Coach Lopez recently wrote the FUSD board, see below. Two of the seven board members responded. The stark difference in their replies is very telling. The Roosevelt board member took a head on approach by being willing to have a further discussion. Ironic since this did not occur in her region.
The disappointment comes with Trustee Levine's response, the FHS regions board member. He copies some internal staff members with the response that someone will get back to her. Reading between the lines- Let us come up with yet another round of excuses and manipulated narrative. Another crappy meaningless response.
Coach Lopez's email -
Dear FUSD Trustee’s,
I am writing yet again regarding the FHS regular and offseason aquatic opportunities. For the first two years this was advocated for, I kept my head down. Only providing information when asked. Pressure has been put on me from both FUSD and the parents who are affected by this, adding another layer of impact to my mental health. I feel that I have exhausted all of the individual outlets that I can for change. This includes outlets to try my program again under different circumstances. I will be joining the parent group advocating for the needed change. I am a mother of two children in this system and have felt the loss of drowning personally. The recent uptick in drowning news stories cuts each time I read one.
The use of the district budget to create a manipulated narrative only focused on avoiding liability, is wasteful and only creates anger within the community. This narrative avoids the real corrections being sought. A new facilities bond is on the horizon. The actions and inactions in this situation make me skeptical that this bond is a good use of taxpayer dollars.
● There needs to be appropriate actions by FUSD to correct the egregious decisions made to gut the program I poured resources into. Real solutions, not band-aids to cover up poor decisions and a narrative based on lies. I am happy to provide input into what that means. To put it another way, it is a waste of FUSD budget to spend more money on attorneys to minimize the severity of this and combat the potential dismal press FUSD will receive. FUSD cannot change the events that led to my program's demise. FUSD however can make corrections. The truth is well known, even if FUSD’s narrative shares a distorted version. A more appropriate option would be: FUSD pursuing corrective action so that everyone can move forward. Corrections that would directly result in more opportunities for the FHS student population. Opportunities that were unfairly taken from them.
● There needs to be a real district wide facilities assessment that incorporates an equity-based approach. This would help avoid emergency facility approval and aid in the communication of upcoming facility needs. Former principal Laettner had multiple facility failures during her tenure, including ignoring my many pleas for support gaining essential equipment. The 2019 gym roof incident was the most dangerous of Laettner’s negligence. This can be avoided in the future if FUSD makes better decisions at the elected leadership level. Each one of you should be demanding an in-depth district wide facilities assessment. Show tax payers you are taking care of our tax dollars, not wasting them.
● Before the budget is spent on facility improvements, there needs to be a check and balance system in place. The scoreboard for the FHS pool deck was ordered in 2022 and was never installed. Not surprising it has fallen through the cracks, since I am not there to follow up and prioritize those student athletes. Where did it go? Why are there conversations about another one being included in this new bond? Stop wasting taxpayer dollars and clean up the FUSD system. This is another botched aspect of what happened to my program. Something recent FUSD communications claim has been resolved. Something advocates can physically see has not been corrected, making it obvious the other aspects of this are botched. I have communicated this to Trustee Levine and sent him the po for the ordered scoreboard, dated 2022. I believe he is looking into it.
● The exorbitant amount of money FUSD spends on attorneys, including the fees spent on combating this situation, is at best a waste constituent tax dollars. At worst, it is negligent. If this situation had been handled properly in 2021, FUSD would have saved thousands of dollars. These funds could have directly benefited the student population including, but not limited to, the improvement of the dismal school site facilities and helping students become water safe. Instead the FUSD system of ignoring the community, making misinformed decisions and utilizing attorneys to bully the people they supposedly represent, has only revealed more issues in need of correction. This system has NOT worked in this situation and will not work to make this vanish. The attorney-heavy culture just proves more incompetence to the taxpayers that fund FUSD. A culture that poor leaders embrace to their advantage.
● A board policy should be created that ensures regions are spoken for even when there isn’t a board member representing them. Carol Mills' passing became an open window that FUSD corruption and self interest took advantage of within the FHS region. Elected officials should prioritize the best interest of the entire district. This includes filling in where needed, a real team effort. A team effort that obviously still needed for the FHS region. I have personally been told countless times this would have never happened under Carol's watch and if it had she would have ensured appropriate correction took place.
● FUSD needs to take a strong stance against tortious interference. This is illegal and shouldn’t be tolerated. Organizations that utilize FUSD facilities should sign a contract acknowledging this and the potential consequences. Consequences for tortious interference should be created and communicated when facilities are being utilized. The current strategy of engaging in an internal investigation to minimize liability does not deter abusers of these laws. In fact, as it stands, these policies expose more abuse and inappropriate use of the FUSD budget.
The systemic nature of this situation is clear and will not be tolerated by myself and the members of the FUSD community. I have spent a great deal of money, time and emotional energy on this fight and while I am depleted, I have zero plans to give up. FUSD is CHOOSING to ignore the children and the problems inherent in their system. The patterns of negligence and manipulation need to be fully addressed and corrected. Accountability to taxpayers and students is a critical step to ensuring the health, safety and growth of our children. They deserve better. And our community deserves better.
I would like a response.
Jenn