Perry alleges Wolff sent unsolicited email to recent LBHS graduate to deter constituent contact
Per paragraphs 55–58 of Perry's December 10, 2019 federal complaint, on December 21, 2018 Trustee Peggy Wolff sent an unsolicited email from her lbusd.org account to a recent LBHS graduate (then a Brown University freshman) who had asked to meet with Perry to discuss student-government matters during winter break. The complaint quotes the email verbatim — its subject was "meeting with a board member" and its substance advised the student that "it is not the place of a board member to become involved in a school site issue" and that "the board operates as a 'Board' and does so with majority rules decision making with all five members present." Asst. Superintendent of Educational Services Jason Alleman was carbon-copied. The complaint also quotes the constituent's reaction email expressing that he "personally found this email extremely strange" and arguing that "her attached Bylaw 9200 in no way bars me from meeting with you (in fact my right to meet with you, an elected representative who[m] I have voted, is preserved by my 1st Amendment right to petition the government)." The complaint pleads this email as one predicate for the First Amendment retaliation claim against Wolff and the Viloria-led administration that allegedly ratified it. These are allegations in a complaint subsequently dismissed.
People referenced
Citations (1)
- Perry v. Viloria — Complaint (Document 1, filed December 10, 2019) primary U.S. District Court, Central District of California (via CourtListener / RECAP)U.S. District Court, Central District of California (via CourtListener / RECAP) · Michael J. Aguirre, Maria C. Severson · 2019-12-10
I had heard through the grapevine that some students who had graduated were planning to meet up with a board member during winter break to discuss the Student Senate at LBHS. … I am concerned about this meeting because it is not the place of a board member to become involved in a school site issue. It is outside of our scope, and it is actually outside of our bylaws and protocol. … The board operates as a "Board" and does so with majority rules decision making with all five members present. When a singular board member takes on a project, and then tries to manage that project individually, that is outside of the board's duties.
Excerpts from Peggy Wolff's December 21, 2018 email to a recent LBHS graduate, quoted verbatim in paragraph 56 of the Perry v. Viloria complaint.