Letter: This is the most important school board election in years
To the editor, 
This is the most important school board election since when I started teaching in Paso Robles in 1993. If there is a “change in direction” and a decline in student enrollment reappears there will be teacher layoffs. We are the only school district in San Luis Obispo County that has been growing in the recent past under the leadership of the current school board.
A drop in student enrollment is a real possibility because of two factors represented by the school board challengers. First, there is the charter school problem. Ms. Ulibarri has aligned herself with Mr. Arend, Mr. Gannon and Mr. Michael Rivera. Ms. Ulibarri teaches at Trivium Charter School that has been rejected by the Atascadero School District and does not have a governing board accountable to San Luis Obispo County voters. Ms. Ulibarri is clearly a charter school advocate. Any charter school will drain an unknown number of students from Paso Public Schools and reduce enrollment and revenues.
More frightening is the second threat to enrollment in the form of fear embodied by Michael Rivera. Mr. Rivera is a proud member of Californians for Population Stabilization that the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified as a hate group. Mr. Rivera has made it clear that he believes local law enforcement should be an operating arm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Increased immigrant fear will depress student enrollment as both documented and undocumented students stay home.
If this dual threat depresses student enrollment, then there will be layoffs.
There have been financial mistakes made by district leadership, but there is a plan by both the SLOCOE , the superintendent and the current school board to address those deficiencies with no staffing changes for this year. For next year, the priorities include no classroom layoffs. However, if enrollment declines, under new leadership, there will be mandated layoffs. Please vote to continue positive growth for all the students in Paso Robles, on November 6th!
Jim Lynett Paso Robles Public Educators Executive Director
Paso Robles
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