Public criticizes CSEA nomination; board votes to confirm CSEA appointee to personnel commission

A member of the public urged Bassett Unified School District trustees to reject the California School Employees Association's (CSEA) nominee for the personnel commission, and the board nonetheless voted to confirm the appointment at the Sept. 9 meeting.

Don C. Moss, who identified himself as a longtime voter and community advocate, urged the board to oppose the CSEA nominee, saying the nominee had "shown the community no moral or ethical foundation" and called him "a charlatan." Moss asked the board to "vote resounding no on Samuel West Brown for CSEA representative on the personnel commission."

The board debated the nomination during regular business. Board member Dina Flores (voice at the meeting) said she was "very disappointed" by the nomination but explained the board has a legal duty to honor CSEA's nomination; she said she would vote to accept the nomination because the board is bound to do so. Other board members stated they would support the CSEA appointment as the union's prerogative.

On a motion to confirm the appointment, seconded by another board member, the board voted in favor; the clerk announced the motion carried. The formal motion language recorded in the minutes was to confirm CSEA's nomination to reappoint Samuel Brown as the CSEA appointee to the personnel commission; the vote was recorded as "Aye" and the motion carried. No formal amendment to the nomination was offered.

The public comment, the board discussion and the vote all occurred in open session; comments opposing the nominee were directed to CSEA in the board discussion as several board members noted the board's ministerial obligation to accept the union nomination.

The board did not describe follow-up steps beyond recording the vote. The public commenter's allegations about the nominee were presented as comment rather than findings; the board did not take separate investigatory action during the meeting.