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From Vallejo Public School Educators:

Given the late hour that the Wednesday, November 14 Vallejo School Board meeting ran, the Vallejo Times-Herald was unable to report a motion that took place at the end of the evening. Under the cloak of a 1994 court ruling, which was overturned the following year, two members of the Vallejo School Board(along with their spouses and dependants),  who have been in office for 12 years from 1994 onward,  would be eligible for 100% full-coverage lifetime health benefits. The cost of honoring this archaic law will result in several thousands (possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars) over the course of the years of their lifetimes.  Currently the cost of giving 100% health benefit coverage exceeds $10,000 a year. It is a monetary amount that would thwart the possibility of hiring educators, staff members and reinstating much needed student programs that could better the lives of Vallejo 's students. All this for two individuals who came to meetings two nights a month .

This is not to downplay their contribution toward the betterment of Vallejo 's public schools. Nor is this an attempt to dissect the mistakes that led to a state takeover that resulted in the slashing and burning of several much needed and vital services as a result of  budget cuts that occurred at the time of and following VCUSD's state takeover.

Please note that these lifetime benefits are NOT provided to the educators, support staff and principals who serve Vallejo 's children daily, five days a week for an entire school year (as well as countless hours beyond their duty day).  Nor are such benefits given to those who've served Vallejo 's school district for 15, 25 or 35 years.  Yet lifetime health benefits are about to be bestowed upon two school board members whose duties entailed attending 24 meetings a year.

For those two potential recipients, we've no doubt that the temptation to take such benefits must be alluring. However, they were elected lead by example. In short, the two potential recipients elected with the trust of providing public service - not to be self-serving. Thanks to the courageous motion by School Board member Dan Glaze, this decision has been tabled until further examination of this short-lived, archaic provision is more closely scrutinized. Whether or not the Vallejo School Board members will go forth with allowing this to pass without a struggle - or to leave it in the hands of State Superintendent Jack O'Connell - will be decided in closed session at a future Vallejo School Board Meeting.

If this antiquated provision should be allowed to pass without struggle, then we foresee the perpetuation of a lack of trust in Vallejo 's public schools. This would come at a time when Vallejo 's public is warily beginning to have their trust in Vallejo 's public schools restored. If these lifetime benefits are provided to these two school board members - both of whom were on the Vallejo School Board at the time of the state takeover - then the already fragile public trust in the ability of Vallejo 's School Board to be an autonomous entity will be further damaged. Vallejo 's public schools can ill afford this.

We implore you the parents, the students and the concerned citizens to attend the next Vallejo School Board Meeting to voice your outrage of this potential drain on VCUSD's scarce monetary resources. We also encourage you to contact State Superintendent Jack O'Connell ( JOconnell@cde.ca.gov ) pleading with him NOT to honor this provision. Your voice demanding that full health benefits NOT be given for the remainder of these school board members' lives could be the key toward ensuring that our already damaged district does not suffer yet more fiscal woes. Contact your school board members about this urgent matter ( VCUSD/665 Walnut Avenue , Vallejo CA 94592 ) and please let your voice be heard at the next Vallejo School Board meeting on Wednesday, December 5 at 5 pm . Do not allow this to happen without a fight. 

The children of Vallejo need you now more than ever.