In the last several months, the Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) Board of Trustees has made a series of problematic decisions which have called into question its ability to lead:

• In February, in a special meeting without required transparency measures, they authorized the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the general fund to an attorney - when they already had an active contract with an attorney.
• In March, they declined to formally close SUSD schools despite clear public health directives.
• Now, a majority of the SUSD Board of Trustees have been working to fire or force the resignation of yet another superintendent without cause, potentially costing the district hundreds of thousands of dollars as we go into a recession--threatening the ability of our district to meet the needs of over 40,000 students in the middle of a global health crisis!

Over the last 50 years, SUSD has employed over 20 superintendents and replaced them on average once every 2 years. Over the past 13 years, in part because of inconsistent and poor leadership from the Board of Trustees, SUSD hiring and firing practices have gotten even worse, replacing superintendents on average once a year -- wasting millions of dollars of limited district funds on buying superintendents out of contracts and on legal fees.

In 2018, Dr. John Deasy was hired by unanimous vote of the SUSD Board of Trustees. He has brought needed leadership, staff support, and student resources at a record pace. And with results to show for the changes he has implemented. Dr. Deasy has been praised state-wide for his great leadership in serving SUSD students, staff, and community in the middle of the COVID-19 health crisis; quickly acting to close schools, provide students lunches, and distance learning.

For SUSD to consistently grow, we need a Board that is willing to put student needs over adult politics, and to support staff members who are responding to this public health crisis. In particular, we need a Board that says no to wasting taxpayer dollars and to making decisions without public input.

To the SUSD Board of Trustees:
We demand that you put an end to the rash and reckless decisions that have become common in 2020. We demand that you show leadership; put an end to the revolving door of superintendents and elect new board leadership. Our students and community deserve better!