TRAMPLED & SHOT FROM THE HIP
It’s not unusual for school board candidates in a small town to agree on some issues, but it is unusual when two out of four candidates use virtually the same phases to frame their stances on two significant issues.
But that’s what happened on October 10 when Bishop Unified School District board candidates Jamie Morley and Michelle Mulligan both used the word “trample” and the phrase “shoot from the hip” when answering two different questions.
The pair’s responses directly contradicted the view expressed by the two other candidates, incumbent school board president and longtime teacher Steve Elia, who is running for a third term on the board, and candidate Karen Keehn, who retired after teaching in Bishop schools for more than 30 years and now volunteers in the schools.
The candidates were asked what was the role of school board members to track and comply with the long list of state rules in the Education Code and other state and federal education-related regulations.
Morley said it’s important to work within the rules, but the school board “should not be trampling on peoples’ civil liberties.”
Mulligan echoed that sentiment. She said the board should “balance” the concerns of the community with the “do’s and don’ts” imposed by the state but should not “trample on local rights and values.”
“That’s your job” as board members to make sure the district tracks and follows those codes and regulations was Keehn’s quick response.
Elia said he had to “disagree” with Morley because the board is obligated to ensure numerous laws and codes are followed and the district remains “in compliance” with state, federal and education codes.
Countering state mandates with the “rights” or “civil liberties” of parents and students was a common refrain during the long, sometimes nasty battle over implementing Covid restrictions in the schools. The protests and raucous confrontations at school board meetings were led loudly and visibly by the Free Eastside group. Members of that group also mounted an aggressive effort to overhaul or modify the district’s Health Curriculum (Sex Ed.), based on parents’ right to teach such topics. The board rejected that effort. Elia was on the board at that time and recounted that controversy during the forum.
The contentious Covid era was duly noted at the forum when candidates were asked about the “lessons” learned from Covid.
Morleyy said the prime lesson was “don’t shoot from the hip” by short-circuiting parents’ “right to decide” what’s best with a confusing mix of “opinion and belief in the law.” Keeping kids out of school for two years was “a mistake,” he said. Morley ran unsuccessfully for the school board in 2022 and stressed his opposition to the district’s Covid responses.
Elia, who was on the school board during Covid, countered that the Bishop schools saw solid success with its mix or remote and in-person classroom models, which meant “we had more in-seat time” than most schools. No one had dealt with a pandemic, he noted, and despite the “Monday morning quarterbacking” the district had made a “solid effort” during the pandemic.
Keehn said the district’s face-to-face model with remote learning “was the best choice at the time.” Parents, teachers and students had “a huge learning curve” during the pandemic, she added.
Mulligan repeated that the district response was to “shoot from the hip” which resulted in the district “not trying to do the best for the kids.” She added that she “cringed” at the at-home classes the district used and how teachers tried to adapt to the remote teaching model.
Mulligan is the only candidate opposed to the two district bond issues seeking to raise $64 million to renovate and upgrade the district’s aging buildings. She said upgrades are needed, pointing out the same restroom she used as a student is still in use, but it’s “difficult to ask to increase taxes.”
That was a U-turn from her initial support for improving school facilities which is in her candidate statement in the voter guide.
Mulligan was homeschooled and her three children attend a private, home-school co-op in Bishop, where she is a part-time teacher, in addition to being a server at Whiskey Creek. She said at the forum that she was seeking seat on a public school district board because the public schools need to “get back to basics” and she wanted to offer a voice as a “working parent” and insights from homeschooling and private schools. Her candidate statement states parents need to guide their children’s “worldview” and “agendas have undermined our national heritage, childhood innocence, and parental rights.”
Morley attended a Chistian school to second grade, then was homeschooled through junior high before graduating from Bishop High School and serving in the Marines. He is a Mono County road department supervisor, and has two daughters in the Bishop schools. He said he will be a dedicated leader who wants to support all students in the district, regardless of their backgrounds. He said he supports academics along with teaching the trades.
Elia is a lifetime educator and longtime Bishop teacher and board member. He said he was proud of the district’s past accomplishments and is looking forward to continuing to create a safe, supportive environment for students and teachers.
Keehn said she had “no agenda” but offers experienced insights and leadership as a “33-year educator in the Bishop schools.” The schools should offer a well-rounded experience for all students with a wide variety of learning experiences.
Keehn and Elia both stated they believe in the value of public schools in general, and in their ability to provide a well-rounded education to a diverse student population while also serving as a vital part of the community.
Jon Klusmire of Bishop thanks Inyo 350 for hosting the Bishop City Council candidate forum and Bishop Sunrise Rotary Club for hosting the school board candidate forum.
