needs to either make a decision or get off the pot with Anello: take not action, reprimand her, fire her or pay her out to go away. At the very least, wait for the investigation to make an informed decision.
As for Turnage, the school board has no say, regardless what they think. That is up to district senior staff.
So for now, Turnage remains on administrative leave watching while twiddling his thumbs instead of preparing for graduation ceremonies, summer maintenance projects and bond spending preparations.
Why exactly? Over politics and secondary investigations which I believe will embarrass many people who spoke out without knowing the facts.
If pictures are all you need to project guilt, then let me paint a picture for you. This is the same playbook that has led to the demise of Antioch City Hall with Ron Bernal and former Police Chief Tammany Brooks retiring for being intimidated to firing employees by Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe. In another case, Antioch reached a settlement with its former public works director. All this because Hernandez-Thorpe thought he knew best when meddling with personnel matters.
If Antioch Unified School District goes down the path of Antioch City Hall, there is no turning back for the school district which is hanging on by a thread.
If the school board does not see the liability Hernandez has opened the District up to, you don’t have to wonder for very long as to why the AUSD is in the shape its in where some are more concerned about egos than students.
A photograph doesn’t equate to guilt. In a world of social media, we should all know that by now.
Mike Burkholder
Publisher of ContraCosta.news
[email protected]
2 comments
If this is true and not even someone’s work desk, someone has some explaining to do as to why they are crying over this prank. Its pretty hilarious to 99% of people.
I wonder how many of Thorpe’s and Hernandez’s minions sitting in the audience of the grandstanding school board meeting have kids going to the school where Ken works? This is all a coordinated effort by the minions because they fear losing all power in November. I hope that happens so the council meetings are not dominated by those who enjoy high school behavior and mob mentality.