”We The People” activists Mary Keyser, Gloria Massey Chinea and Rolando Chinea brought signatures from 1,231 signed petitions to the board meeting asking the district to let Jesus back into the public schools making requests that include: Bible Clubs, library resources (Bibles in every school library) and Christian supplemental curriculum (such as Ben Carson’s “Little Patriots” and David Barton’s “Wall Builders”) for teaching U.S. history.

The “We The People” activists were also making a public request for:

• Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance over the school public address each morning for all students.
• Display of “In God We Trust” above each school entryway.
• Voluntary Weekly Instruction Opportunities during which students with parental permission may attend Bible-based instruction (which may include teachings related to Creation).
• Health Education Presentations requiring parental consent that includes instruction on abstinence and the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases.

Some 16 community residents gave public comments: 12 supporting the agenda item and 4 giving either an opposite or different viewpoint.

Public comments of support for the petitions included:

• Mary Keyser: “We The People” is presenting a series of community petitions (tonight). We care about educational and moral development, parental involvement, and literacy development.”
• Gloria Massey Chinea: “One of the petitions presented is on health education and discussion of abstinence, the risk of premarital sexual activity and comprehensive support for healthy decisions.”
• Pastor Al Duff: “Prayer makes a difference as does Bible studies in the schools.”

Other public comments included:

• Emily Guthrie: “I do not support revisionist curriculum like “Wall Builders.” I support Planned Parenthood and the teaching of sexual reproduction.”
• Arthur Valenzuela, Jr: “I oppose the petitions by “We The People.” I do not want false information on health education. I ask that no public funding be used on any of these 8 petitions.”

Click here to view the 55-page public request.

Oxnard Union High School District and its 12 schools serve 16,479 students (grades 9-12) and employs 722 teachers in two cities. Enrollments are declining and are projected to decrease for the next five years by about 400 students per year. Likewise, district income to the district is reduced. Personnel costs are 83 percent of the district budget. Some schools in the district are 70 years old.

The Oxnard Union High School Trustees are: President Karen M. Sher (Trustee Area 3: [email protected]); Vice President Genevieve Flores-Haro (Trustee Area 4: [email protected].); Clerk Elizabeth M. Botello (Trustee Area 1: [email protected]); Linda Baker Torres (Trustee Area 2: [email protected]); and Dr. Mari Estrada (Trustee Area 5:  [email protected]). Oxnard Union High School Superintendent is Dr. Tom McCoy ([email protected]).

For more information about “We The People” contact Mary Keyser at (520) 437-3280 or Gloria Chinea at (805) 236-6626.