PUHSD board members express concerns about unification

Members of the Perris Union High School Board of Trustees discuss the possibility of unification in Menifee. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon

School district unification is often discussed in Menifee, where district board members and many residents would like to add high schools and create a K-12 Menifee Unified School District.

Board members of the other district involved appear nowhere near willing to help make that happen at this point, however.

During discussion at their Sept. 19 meeting, all five trustees of the Perris Union High School District expressed concern about giving up Paloma Valley High School and the newly named Liberty High School to Menifee. (Heritage High would remain in PUHSD because it lies outside Menifee school boundaries). Some board members said they needed specific information about how unification in Menifee would affect the rest of PUHSD, while at least one said he had little interest in pursuing such action at all.

"My proposal is to stay away from this," said board President Jose Luis Araux. "If that's what Menifee wants to do, let them pay for a study. We cannot spend the money in giving away two high schools."

Araux referred to a costly 2008 study about possible unification in Menifee. He said he believes an extensive study of the factors involved would be necessary, and that the Menifee Union School District should pay for it.

Board member David Nelissen agreed that more data would be necessary and that PUHSD shouldn't have to pay for it. He also expressed concern that during the 2008 unification application by MUSD, it did not meet four of the nine criteria required.

"I think we need to find out what the numbers would be," Nelissen said. "We would also have to fulfill the nine criteria. We need to see if we would even be close."

Two teachers at Paloma Valley High School expressed their reasons for opposing unification during the public comments portion of the meeting.

"I believe we are part of a positive learning environment," said John Briggs. "I don't want that to end. I can foresee potential problems with an inferior school district siphoning schools from a good one.

"We need to educate the public that this district [PUHSD] is just as much a Menifee district as Perris. We need to change the hearts and minds of people who want unification."

Michael Wilson expressed concern that unification would create an atmosphere of segregation. If unification occurs, PUHSD schools would be an estimated 90 percent Hispanic while schools in the Menifee district would be primarily Caucasian, according to demographics.

Wilson referred board members to the website unificationfacts.com, which says, in part, the following:

"One of the primary state criteria that has prevented unification thus far is the fact that the primary demographic within the Menifee schools would be Caucasian after unification, while PUHSD would consist primarily of minorities. Fifteen years ago, Paloma had the nickname 'Hitler High' due to a prevalent white supremacist sentiment on campus. The staff has worked hard over the last decade to flush out hatred and bigotry through education. Unification would deal a huge setback to these efforts."

Later in the discussion, board member Anthony Stafford referred to the potential segregation problem as well.

"I will be no part of any kind of segregation at all," he said. "How can we name our new high school Liberty and then segregate?"

Wilson added that "There's no question Perris is better managed than Menifee, so why would you then allow them to take over management of the new high school?"

There was also concern that unification would result in inferior curriculum at Paloma Valley High.

"Our curriculum belongs to us," said Vickey Mueller, president of the Perris Secondary Educators Association. "It doesn't necessarily go to them."

Mueller referred to complaints by MUSD teachers about being forced to create their own curriculum or teach inferior curriculum without textbooks.

Araux was the most outspoken of all board members. He raised many questions during a joint meeting with the MUSD board in July and had even more in this meeting.

"Why would Perris District give away two high schools?" he asked. "We would have 33 percent less [average daily attendance]. Are we going to reduce the salary of our teachers by 33 percent? Perris is in the top three districts [in the County] in total compensation for employees. I believe Menifee is in the bottom three. All those teachers at Paloma Valley are not going to work for a lot less money. They would have to lay off employees at the bottom of the seniority list."