I’ve spent time reading what Julee Brooks has actually said before forming an opinion about her candidacy for the William S. Hart Union High School District board. School board races have become so political that it’s easy to slap a label on someone, but after looking at her record, I have serious concerns. As a parent, I cannot support her.
The biggest issue for me is parental rights. Brooks has been outspoken against parental notification policies regarding gender identity in schools, starting a petition in 2023 opposing a proposed Hart district policy on the issue. While I understand this is emotional and some kids fear talking to their parents, public policy should not be built on the assumption that parents are the problem.
If something significant is happening with my minor child at school, I need to know. Having raised a son in this valley, who is now in heaven due to illicit fentanyl poisoning, I know firsthand the worries of parenting. Teachers and administrators may genuinely care, but none love or carry the responsibility for my child the way I do. A school employee knowing something this critical while parents are intentionally left in the dark is wrong.
Brooks has also criticized parental opt-out policies, worrying they burden teachers. While teachers have enough on their plates, when forced to choose between institutional ease and respecting a parent’s authority, I will side with parents every time. Parents should be able to question a lesson or policy without being labeled “extremist special interests.”
Though school board races are nonpartisan, politics is clearly involved. Brooks is an alumna of Emerge California, an organization designed to recruit Democratic women. She has embraced diversity, equity and inclusion principles, called for keeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement off campuses, and criticized the district’s gun-safety policies. She has every right to hold those views, but voters have every right to decide if that is the direction we want for our schools.
I am tired of politics in our children’s lives. I want the Hart district focused on fundamental reading, math, science, trade preparation, safe campuses, and serious drug education — especially when one counterfeit pill can kill a teenager.
At the same time, every LGBTQ+ student deserves dignity, safety and freedom from bullying. But protecting a child does not require pushing parents away. Compassion for students and respect for parents must coexist. A school should be our partner, not our replacement.
I encourage Trustee Area 2 voters to read Brooks’ own statements on parental notification and opt-outs before voting. Philosophy and judgment matter. While our schools hold a vital responsibility to our kids, the ultimate responsibility belongs to parents — and we should never apologize for saying so.
Jaime Puerta
Saugus
