Op-ed: Misinformation hurts our schools and wastes taxpayer dollars
To the editor,
– Recently, one of our colleagues on the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees has engaged in fearmongering and misinformation to scare parents into worrying about the safety of their daughters in Paso’s schools. In an effort to win personal political points he is bringing a national debate over the rights of transgender students into board meetings, all the time inventing a problem and promising solutions that he knows are not possible.
He is encouraging advocates on both sides of the national debate to sue the school district in direct violation of his fiduciary responsibilities. Taxpayers expect us to spend their money wisely to ensure a free and appropriate education for all Paso students. Taxpayers do not expect trustees to engage in self-aggrandizing misleading behavior on their dime. His statements are irresponsible and dangerous, encouraging baseless lawsuits against the District for following State law. Every dollar spent on lawyers defending the District is a dollar not spent educating our students.
In addition to his irresponsible public statements, his social media posts have crossed into personal attacks that target some of our most vulnerable students. Transgender students makeup a tiny fraction of our student body, but he would have you believe that girls are being forced to change in front of boys as if there was only one locker room. We take this issue seriously and care deeply about the safety, dignity, and well-being of all students in our district. Our locker rooms have private stalls to ensure privacy for any student who wants it, and our trained staff continue to monitor this issue carefully while ensuring that every student is respected and safe.
We recognize this is a complex issue with no clear path other than to follow the law. The majority of funding for California schools comes from the State government and failure to comply with California law may result in the loss of state funding and will expose the District to liability for discrimination or harassment based on both State and Federal law. Failure to follow the law exposes Board members and District officials to personal liability. Teachers and administrators with credentials can face a loss of those credentials where they fail to follow existing law.
Paso Robles Joint Unified follows California State law regarding transgender students, including participation in athletics and access to facilities. While we recognize that people hold strong and often differing opinions, we do not believe it would serve our students or community to create a separate local policy that violates State law. Doing so would likely divide our district, distract us from our core mission of education, and result in a lawsuit we would lose.
Our colleague is fully aware of these facts, yet he continues to mislead the public — a choice that puts the district and its students at risk. He is the only board member without students in the district and so the negative impacts of his irresponsible behavior do not affect his children. It’s all about personal political gain for him no matter how many Paso students and families his behavior hurts. Our duty as trustees is to protect students and safeguard the district’s future — not to chase headlines or personal gain.
Signed,
President of the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees Jim Cogan, and District trustee Joel Peterson.
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I’m just wondering why you’re using vague comments without specifics or names? You’re in the public sector; speak plainly —you’re obviously referring to Kenney.
The recent statement attacking Trustee Kenney Enney is a clear attempt to silence a board member for doing his job—asking tough but necessary questions about privacy, fairness, and transparency in our schools. Calling that “fearmongering” is dishonest and insulting to the many Paso Robles parents who share those same concerns.
Mr. Enney has every right—and obligation—to question policies that affect student safety and parental rights. Raising these issues is not “creating problems,” it’s called oversight. Ignoring them is what puts the district at risk.
It’s also false to suggest he’s seeking lawsuits or political gain. His focus has been on protecting students, taxpayers, and the integrity of our schools, while others seem more interested in protecting their political image.
Open debate should be encouraged, not condemned. Silencing dissent and resorting to personal attacks serve no one—least of all our students. Paso Robles deserves leaders who stand for accountability, not conformity.
I agree with Daniel – don’t ‘beat around the bush’ – state names; so that voters will know who, what, and when at next election for board of trustees. Voters (and taxpayers) have a right to have all the information (from both sides) when deciding whom should be on the board. If the unnamed trustee has an opinion – great; but he or she should be able and willing to defend their position with verifiable facts – not just beliefs.
Your “trained staff” includes Netta Perkins. That leaves me with zero trust in your oversight.
I’m just wondering why you’re using vague comments without specifics or names? You’re in the public sector; speak plainly —you’re obviously referring to Kenney.
The recent statement attacking Trustee Kenney Enney is a clear attempt to silence a board member for doing his job—asking tough but necessary questions about privacy, fairness, and transparency in our schools. Calling that “fearmongering” is dishonest and insulting to the many Paso Robles parents who share those same concerns.
Mr. Enney has every right—and obligation—to question policies that affect student safety and parental rights. Raising these issues is not “creating problems,” it’s called oversight. Ignoring them is what puts the district at risk.
It’s also false to suggest he’s seeking lawsuits or political gain. His focus has been on protecting students, taxpayers, and the integrity of our schools, while others seem more interested in protecting their political image.
Open debate should be encouraged, not condemned. Silencing dissent and resorting to personal attacks serve no one—least of all our students. Paso Robles deserves leaders who stand for accountability, not conformity.
I agree with Daniel – don’t ‘beat around the bush’ – state names; so that voters will know who, what, and when at next election for board of trustees. Voters (and taxpayers) have a right to have all the information (from both sides) when deciding whom should be on the board. If the unnamed trustee has an opinion – great; but he or she should be able and willing to defend their position with verifiable facts – not just beliefs.
Your “trained staff” includes Netta Perkins. That leaves me with zero trust in your oversight.