Hooper continues to address Schaden.

At the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District (FUESD) board meeting of January 18, parent Danielle Hooper asked Paul Schaden to step down from his position on the governing board. Schaden stated that he has no intention of leaving his seat.

Hooper made the request during the Hearing Session of the meeting, because she says she believes that Schaden is not able to effectively communicate and understand issues, due to his aphasia, which was caused by a stroke in 1995.

Schaden’s wife, Texanne, explained in a telephone conversation that this condition only affects Schaden’s ability to speak clearly, not his ability to think.

Hooper said she believes Schaden speaks inappropriately on the Board. “I’ve seen Paul blurt out ‘seconded,’ when the Board was not even voting.”

During the Items from the Board, Vice President Maurice Bernier replied to Hooper by thanking her for voicing her concerns but informing her the Board had no authority to remove Schaden from his seat. Bernier said Schaden is an elected official and the only way he could be forcefully removed is through a public election.

No other members of the board commented on the issue during the meeting. Superintendent Mike Choate said, “I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to talk after the open session.”

Hooper stated she believes members of the board and the community need to ‘step up to the plate and do the right thing, even if it is tough.’ She correlated the lack of action on this matter to the events of September 11, 2001.

Community members have been supporting Schaden through phone calls and opinion letters to the Village News. Texanne Schaden stated that they have not received a single request for Schaden to step down, other than from Hooper, but have received about 50 messages confirming that Schaden is ‘doing great and should keep going.’

Texanne also pointed out that Schaden did disclose his condition in his candidate statement and has no idea why this has become an issue. It was never mentioned during the 2002 campaign, where Schaden was elected over Hooper and two other candidates.

Hooper did not comment on the issue during the election, because she believed it would be viewed negatively. Now, she says, she ‘sees this as a lie by omission and is correcting her prior mistake.’

Board member Bernier said, “I don’t think anyone on this Board has done anything [to deserve removal] from office.”