OP-ED: The dark side of school boards. When standing up, means standing alone
I ran for the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Board because I publicly exposed the illegal appointment of former Board Member Jesse Urquidi. I was 34 years old and 11 years removed from my military service. I had not been in politics, had no alliances, and made no deals or promises. I decided to run for office and serve my community that seen me grow. I ran on a platform of saving taxpayer money, transparency, and educational excellence. I pledged to those who voted for me to ask the hard questions and do the right thing.
On February 6, 2023, I was the only vote against lowering GPA graduation requirements. I believed that if we expected more from our students, they would deliver. I am proud of that vote, but it had consequences.
I did not question orders in the military because it was the job. Now, I must ask questions because, as a board member, it is my job. Since last year, I asked the same questions about the General Counsel’s contract renewal as my constituents asked me.
Why did the General Counsel make so much money, and why did the General Counsel spend so much money on outside lawyers? Due to, or in spite of, questionable closed session conduct concerning senior management contracts, the General Counsel’s contract was approved 6-1. The Board Code of Conduct states, “… A Board member shall vote according to his or her individual conviction and may challenge the judgment of others when necessary….” I did just that and voted against the expensive General Counsel contract.
Now, I am being persecuted.
The General Counsel is now spearheading a smear campaign. The General Counsel is challenging my Norwalk residency and threatening to go to the District Attorney if I do not provide him with private documents. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Elections office has verified my residency three times in the last two years. I provided General Counsel my driver’s license showing my address as 13118 Rosecrans Ave, Norwalk, CA, unchanged over the last 30 years.
Yet, unless I provide my tax returns and Veterans Affairs mortgage documents, the General Counsel will go to the Los Angeles County District Attorney. I have it in writing. Would not a lawyer who suspected a crime go straight to law enforcement? Why threaten me?
It gets better. On March 15, 2023, I was dragged into a “Kangaroo Court” inquisition. The General Counsel asked to prove my innocence without previously telling me of the accusation or provide any evidence. With no evidence presented, it took the inquisition 9 min to charge me. At the March 27, 2023, Board meeting, the General Counsel will ask the Board of Education to censure me for breaching closed-session confidentiality. The agenda at issue did not identify any employee. I never repeated closed-session conversations. No action was taken or reported. The allegation is based on quadruple levels of hearsay, and two different staff members divulged conversations from the same closed session!
So why may I be threatened with censure? How about a multiple-choice test:
1. I am the only trustee who voted against lowering graduation requirements.
2. I ask too many questions.
3. I support teachers and classified staff.
4. I voted against the General Counsel’s contract.
5. All of the above.
The answer is… it does not matter. What does matter is that the General Counsel is spending taxpayer dollars, your money, to attack me. I must confess it is not easy, it is… “damn hard.” In Iraq and Somalia, I knew what was coming after me and why. Unfortunately, the same is true on the Board of Education.
So, I am going to put it to the voters. Do you want me to ask the hard questions, support our students and teachers, and vote my conscience? If so, I will continue to endure the “friendly fire” because it is worth it. If not, just let me know. I can be reached at r.cancio29@gmail.com.
Dr. Roberto “Rob” Cancio is a combat veteran, businessman, and current Board Member for the Norwalk-La Mirada Board of Education. He was raised in Norwalk, CA since 1993; and graduated from the District he now represents. He has taught at both the University of Miami and Loyola Marymount University; and regularly publishes his work on mental health, substance use, and violence.