Public commenter urges return of trade classes and alleges district publicity favored an incumbent

Nicholas Dibbs used the board’s public-comment period to urge the Garden Grove Unified School District to restore trade programs and to voice an allegation that district resources were used in a way that advantaged an incumbent candidate.

Dibbs told trustees that trade classes were cut for "15 to 20 years" and urged the district to bring them back; he said a program was restored but not until August and that the district had provided what he described as improper publicity for an incumbent, identified in his remarks as Terry Rocco, around the time ballots were distributed. "You started giving her all kinds of undue publicity at taxpayer expense, which had the effect in, as unethical and unfair," Dibbs said. He added that whether the actions were illegal would be for courts and lawyers to decide, but that he considered the conduct unethical and said he filed a claim for damages related to alleged events in 2016 and 2024.

Dibbs also urged the board to adopt a policy limiting district use of taxpayer-funded publicity within six months of an election so that incumbents are not perceived to receive an unfair advantage. He recommended that when the board approves raises or benefits, the same percentage increase be applied across bargaining units so classified staff, teachers and administrators receive the same percentage increase.

The board acknowledged Dibbs’ remarks; a trustee later responded that annual percentage increases have historically been negotiated across bargaining units and that reclassification (not annual increases) explained prior differences in pay adjustments.

Dibbs’ allegations about misuse of district publicity were not resolved at the meeting; the commenter said he had filed a claim and that legal determination would follow.