WATSONVILLE—A group formed for the sole purpose of recalling Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Georgia Acosta announced Wednesday that they have gathered the required signatures to officially begin the process.
The group, called The Committee to Recall Georgia Acosta, made the announcement during the PVUSD Board of Trustees meeting that they have collected 20 signatures.
If approved by the Santa Cruz County Clerk, the group will then have 90 days to begin gathering roughly 2,500 signatures in Acosta’s Trustee Area 2 that will bring the issue before voters, probably in March 2022.
In a recorded message played during the public meeting, group member Carol Turley said that Acosta has “failed to fulfill the duties and responsibilities entrusted to her as a governing board member.”
“Trustee Acosta has failed to attend 26 board meetings, failed to participate in PVUSD committee, and failed to regularly meet with the district superintendent to provide oversight, accountability and solutions,” Turley said.
Despite this, Turley said, Acosta continued to collect the stipend and full medical benefits given to trustees.
She also told district staff to remove public documents from the district website, Turley said, and “created mistrust and a lack of confidence with constituents” when she led efforts to fire PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez in January.
Turley was referring to allegations that Acosta tried to hide information showing that the district was in a positive financial position, after using a previous negative financial report as justification for Rodriguez’ termination.
Rodriguez was reinstated a few days later, capping a whirlwind of late-night meetings and hours of heated public comment.
“She also failed to act in the best interest of the students, our teachers and staff, our parents and families and our community,” Turley said.
The trustees censured Acosta in March for those issues and a host of others.
Acosta could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. She has not responded to multiple calls, emails and texts by this publication requesting comment.
