Torrance Parent Student Alliance and Torrance Teachers Endorse Gerson and Han for School Board

The Torrance Parent Student Alliance has endorsed challengers Jeremy Gerson and James Han for School Board. Gerson and Han are also endorsed by the Torrance Teacher’s Association. The incumbents Michael Wermers and Martha Deutsch are respectable people with an admirable history of public service. They should be commended and thanked for their time on the School Board, but neither should be re-elected to return to their seats for another term. TUSD is in dire need of a new direction and the incumbents represent more of the same.

A recent response by Wermers and Deutsch to a concerned parent is emblematic of why you should not vote for them this Tuesday. The concern dealt with the lack of a handrail on a ramp at a local school that was recently renovated. The parent wrote, “My daughter who is 7 already tripped and skinned her knee there and I’ve heard of a father who twisted his ankle on that same ledge. It’s very hard to notice if you are not paying direct attention to the uneven path.”

Deutsch didn’t respond at all. Wermers response was telling:

“I know that it seems counter-intuitive, but us on the school board know very little of the details of the construction going on at the actual school sites. I can’t speak for my colleagues, but part of the reason I don’t know school site details is an effort to stay out of the way. The last thing Don [Balfour Beatty Superintendent] and his people need is a board member stumbling around in our honorary Balfour Beatty hardhat asking questions.”

TUSD needs Board Members who are willing to invest the time to learn the details and who will do more than just “stay out of the way.” Too often concerns of parents are dismissed. TUSD needs leaders who are willing to ask the tough questions and work to solve the difficult problems, and who also have the courage to hold entities like Balfour Beatty accountable.

Deutsch’s lack of response is typical. She rarely speaks at Board meetings and quietly votes to approve every motion. She is filling a seat and letting school superintendent Dr. Mannon run the show. As representatives of various stakeholders, School Board members should do more than simply act as rubber stamps for Mannon. Plus, Dr. Mannon may not be there for much longer as retirement surely looms on the horizon. The community needs leaders on the School Board not puppets.

In recent years TUSD has been rocked by student sexual abuse scandals, the deterioration of its relationship with teachers, the controversial potential sale of the Hamilton site, and an alarming weakening financial position. It’s time for change.

The District paid over $30 Million to settle cases of students molested by a teacher. In that case, TUSD officials including Board members repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The large settlement, however, suggests significance negligence by the administration. The current School Board never even apologized to the victims. Now, several more recent lawsuits involving student sexual abuse have emerged. The response by the current School Board to these incidents is not acceptable and they should be held accountable by being voted out.

TUSD needs new leaders who can restore trust with the community and the teachers employed by the District. Fresh faces, Gerson and Han represent the best chance for the District to move forward and chart a new course.

Jeremy Gerson

Gerson’s run, in particular, is admirable due to his willingness to literally put his career on the line. As a current TUSD teacher he is taking a gamble. Should he win, he has committed to voluntarily giving up his employment with TUSD so that he will not have to abstain from key votes. Should he lose, he could face negative repercussions as of the five candidates he has been the most outspoken critic of the current Board.

With regard to the incidents of sexual abuse Gerson said, “The district is still closing their eyes and their minds to issues. Our current school board is complicit … I am proud to run as an alternative to the current regime.” On fixing the relationship with teachers, Gerson commented:

“The current School Board has damaged the relationship with the teachers and other employees in the same way they damaged their relationship with parents. They have given the appearance that they are secretive, deceptive, and insulting to various stakeholder groups. A new attitude of inclusion is required. School board members need to start with the opinion that all stakeholders want our schools to be successful. They need to listen and respect the points-of-view given, so they can make fair and equitable decisions in the best interest of all communities in Torrance.”

James Han

Though a newcomer to politics, Han seems ready to tackle the big issues.  Of his experience he noted,

“As a pastor, one of the skills that I often need to use is to be a reconciler. I help to bring reconciliation through conflict resolution. I believe that I can restore the trust between the teachers and the district and have them come together to build a bigger vision for our students.  In addition, I can bring leadership to the board by making tough decisions that will be best for the students and yet at the same time have all interested parties be supportive.”  

Resolving the current conflicts at TUSD will not be easy and Han’s skills in conflict resolution will surely be put to the test. Some problems ultimately may not be solved, but Gerson and Han represent the best chance for sorely needed change.