Sunol Glen School Board President Served Recall Notice

SUNOL, CA — Ryan Jergensen, the president of the Sunol Glen School Board, was served an official recall notice in response to his vote in favor of a controversial resolution to fly only the American and Californian flags on the property of the district’s lone school, according to a PR firm representing him. The September vote attracted bitter arguments and national headlines.

A group of Sunol residents launched a campaign to recall Jergensen and Trustee Linda Hurley, who also voted in favor of the flag resolution. Patch reached out to Hurley to see if she has been served papers, but have not heard back.

The recall website, unitedforsunolglen.org, said their campaign is “a response to the profound loss of trust in his ability to serve our community and uphold the principles of responsible governance. Trustee Jergensen’s actions and behavior have demonstrated a pattern of disregard for the wellbeing of our students, the community, and the success of Sunol Glen Unified School District.”

Jergensen released a statement through a PR firm, CM Public Affairs:

“Our small town has been through a lot over its 152-year history, but we have always persevered because we have always been united as Sunolians. Therefore, it is disappointing to see a very small number of activists - many from outside our community - continue to try to divide us in order to politicize our small school. Our students and staff deserve better than this.

"Over the course of the last (several) months, my wife, children and I have been threatened and harassed at school in an obvious attempt to bully and intimidate. I will not let the bullies win, and I intend to fight their recall effort vigorously."

Jergensen filed and was granted a temporary restraining order that was later withdrawn against Denise Kent Romo, a former school board trustee and the wife of Peter “Ted” Romo, the lone trustee who voted against the resolution. Jergensen alleged that Kent Romo posted messages on social media that caused many people to email him threatening messages, according to a Pleasanton Weekly report. Romo told Patch Jergensen later withdrew the order in response to the respondent's written response to the court.

The resolution, which passed 2-1, has divided the small town of 900, and led to large protests and rancorous school board meetings, one of which had to be cleared out by Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies. Proponents of the measure say that it is meant to protect the school from potential litigation, rather than discriminate against the LGBTQ community.

Opponents, which include SGUSD Superintendent Molleen Barnes, and reportedly most of the school staff, said the measure is indeed discriminatory, unnecessarily divisive, and will make LGBTQ students feel less secure. Romo told The Weekly that some parents have told him they would pull their children from the school in response. Another parent told NBC Bay Area the same thing. Barnes and Romo have also said that the school has flown the pride for many years without incident.

Patch reached out to the school district for their comment on the recall.

Now that papers have been served, the recall petition must obtain signatures from 30% of the total number of registered voters in order to pass. According to Alameda County data reviewed by The Mercury News, that would require at least 245 signatures in Sunol. If the petition is successful, a recall election will be held in between 88-125 days after the results of the petition. If the majority of residents vote yes, the candidate will be removed.