Good Evening Board Members,

I am Brenda Hensley, the President of the Vacaville Teachers Association. On behalf of my 700+ members I want to thank you for working with us to achieve a “non-layoff” year. With the approximately 40 resignations and retirements we both encouraged, we once again don’t have to spend money on layoff hearings and more importantly have avoided the morale-devastating consequences of pink slips. Again, I thank you.

But I also have to tell you I have started to wonder about some of the decisions that have been made and stances that are being taken by the Board. I want you to ask yourself some serious questions: are you taking the best advice from your staff? Are your decisions based on one person’s take or on multiple opinions from various sources? You will hear tonight (or have heard) a number of different complaints from this community. If you continue to rely on the questionable judgment of only a select group, then I predict a long line of other community members speaking against YOUR future actions.

While I know you are busy people and tend to rely on the judgment of your upper management, please remember what those judgments have brought you in open session.

My hope is that you will seek out more information and ask hard questions before making any more decisions. The long-term best interest of our District and our students is in your hands.
Thank you.