Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Education Censures Trustee Chris Stampolis

The Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Education on Thursday approved a resolution to censure trustee Chris Stampolis after parents and teachers have called for his resignation.

The decision to censure Stampolis, which essentially strips him of his powers as a trustee, follows years of accusations that he harassed and threatened district staff. Most recently, he allegedly threatened the principal of his son's middle school, where a security camera caught images of him simulating shooting a gun on campus.

Stampolis earlier this month was served a temporary restraining order to keep away from his son's school, Peterson Middle School in Sunnyvale.

"It’s unacceptable anywhere, but the idea this would happen at a school district and that threats of violence would be used by a school board member is so inappropriate that at this point we’re going to call for him to resign," said Michael Hickey, United Teachers of Santa Clara.

The board's decision to censure Stampolis authorizes district employees to refuse to meet with him or respond to his calls and emails -- essentially making Stampolis powerless.

"It’s absolutely appropriate. I just feel it’s almost too little too late," parent Anna Strauss said. "It’s very symbolic. I don’t think it’s going to change his behavior."

Stampolis said he shouldn't be censured because the move is based on inaccuracies.

"There are a number of factual errors. I would ask that it needs to be precise. It’d be accurate, that it’d be able to be checked rather than saying we have something an attorney has written," he said.

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