Future Of Censures Uncertain After Temecula School Board Meeting Canceled: Official

TEMECULA, CA — What would have been Temecula Valley Unified School District's regular meeting on Tuesday was canceled amid protests over accusations a trustee attempted to surreptitiously place a recording device under the dais, leaving the future of censures on the agenda uncertain.

Tuesday's agenda included resolutions calling for the censure of Trustees Emil Barham, Melinda Anderson, and Jen Wiersma, and a "demand for immediate resignation" of Anderson and Wiersma.

Before the school board meeting was scheduled to begin, a crowd of protestors outside the building held a demonstration holding signs that read "Anderson Out!" and "Overworked, Under Paid, Still Showing Up."

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The meeting was canceled due to a failure to reach quorum in the absence of board trustees Wiersma, Anderson, and Steve Schwartz.

Michael Marble, a spokesperson for the district, told Patch on Thursday whether the censure resolutions will return in next month's agenda is currently unknown.

"It is up to the Governing Board's discretion what is placed on meeting agendas outside of regular District business. The trustees who submitted those agenda items can choose whether they remain on the agenda for the next meeting. We won't have a certain answer to that question until a few days prior to the next meeting," he said.

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Anderson is facing a criminal investigation following accusations she bugged the dais near two fellow board members before a school board meeting on Sept. 22.

Earlier this month, authorities said on Sept. 26, deputies responded to a call to the district offices after the meeting to investigate a report of surreptitious recording.

The sheriff's department said the investigation was ongoing, and no further details were available.

It was unknown who filed the police report with the sheriff's department.

The superintendent's office confirmed in a statement it was aware of the video and that law enforcement was investigating.

Other trustees have found themselves in controversies this year as well. In April, local parents said they were outraged by language used by Dr. Joseph Komrosky and Wiersma who mistook Temecula Valley High School water polo players' uniform Speedos for underwear and made comments of a sexual nature about the images on social media.

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The district has also been the at the center of protests over the years, including a ban on critical race theory in 2022, which was later halted by a court of appeals, and a bathroom proposal for transgender students last year.

Komrosky and Wiersma are running for reelection next month for Trustee Area 4 and Trustee Area 3, respectively.

The next Temecula Valley Unified School District meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Patch Local Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.