Trustee Malloy urged to step down

Several Big Oak Flat-Groveland school district trustees and community members Thursday night demanded the resignation of board member Mike Malloy, the subject of a second restraining order requested by a district employee.

The order, covering all district staff, was granted Monday by the Tuolumne County Superior Court and was spurred by a complaint by interim Superintendent Mike King. King reported to authorities earlier this month that Malloy entered his office and yelled at him and assumed a “threatening posture” as he was talking about budget issues with Trustee Gloria Marler.

Malloy, who was elected to the board in May’s recall election, denied the incident to authorities, and Marler claimed to not recall Malloy’s threatening posture or him getting close to King, according to a Sheriff’s report read aloud by board President Ian Morcott Thursday night. Marler also said he was not yelling but using “angry words,” the report said.

District Administrative Assistant Jennifer Shimer said King asked Malloy to leave the office at least five times and that she felt so threatened she had her hand on the phone ready to call 911, according to court documents.
   

“Mr. Malloy was verbally threatening and I feared for the safety of Mr. King and myself. ... The following work day ... I was so afraid that Mr. Malloy might come back to the district office that I locked the door all day,” Shimer said in the court declaration.

Per the order, Malloy is to stay 100 yards from King and the district office on the Tenaya Elementary campus. He is also ordered to not threaten or harass any district employee, and is restrained from telephone or electronic communication with staff.

As such, he also is not allowed to go to district board meetings. He was absent Thursday.

The order follows a restraining order sought in July against Malloy by since-resigned business manager Lisa Rico. Rico said she received a threatening e-mail and, later, flowers from Malloy who she said requested her to not tell anyone about the e-mail, court documents show.

At Thursday’s meeting, several community members and district employees expressed their desire for Malloy to step down.

Groveland resident, past board member and recall proponent Marian Wolf said she had had concerns about Marler and Malloy being on the new board from prior board experience with them.

“I worked very hard on this recall. I was worried about it getting too nit-picky. Nobody wants to hear a consent agenda that takes an hour,” Wolf said. “It’s supposed to be about the kids. This kind of stuff has got to quit. He’s causing us grief, money and bad press. I think he should step down.”

Tioga High soccer coach Doug West said board members should set an example for student conduct and that “Mr. Malloy has not set that example.”

Recalled board member Dave Gookin said 1,348 people who voted for Malloy knew his “reputation,” and that “sometimes you get what you wish for and it makes more of a problem.”

Gookin suggested the teachers’ union ask for Malloy’s resignation.

“I’d hate to see this district go through another recall. It will be expensive and ridiculous,” Gookin said.

Ed Quinn, of Groveland, said the issues have embarrassed the district.

“Every dime that is spent on attorney fees is a dime not spent on our children,” Quinn said. “This community can put pressure on him to resign.”

Groveland residents Miriam Martin and Edie Lazzeroni defended Malloy.

Martin claimed Malloy was angry about district finances and wondered if she’d be served with a restraining order the next time she gets mad in public.   

Members of the board addressed the issue and all but Marler expressed their wish for Malloy to resign.

Morcott said the incident created a danger to the students.

“I think it’s important for a school site to be safe. It’s not conduct that’s becoming of a board member. It’s just entirely inappropriate,” Morcott said.

He went on to say that at least two district employees have resigned because of Malloy’s behavior and that, unlike what some have said, the legal actions against Malloy were not driven by politics.

Trustee Paul Spring, of the Groveland area, said the district does not tolerate student bullies and should not tolerate adult bullies either.

“I really feel like he stabbed this board in the back,” Spring said. “We gave him a second chance. He needs to step down.”

Trustee Lori West, of Groveland, said Malloy’s behavior has been consistently inappropriate and that she is concerned with the safety of the staff and students.

“I would like to see our district move forward in a positive manner,” West said. “We are an example for our kids.”

Marler declined to comment because she may be called as a witness in court. She further declined to respond to other comments directed at her during the meeting because they were not on the agenda.

She did say that when they took office the district was facing 11 possible lawsuits and the district cannot move forward and bring back programs while continuing to incur legal fees.

Malloy could not be reached for comment.