Community Forums question board candidates
In preparation for the upcoming CVUSD school board elections, several local groups have held candidate forums.
Controversy arose at the first forum, hosted by the Conejo Council Parent Teacher Association, when sitting board member and candidate Mike Dunn delivered his opening statement and then refused to participate in the rest of the forum.
Dunn claimed to be protesting the forum because another candidate, Amy Chen, was disallowed participation after she missed the deadline to RSVP. “I appreciate this opportunity to speak to you. I cannot participate in a forum that is discriminating against an immigrant, Asian woman, Dr. Amy Chen,” Dunn said. “Amy is an inspiration and should be heard. I ask that the PTA be reasonable and suspend the rules so that Dr. Chen could participate in our forum. I ask that the other candidates also oppose this discrimination.”
Rocky Capobianco, organizer of the forum, claims that Amy Chen was given multiple invitations and did not respond.
Dunn and Chen did, however, participate in another forum. hosted by Thrive Conejo, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for individuals with disabilities. The forum was open to the public by reservation, and was held at Cal Lutheran University on Sept 27. Moderated by Dani Anderson, executive director of the Independent Living Resource Center, the forum centered around the theme of “Inclusion” in education.
All candidates were present for the forum, and each had to respond to a series of questions, which were central to the wellbeing of minority and special needs students. Members of the audience were also able to submit questions for individual candidates, which candidates drew randomly and answered.
A third forum held in the Godspeak Calvary Chapel, hosted by the Tea Party, did not allow audience members to ask questions. The school board candidates, all of whom were in attendance, were given one minute to respond to questions asked by the moderator.
