Former Paso Robles school board member hired as critical race theory ‘expert’ in Temecula

Temecula Valley schools will pay a consultant $15,000 to make presentations to teachers on critical race theory, though many voiced opposition to the idea during a crowded Tuesday night, March 14, meeting.

Approved on a 3-2 vote by the school board’s new conservative Christian majority, the move was proposed by Temecula Valley Unified School District board member Danny Gonzalez. Joseph Komrosky, Gonzalez and Jen Wiersma voted to hire Christopher Arend, a former school board member in Paso Robles; Allison Barclay and Steven Schwartz voted no.

Arend will teach six, two-hour, sessions for two days covering the history of critical race theory and will discuss the Temecula school board’s December resolution banning the academic framework. Temecula schools’ ban was based on a 2021 resolution passed in the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District.

The sessions will occur during the day, meaning that many teachers will have to leave their classrooms and be replaced by substitutes or other teachers. Edgar Diaz, president of the Temecula Valley Educators Association, said the average rate of $140 per day for substitutes taking over for each teacher attending the seminars could cost the district an estimated additional $15,000 — and bring the total estimated cost to a maximum of $30,000.

Temecula Valley schools spokesperson James Evans said Wednesday, March 15, he could not confirm the union president’s estimates on the extra costs.

On Tuesday, more than 15 speakers voiced concerns over the use of taxpayer money, what they called Arend’s lack of expertise and what they see as the misconception of critical race theory by the school board and the public.

Temecula Valley school officials have said the district does not teach critical race theory.

Carrie Burdick-Rutz, a science teacher at Temecula’s Great Oak High School, said teachers are feeling threatened, citing board President Komrosky’s appearance on Fox News in which he addressed how the district would ensure the framework is not used. Komrosky said in the interview that Temecula administrators would ensure teachers won’t insert their ideology and that the district would assess what’s being taught in classrooms.

“One of my other concerns is the intimidation factor that teachers are already feeling,” she told the board. “The intimidation that (the board) is trying to put on teachers where they’re worried about the words they say in class.”

Teachers voiced concerns on how the critical race theory ban would affect their instruction. The ban previously led to student-led walkouts and protests at Temecula Valley, Great Oak and Chaparral high schools.

Jack Dickinson, an 18-year-old senior at Great Oak High School, read past statements he attributed to Arend and said he found them questionable.

“I think it’s disgusting and, frankly, it’s a waste of money,” Dickinson told the board. “You should be spending the money that you already misuse on things that we care about … and stop overspending on things that are non-issues in this district.”