A trustee from the Vallejo school board has stated she believes a third party mediator would be helpful for improving the relationship among board members and to help resolve current and future disputes over various issues.  According to Board VP Marianne Kearney-Brown, a mediator would be a neutral third party that would be helpful and she has been asking the district to bring one in for several months now.

Kearney-Brown posted on the Vallejo Schools Facebook page recently explaining her point of view, “People have been complaining about board members and District Admin staff snickering and rolling their eyes while people speak.  Last meeting, (Trustee) Ruscal Cayangyang was asking important questions about the bond and on the video you can see members of the leadership team openly expressing disrespect.  This behavior has to stop. ”

She acknowledged that her original request for mediation would have been board-wide, but now she’s specifically looking for someone to assist with disputes between herself and board President BurkyWorel.  She believes Worel interferes with school district business and wants a third-party who knows how to work with disputing parties and use mediation to resolve differences. 

She originally asked for mediation in February and continued to make her request, but so far it has gotten her nowhere.  It was not until her early May request that she made some headway.  However, Worel has expressed frustration with his relationship with Kearney-Brown and stated “… when it is not the way she wants it, she gets upset. ”

Worel denied being disrespectful to Kearney-Brown during meetings after she accused him and other board members of “snickering and rolling their eyes. ”