Critical Race Theory Banned In Temecula Schools By Newly Formed Board

TEMECULA, CA — Amid a chorus of boos and jeers — and damning comments from dozens of Temecula Valley Unified School District students and educators — the newly formed TVUSD governing board voted 3-2 Tuesday night to adopt a resolution banning the teaching of critical race theory in Temecula schools.

With the same vote, the board also adopted another resolution Tuesday condemning racism because, according to the resolution, current TVUSD policy "only cites discrimination and bigotry through the lens of equity."

The votes in favor of the resolutions came from newly elected and first-time governing board members Dr. Joseph Wayne Komrosky (Trustee Area 4), Jennifer Wiersma (Trustee Area 3), and Danny Gonzalez (Trustee Area 2).

Komrosky was the board member who brought both resolutions forward —a signal that he, Wiersma and Gonzalez will make good on their campaign promises molded by the political action committee that helped fund their 2022 election victories.

The campaigns of all three board members were backed by the Inland Empire Family PAC, which works "to stop the indoctrination of our children by placing candidates on school boards who will fight for Christian and conservative values."

Critical race theory as a whole is not taught in TVUSD K-12 schools, but Komrosky made the issue a priority Tuesday night.

Academics say the decades-old theory argues race is a social construct, and that racism is not just individual biases and prejudices, but something that's institutionalized in legal systems and policies. The theory maintains that racism and discrimination are embedded in everyday life, so people of all colors subconsciously make choices that can fuel biases.

According to the newly passed TVUSD resolution, CRT "is an ideology based on false assumptions about the United States of America and its population; is a divisive ideology that assigns moral fault to individuals solely on the basis of an individual's race and, therefore, is itself a racist ideology; assigns generational guilt and racial guilt for conduct and policies that are long in the past."

The resolution also states that the theory "or other similar frameworks will not be used as a source to guide how topics related to race will be taught" in TVUSD schools.

More than 30 people — mostly TVUSD students and educators — addressed the governing board about the CRT resolution. More than 25 of them opposed it.

One woman, who said her grown children attended TVUSD schools while they were growing up, suggested to the new board members that they were "ignoring the complexity of the theory."

Another speaker said CRT has been weaponized by far-right politicians and ideologues to scare white voters. CRT opponents argue the theory marginalizes white children and makes them feel guilty for atrocities carried out against minorities throughout U.S. history.

"I think that this is urgent," Komrosky said. "CRT has no place in our schools. CRT divides and it is divisive."

Komrosky promised to recruit "a panel of CRT experts" to address concerns.

Veteran TVUSD board members Allison Barclay (Trustee Area 1) and Steven Schwartz (Trustee Area 5) vehemently opposed the CRT and racism resolutions. Both trustees expressed disappointment that Komrosky would make the resolutions top priorities of his new tenure. They argued that the racism resolution was not genuine, given its wording, and the CRT resolution silences history.

Both Barclay and Schwartz applauded those who turned out in opposition during Tuesday's meeting that was held inside the Temecula Valley High School Theater.

In a 3-2 vote, with the veterans dissenting, Komrosky was also appointed to serve as governing board president. With the same vote, Wiersna was appointed board clerk.

With their majority on the TVUSD governing board, it's not clear where the three new members will go next. The trio hinted that some TVUSD policies will be changed. Komrosky also suggested that the TVUSD consider hiring outside attorneys to review some yet-to-be-named items that might be coming before the board.