By Peter Day
Senior Reporter
LUCERNE VALLEY — The Lucerne Valley Unified School District has answered a terse letter from the attorney of embattled, and currently absent, school board member Dawn Turnbull with a legal letter of its own.
On Nov. 13 the school district’s Irvine-based attorney, the Law Offices of Margaret A. Chidester & Associates, sent a letter to Turnbull’s Victorville attorney, Robert D. Conaway.
“The District vigorously disputes the false allegations and numerous misstatements of facts contained in your (Oct. 6) correspondence,” Chidester’s letter stated.
Citing sections of the State Bar of California’s “Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys,” the letter said Conaway’s letter to Board President Jim Harvey “is both inaccurate and inappropriate.” Conaway’s directive stated that the board president should “direct personal communications re Ms. Turnbull” to the attorney (Conaway).
Harvey also blasted Conaway’s letter during Wednesday’s special board meeting.
“It was absolutely despicable,” Harvey said of Conaway’s letter.
In his email to Turnbull, which Conaway called “harassment,” Harvey asked Turnbull to explain allegations she was quoted as saying in a Sept. 30 interview with the San Bernardino Sun newspaper. The article quoted Turnbull as saying, "I believe there's hundreds of thousands in missing money," and, "The school district has spent more than $60,000 getting me off (the board)."
Harvey, whose email was sent after the article was published, said Turnbull’s allegations are not only unfounded but deserve a response from Turnbull.
MEDICAL LEAVE VERIFICATION
Chidester’s letter also said the LVUSD needs written verification from Turnbull’s physician to verify her medical leave is legitimate.
“The District respects the privacy of Trustee Turnbull’s medical information. It neither requires nor seeks a medical diagnosis,” Chidester’s letter states. “Rather, the Board requires written verification from a physician of Trustee Turnbull’s continued illness and resulting inability to carry out her duties….”
School board member Jodi Collingham wondered if the monthly stipend of around $100 Turnbull and other school board members receive can be recouped by the district.
“Can we make her pay that money back?” Collingham asked.
Superintendent Suzette Davis said she will look into whether the district has the legal right to suspend Turnbull’s payments.
Turnbull has missed 10 meetings over the last five months, according to Harvey. That absence concerns not only fellow school board members but also resident Tom Hagen, a formally announced candidate for Turnbull’s seat in the event she is recalled by district voters on Feb. 2.
“We are her supervisor,” said Hagen, who has regularly attended meetings for more than six months. “She works for us. Our employee (Turnbull) is not present. Do we not get to know why?”
Longtime board member Tom Courtney, who has been at odds with Turnbull since late last year, said Turnbull’s absence hasn’t been all bad.
“In some ways she’s done us a favor by letting us do our business,” Courtney said.
Turnbull declined to respond to a reporter’s questions regarding the district’s recent letter. However, Turnbull’s friend and supporter Michael Molina answered Turnbull’s cellphone Thursday afternoon, saying Turnbull was unavailable for comment.
“I’m standing right behind her,” Molina said. “We’re going to be making an official statement in 30 to 40 days.”