Chino Valley Unified appoints Sean Smith amid heated public debate over LGBTQ-focused interview questions

At a special meeting of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education, trustees provisionally appointed Sean Smith to fill the vacant Trustee Area 4 seat and elected a new vice president after a public interview process that drew extensive comment and contention about questions addressing transgender students, parental notification and classroom symbols.

The appointments followed a public-comment period in which dozens of residents and district employees addressed the board about a set of prewritten interview questions that many speakers said focused unduly on LGBTQ issues rather than classroom conditions. "Your goal is not to appoint someone who will marginalize the very community our schools are meant to serve," said Natalie Cooney, chair of the equity and human rights committee for Associated Chino Teachers. "Educators show up every day for our students. We advocate for them." Frank Edgerton, who identified himself as a long-time community member, urged voters to consider the board's record and tone toward dissent.

Board President Sonia Shaw opened the…