Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a $1.5 million fine on a Southern California school district for refusing to use textbooks that include mentions of Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist who reportedly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old boy.
The conservative school board members at Temecula Valley Unified School District rejected the state-sanctioned books featuring Harvey Milk.
Newsom labeled the conservative board members as “extremists” earlier this month and issued the threat of substantial fines.
“We’re going to purchase the book for these students — the same one that hundreds of thousands of kids are already using. If these extremist school board members won’t do their job, we will — and fine them for their incompetence,” Newsom said last week.
Watch:
Newsom upheld his threats and penalized Temecula Valley Unified School District with a $1.5 million fine.
Fox News reported:
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom followed through on his threats to fine the Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD), launching his next culture war attack against conservative board members who rejected state-endorsed textbooks that mention gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
“The three political activists on the school board have yet again proven they are more interested in breaking the law than doing their jobs of educating students — so the state will do their job for them,” Newsom said Wednesday in a statement.
“California will ensure students in Temecula begin the school year with access to materials reviewed by parents and recommended by teachers across the district. After we deliver the textbooks into the hands of students and their parents, the state will deliver the bill — along with a $1.5 million fine — to the school board for its decision to willfully violate the law, subvert the will of parents, and force children to use an out-of-print textbook from 17 years ago.”
The $1.5 million fine will cover the cost to ship the materials to the district, a fine Newsom warned would follow if board members insisted on withholding their approval.
