This editorial is incorrect in its assertion that this candidate application timeline was created by me as board president. In fact, the entire board, at its board meeting on June 30, discussed and voted on a timeline for this process. The board unanimously voted to have candidate applications due at 4 PM on Monday, August 3rd. At 4:05 PM a subcommittee of the board is directed to review all applications to ensure that the applications fulfill the statutory requirements for this office (resident of the school district, registered voter, etc.). The board also directed that on August 4th the applications would be sent to the board and posted on the district website (mvwsd.org). We hope that our community members go onto our website this Tuesday to read the applications. Our interview/selection meeting is Tues. August 18 6 - 10 PM.

Ms. Wheeler, what about the article's main points, which your comment didn't address:

'In the normal course of events, copies of the submitted applications are available to the public and the press as soon as they are filed, just as they would be for candidates running in an election.'

'Wheeler, in an email to the Voice, describes her decision to hide applicant information as being in the interest of "transparency of process and fairness to all candidates." '

' "It's important that all of the candidates feel like they are being treated fairly, and giving them all the same timeline and chance at publicity provides that fairness," she told the Voice in an email. The reality is that four declared applicants have already gone public and spoken to the Voice, negating Wheeler's argument.'

'In the opinion of Nikki Moore, an attorney for the California Newspaper Publishers Association who specializes in public records and open meeting laws, Wheeler's actions violate state law, which deems the applications to be public information.'