As some members of the Oakley Unified Elementary School District Board of Trustees prepared for their monthly meeting Wednesday, they spoke to one another while parents logged on. They didn't realize the public could hear their comments about parents complaining that their students are still at home doing distance learning.Board member Lisa Brizendine referred to the people who write letters to the board calling for schools to reopen, noting that the board members are members of the community with kids who've gone to the schools."They don't know what goes on behind the scenes. It's really unfortunate they want to pick on us because they want their babysitters back," said Brizendine.Board member Richie Masadas joked that his brother had a medical marijuana service and "the clientele were parents with their kids in school.""When you got your kids at home no more smoking out," Masadas added.Board member Kim Beede used profanity in one instance when talking about parents.The Contra Costa County school district is apologizing. In what was believed to be a closed session meeting, Oakley Union Elementary School board members are seen sounding off, unaware parents were listening, even recording the unfiltered conversation.Greg Hetrick, the superintendent said in part in a statement, "Last night at the Oakley Union Elementary School District Regular Board Meeting there were unfortunate and truly inappropriate comments made that were heard by many. These comments are not typical and more importantly they are not what the community should expect from our school district. "Hendrick called the district a "diverse learning community committed to educating and empowering today’s learners and tomorrow’s leaders."SFGATE and sister station KCRA-TV reached out to the Oakley Unified Elementary School District Board of Trustees members for comment but did not initially hear back.An online petition launched to call for the board to resign or be recalled noted that during the hot mic moment the board members spoke in a disrespectful way about parents in the school district."Parents were tuned in to learn if we will be sending our kids back to school soon and if not, why," the petition reads. "There has been a lack of communication from the board and this was the first communication we heard."The petition is calling for board members to resign immediately as "a recall would cost the district money that should be going to the kids."In the video, Hetrick also talks with the board members about implementing a new system for public comment in meetings that would require people to call in and record their public comments rather than making them live in a meeting. The recording would cut comments off at three minutes.As many San Francisco Bay Area school districts reach a point where they've been closed for nearly a year to in-person learning, a debate is heating up around whether it's safe for teachers and students to return to schools that have been closed as the holiday surge eases and as new, more infectious variations of COVID-19 multiply.Vaccines are at the heart of the controversy as political leaders, teachers unions and school districts argue over whether it's safe for teachers and students to return.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that vaccinating teachers isn’t a prerequisite for the safe reopening of U.S. schools, while the California Teachers Association and many local unions want all educators vaccinated before returning to the classroom. KCRA-TV contributed to this report.
As some members of the Oakley Unified Elementary School District Board of Trustees prepared for their monthly meeting Wednesday, they spoke to one another while parents logged on. They didn't realize the public could hear their comments about parents complaining that their students are still at home doing distance learning.
Board member Lisa Brizendine referred to the people who write letters to the board calling for schools to reopen, noting that the board members are members of the community with kids who've gone to the schools.
"They don't know what goes on behind the scenes. It's really unfortunate they want to pick on us because they want their babysitters back," said Brizendine.
Board member Richie Masadas joked that his brother had a medical marijuana service and "the clientele were parents with their kids in school."
"When you got your kids at home no more smoking out," Masadas added.
Board member Kim Beede used profanity in one instance when talking about parents.
The Contra Costa County school district is apologizing. In what was believed to be a closed session meeting, Oakley Union Elementary School board members are seen sounding off, unaware parents were listening, even recording the unfiltered conversation.
Greg Hetrick, the superintendent said in part in a statement, "Last night at the Oakley Union Elementary School District Regular Board Meeting there were unfortunate and truly inappropriate comments made that were heard by many. These comments are not typical and more importantly they are not what the community should expect from our school district. "
Hendrick called the district a "diverse learning community committed to educating and empowering today’s learners and tomorrow’s leaders."
SFGATE and sister station KCRA-TV reached out to the Oakley Unified Elementary School District Board of Trustees members for comment but did not initially hear back.
An online petition launched to call for the board to resign or be recalled noted that during the hot mic moment the board members spoke in a disrespectful way about parents in the school district.
"Parents were tuned in to learn if we will be sending our kids back to school soon and if not, why," the petition reads. "There has been a lack of communication from the board and this was the first communication we heard."
The petition is calling for board members to resign immediately as "a recall would cost the district money that should be going to the kids."
In the video, Hetrick also talks with the board members about implementing a new system for public comment in meetings that would require people to call in and record their public comments rather than making them live in a meeting. The recording would cut comments off at three minutes.
As many San Francisco Bay Area school districts reach a point where they've been closed for nearly a year to in-person learning, a debate is heating up around whether it's safe for teachers and students to return to schools that have been closed as the holiday surge eases and as new, more infectious variations of COVID-19 multiply.
Vaccines are at the heart of the controversy as political leaders, teachers unions and school districts argue over whether it's safe for teachers and students to return.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that vaccinating teachers isn’t a prerequisite for the safe reopening of U.S. schools, while the California Teachers Association and many local unions want all educators vaccinated before returning to the classroom.
KCRA-TV contributed to this report.
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