Editorial: Blooming PUSD recall should be nipped in bud
Let’s be clear, the recall effort launched late last week against veteran Poway Unified School District Board of Education member Andy Patapow is about only one thing: getting Supt. John Collins fired.
A small group of dissident district residents, several of whom have repeatedly asked the school board to fire Collins, want to oust Patapow and replace him with someone who will join board President Kimberley Beatty and member Charles Sellers in ending Collins’ career in the PUSD.
The pro-recallers say their campaign is all about holding Patapow accountable for his 2010 and 2011 votes supporting the use of capital appreciation bonds (CABs) to pay off loans taken out by the district to finance the renovation of older campuses in the district. They contend that Patapow, the only holdover board member from 2011, never “adequately” explained why he supported the CABs, that he accepted gifts (apparently dinners at statewide school board conferences) from bond underwriters and he has “refused to fire any financial consultants or district employees responsible for the CABs.”
Patapow has served 50 years in the district, the last 20 as an elected board member. Prior to his election he was the principal at Abraxas High School. His loyalty to the district, and especially to the children, runs very deep. His current term ends next December and, having recently turned 80, he has spoken about retiring.
Three years ago, just as the CAB controversy was heating up, voters had the choice of three candidates campaigning for two seats on the board. Incumbent Linda Vanderveen, who openly defended the use of CABs, lost her seat to Beatty. Patapow, lacking a second challenger, won re-election. Truth be told, the outcome probably would have been different had there been a credible second challenger.
If and when the proponents collect the 10,000-plus signatures needed to qualify the recall for a ballot, the election would likely be in June (unless a very expensive special election was held). The best-case scenario for the proponents would be to have “their” successful candidate serve for six months, then run in November as the “incumbent.” If the new board member elected in June was to help fire Collins, the prediction here is that he or she would face the wrath of the district’s employee unions and of thousands of district voters who are proud of the PUSD and who would be disgusted with a new school board majority that places politics over education.
Rather than embark on what will surely be a bitter and divisive effort to replace Patapow, those behind the recall movement should wait one year, run their own candidate(s)and see how it goes.
Meanwhile, nip this misguided recall in the bud by refusing to sign the petitions.
