Calls continue for resignation of Columbia’s Pendley

Several community members and former educators continued Tuesday night to call for Columbia Elementary Superintendent John Pendley’s resignation and more answers from the district about a sex abuse case on campus.

About 23 people attended Tuesday’s board meeting in the Columbia Elementary School Library, including several school staff members and parents who showed up to defend the superintendent and the board.

Demands for Pendley’s resignation stem from a campus sex-abuse caseinvolving his son. Brennan Pendley, 24, a former after-school-programaide, is serving a year in jail after pleading guilty June 10 tosending lewd text messages to an eighth-grade student and having sexwith her in his classroom.

The victim, 14 at the time of the 2010 incidents, has since filed alegal claim against the district seeking unspecified damages due to theabuse and a later campaign by several school officials to discredit her— claiming in letters to a judge that she was promiscuous and that thesexual relationship was consensual.

Reporting by The Union Democrat and public records show several ofthose letters were written at the request of John Pendley, that heallowed his son to transfer to a janitorial job at another school heoversees when authorities began investigating the Columbia claims, andthat he played a key role in hiring his unqualified son as an aide inthe first place.

“I would have resigned immediately,” Rod Hollingsworth, former SonoraHigh School principal, said at Tuesday night’s meeting. “I’ve seennothing from the board to prove that the rumors and the newspaper areincorrect.”

Hollingsworth, with 37 years of experience as an educator, said theboard should provide more documentation of the district’s handling ofthe situation. He said he believes this documentation can be releasedwithout compromising student privacy.

Fran Trout, a retired educator, also called for greater accountability.

“I’ve seen a lot of heads roll after someone made a poor judgment,”Trout said. “I believe sooner or later, some head has to roll.”

Outrage persisted over a letter written to Tuolumne County SuperiorCourt Judge James Boscoe by school counselor Tina Cruz, calling thevictim a “willing participant” in the sexual abuse and “not a victim.”The letter described the student as eager to have sex with older men.

In California, minors cannot consent to sex.

“That was a powerful letter — and disgusting,” said Carol Malespina, alocal psychotherapist. “Her background has nothing to do with a24-year-old taking advantage of her. ... It appears that the boundaries(on campus) are thin or nonexistent.”

Another community member, Paul Girard, drew attention to board President Laura Phelan’s letter of support for Brennan Pendley.

“I find it appalling that a board member would write that,” Girardsaid. He called for Phelan’s resignation, in addition to Pendley’s.

In answer to questions received at the last meeting, Board PresidentClark Segerstrom provided more copies of a memorandum that had beenissued on Sept. 6, which defended the school’s actions and attempted todiscredit newspaper reports about the case.

“This is the truth about what happened,” Segerstrom said. “That is our official response.”

When an audience member asked whether the paper was signed, Segerstormadded, “I’ll autograph it. If you want to bring a polygraph, that’s OKtoo.”

It remains to be seen whether the letter will give community members the answers they seek.

“This is a small community,” said Columbia resident Sarah Little.“People talk. I have a hard time believing that the board doesn’t getit. … I’m amazed so many people went along with this. This is a verysad, tragic situation, but it can be remedied.”
About 10 people voiced support for the school district and for JohnPendley. “We are satisfied that the guilty party is in jail,” saidKristin Wilson, a Columbia Elementary School teacher.

“You have only one piece of the puzzle. … It is now time to move on.”

Wilson added that she and the other supporters weren’t trying to downplay the situation.

Jenny David, a Columbia Elementary School parent, asked communitymembers to redirect their energy toward programs for students.

“There are so many children who need support,” David said. “You can bea mentor or be in the PTA if you care so much about kids.”

Columbia attorney Heidi Fuller spoke about the possible civil andfinancial implications of lawsuits against the district and staff whowrote letters, saying those staff members could file countersuitsagainst Pendley.

She suggested Pendley and Phelan resign immediately and noted she felt sorry for whoever would replace them.
“It would be like cleaning up after a great Dane,” Fuller said.

In other business Tuesday, Columbia Elementary School Principal EdPelfrey praised a new initiative that has teachers visiting eachother’s classrooms to observe instruction and collaborate on thecurriculum.

He said the district’s science test scores are high and continue to climb.