Letter to the Editor:
I am blessed to have two very active joyous school-age grandchildren. One benefitted from the dual language immersion program at McKinley. Both now in high school, continue in the nationally recognized, award-winning Vocal Music program at John Burroughs High School. Our family is grateful for the education they are receiving.
Most parents likely feel the same way; they value their children’s schools and the dedication of their teachers. But gratitude for our schools and good teachers does not mean we should remain silent about how the district conducts its business.
Busy parents do not have the bandwidth to follow every action of the Board. Retired residents like me do. And what I have seen deserves public attention.
Following the public disclosure of the $93,000 fiasco caused by former Board member Tabet illegally voting to award a minute’s contract to her daughter, I attended and spoke for the first time at a BUSD Board meeting in June 2025.
But for the seriousness of the matter, I might describe some Board meetings as feeling like a trip through Alice in Wonderland. Board members’ statements are made with confidence, only for the public record to point in the opposite direction.
Some Board members have repeatedly told the public that they are fully prepared to address Board matters, and they have in-depth conversations with staff on everything on their agenda before public meeting. Yet reality has too often suggested otherwise. Two examples stand out.
Reading publicly available records I learned that the Board had approved paying the entire salary of an assistant superintendent with Measure ABC bond funds. That is against the law. The Board apparently recognized the problem only after I brought it to their attention and moved to rescind the funding.
Months later members of the public found in Board approved documents that Dr. Paramo, the superintendent who had resigned in haste, was suddenly receiving district payments for health insurance. He was not entitled to this benefit after the Board accepted his resignation. Over $13,000 in school funds were paid before written demands from the public were followed and the payments stopped. We will never get this money back. Yet, a vocal Board member continues to push the false narrative that public scrutiny, not poor oversight, is what costs the district money.
How do we begin to get out of this fiscal mess? By electing a trustee with real business experience, financial discipline and equally important, the time to do the work.
We are fortunate to have Paul Gerard as a candidate for District 3. Paul Gerard recently retired from a career in animation film production. He was responsible for projects involving large teams of people and millions of dollars. He will bring valuable, needed financial management experience.
Paul Gerard has the bandwidth to give his all as a Board trustee. He will help BUSD climb out of this financial hole by doing the hard work, reading and understanding every contract, every expense, not only by speaking with staff but by doing his own homework. One contract, one expense, one Dollar at a time. Now, more than ever, BUSD needs Board members with diverse experience and financial expertise. Please vote for PAUL GERARD.
Jef Vander Borght
A proud grandparent, former Burbank Mayor
