[BHS Etree] PTSA: Be Sure To Vote Tonight In SSC By-Election

[BHS etree]

Be Sure To Vote Tonight In SSC By-Election 

Ballots Available In Front Of Community Theater

WHY A BY-ELECTION:

We've heard from a number of people asking about why a by-election is being
held as opposed to simply moving alternates up, so we will reprint the
explanation.  We also wish to emphasize that while the PTSA has carried out
the legwork of the elections, it is ultimately the responsibility of the
Principal and the Superintendent to determine that the elections are carried
out appropriately, and the PTSA has consulted with the Principal and
Superintendent throughout this process.  As a School Board member said to us
recently, the new SSC Bylaws are a work in progress, and will certainly be
revised now that we've had an opportunity to find out what further
specifications may be needed in the future.

Ineligible SSC Candidate:  During the election evening, a question was
raised as to whether a community member who is also a school employee could
run for the parent/community seats.  At the time, we had only the District's
SSC By-Laws to refer to, and there was no indication that this was
prohibited.  Unfortunately, after the elections, we discovered a section in
the California Education Code which, though poorly phrased, does prohibit a
school employee from serving on the SSC as a parent rep at the same school
where they are employed.  

By-Election As Remedy:  After the elections the PTSA Leadership had a
meeting with Superintendent of Schools Bill Huyett and Principal Pasquale
Scuderi to review the rules and consider the appropriate remedy to the
election error.  The Superintendent felt that the most equitable solution
would be to seat the top 5 candidates, and fill the sixth seat by holding a
run-off between the remaining candidates who ran in the first election.
There is a provision for seating alternates which may be invoked when an
elected candidate steps down during their term.  However, since the terms
have not yet begun, and the PTSA/District error allowed an ineligible
candidate to run, a by-election provides redress for the issue that voters
had thrown away their votes on an ineligible candidate.  The ineligible
candidate was the top vote getter, with 188 votes, and there was no way to
determine how those votes might have gone and which of the candidates with
the least votes might most have benefited.

By-Election To Be Held On Back-To-School Night: The best opportunity for
conducting a by-election with a high turnout is to do so at Back to School
Night on Thursday, September 30.  Please plan to pick up a ballot and a
voter envelope when you arrive, at the tables in front of the Community
Theatre. Ballots must be returned in their sealed envelopes by 9:00 PM that
night.  The candidate statements are the same as posted previously for the
first election.   Please take a moment to read the candidate statements on
the PTSA website <http://www.bhs.berkeleypta.org/candidates2010ssc.htm>  for
the candidates for the remaining seat on the SSC:

* Landi Ehnle (AHA)
* Rick Gentry (AC)
* Mohammed Kazerouni (BIHS)
* Gavin McCabe (AC)
* Regina Simpkins (CAS)

We'll see you tonight!

Sincerely,

Natasha Beery & Mark van Krieken
BHS PTSA