Orange County Unified School District Recall: A Division in American Values

While the recent recall of California’s governor is unusual, two years ago many Orange County residents got a front-row seat to one of the most acrimonious recall battles, leading to the ouster of three members of the Orange Unified School District School Board. It was just one of 35 school board recalls nationally since 1995.

“Political conflict over local educational policy is usually cultural in origin,” said Don Matthewson, lecturer in political science. With a grant from the Center for Public Policy, Matthewson investigated events that led up to the 2001 OUSD recall. “This type of conflict often represents a deep division in American society about what values should be taught in public schools.

“The conservative OUSD board sought to promote ‘family values’ over ‘community values,’” Matthewson explained. “While parents have the right to educate their children, this does not mean they have the right to insulate their children from viewpoints that differ from their own. Being a member of a democratic society is understanding and appreciating differences.”

In the early 1990s, most residents in the OUSD defined themselves as being “middle of the road,” noted Matthewson. However, conservative groups were making inroads, guided by the Education Alliance, a group founded by Ralph Reed, who spearheaded a successful school board “overhaul” in San Diego County.

By 1993, conservatives had gained majority control of the seven-member school board and began to diminish what they perceived as “social engineering,” according to Matthewson. They started by dismantling a Head Start Program at a school in a poor neighborhood. When the principal applied for federal grants to provide underserved children with meals and dental care, the board immediately voted against it, stating, “taking federal money is like taking drugs.”

The board also recommended a “back to basics” approach. Teachers were told to stop teaching any history that was “anti-European” and “socialist” oriented.

Teachers didn’t take kindly to these directives, according to Matthewson, and they were vocal in response.

Because most of the faculty members were tenured, the board couldn’t quiet them. Instead, the strategy became one of mobilizing a coalition against the teachers and their union. By 1997, two moderate board members were defeated by conservative candidates. Another conservative won an open seat, and two conservatives returned for second terms.

Teachers began leaving OUSD in record numbers and non-credentialed teachers replaced them. Parents in more affluent neighborhoods – who are more likely to vote – took notice, noted the researcher.

“The board wanted tenured teachers out because new teachers weren’t likely to cause problems,” Matthewson explained. “What they didn’t anticipate was the parents’ alarm at the mass exodus of experienced teachers.”

A recall effort was launched and three strong candidates emerged to challenge the board’s stance.

“It was a spontaneous emergence of the leaders,” Matthewson said. “They were active and well connected with their communities through their children, school activities, churches and other organizations.”

Issues were framed differently. Instead of “teachers versus the school board,” the candidates equated a loss of experienced personnel with a decline in educational quality. Parents listened – and voted – electing the three new candidates.

Were there any surprises in the actions of this recall?

“The only surprise,” Matthewson said, “is how the facts of the recall election confirm political science theory.”