Lack of Transparency & Suppression of Free Speech
Despite what the board majority and superintendent claim, there is a total lack of transparency happening under current leadership. The only regular communication/propaganda comes from the Board President Leandra Blades' social media pages (pages titled "Uncensored" and "Real Buzz"), which have illegally blocked and put on blast many private residents, staff, and even local business owners who have questioned or disagreed with Blades and the current board majority.
Sup. Cherniss' inner circle of supporters are emailed, invited to personal tours, and provided information not given to the public, nor even the board members representing Areas 2 and 5. Trustees Anderson and Buck have repeatedly said in board meetings that they were given information to vote on at the last minute, emails to the superintendent have gone unreturned, and they have had to file CA Public Records Act Requests to get basic information, such as about district budgets.
Why are there so many anonymous posts online? Staff have a REAL fear of retaliation if they question anything, even after work hours.
LB wrongly accused this long time Esperanza staff member of planning a walk out - it was planned by STUDENTS who announced it during public comments at the March School Board Meeting and on their IG page. The staff member was called out all over social media and involuntarily transferred to a middle school for fall 2024.
These two Esperanza HS students were called in to the office to talk to admin the next day. YLHS students also have reported being called into the principal's office after posting messages in support of the protest on a student Instagram page. No parents were notified. One student was forced to write an apology to board members for expressing pg-rated opinions about them.
Sup. Cherniss' disdain for anyone who questions him, including elected board members who are representing voters, is evident in board meetings. Watch April's here.
See Feb. - April meetings for spectacular displays of him interrupting, talking down to, and disrespecting Trustees Anderson and Buck.
Blades and her associates frequently video, photograph and call out private citizens who disagree with her.
YL Uncensored is a private FB group that was created by Blades in 2020 as she launched her election campaign. Posts are meant to intimidate the public into staying silent.
In spring, LB and her buddies sent a "spy" to take pictures at a political rally for her opponent. The pics ended up being spread across their social media, on Andy Falco's "show," and taking over other local FB groups that exist to support local businesses and activities. People in attendance at the rally were publicly named and called out. Luckily, only LB's usual friends read and comment on these posts.
Candidate Stubbs has published this secret video on various FB pages. These people were recorded without their consent.
Despite pretending to abhor anonymous pages and posts, LB has created numerous FB and IG pages to spread her misinformation, including Libs of PYLUSD, YL (and other cities) Uncensored, and "Real" Buzz pages. Same messages, different pages. #propaganda #lookfortheredhat
