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Judge Orders Slatic, Student to Stay Away From Each Other
A Fresno County Superior Court judge ordered Fresno Unified Trustee Terry Slatic and a Bullard High School student to stay 20 yards away from each other, at a Monday morning hearing.
The student, a 16-year old cheerleader, filed a temporary restraining order against Slatic in July. Judge Noelle Pebet denied that and set a hearing to discuss a full-time restraining order, scheduled for today.
Because she is a minor, GV Wire isn’t identifying the plaintiff by name.
Upon the judge’s ruling, Slatic balked, noting it may affect his ability to serve as an elected trustee, especially at football games. The judge responded saying she knows how high schools work, and that Slatic could “find another place to sit (at football games). It’s not that hard.”
After, Slatic says the stay-away order won’t have an effect on him.
“I’ll just stay on the 20-yard line,” he said.
Attorney: We Accomplished Our Goal
“Our focus is not on the politics. It is on the safety of the student.” — Attorney Aida Macedo
“We came prepared for a stay-away order. We accomplished that,” Macedo told GV Wire outside the courthouse. Pebet denied a request to record the hearing itself.
In addition to her attorney, the student’s mom also attended. She could be a future witness.
Four other community members attended, some formally involved with the Slatic recall process, such as activist Stacy Williams. One member said they were there for “moral support.”
[rlic_related_post_two] “Our focus is not on the politics. It is on the safety of the student,” Macedo said.
Macedo also noted to the judge that Slatic did not respond to whether he owned or possessed firearms. Slatic could have to surrender them if the restraining order is granted, the attorney said.
Pebet said that Slatic can respond to that information when the hearing continues in October.
Just prior to the judge granting Slatic’s continuance request, Macedo introduced into evidence a censure motion the Fresno Unified school board approved against Slatic at its Aug. 7 meeting.
[rlic_related_post_one]
Hiring Defense Attorney Would Be “Unseemly”
Prior to today’s hearing, Slatic anticipated he would defend himself. He consulted a lawyer but said it would be “unseemly” to use one at the hearing if the plaintiff did not have one either.
Slatic changed his mind with Macedo’s presence.
“I went into today thinking it was a citizen wanting a restraining order against another citizen,” Slatic said. “Philosophically, I’m not going to represent myself when somebody else has gotten an attorney to represent them. It’s just not a smart way to go through life. That’s where it all stops.”
Slatic said that he will meet with district officials later this week to see if Fresno Unified might cover legal costs.
Document: Slatic Caused Anxiety
The hearing stems from Slatic’s talk with the cheerleaders in July. Parents and students complained that Slatic bullied the cheerleaders and threatened to punish them if they continued “mean girl” behavior. The incident is under review by the district.
Slatic, in prior statements, said he wanted to address the cheer group because of team cohesion problems, namely not accepting two members back on the team involved in a “blackface” incident last spring. A student, in a homemade video, is seen uttering the n-word while in blackface. Her parents publicly apologized on her behalf.
“Terry Slatic also took advantage of his authority as a board member to harass innocent girls and women,” the student wrote in her TRO request that was denied.
The student also claimed Slatic’s behavior at that July meeting led to negative effects.
“The incident caused me anxiety, stress and to feel physically ill. He also didn’t feel what he did was wrong and it worries me that he might do it again,” she wrote.
Alex station
August 26, 2019 at 6:51 pm
The district is not going to pay for crap or of the taxpayers of the District for him he already violated his censure and the new revised censure, that’s coming out soon states that the district will not pay for any legal or liability fees he creates , but Slatic is still not understanding his role as a board member he cannot act as an individual boardmember that’s not how it works and apparently he still doesn’t get it
Monadnock Man
August 27, 2019 at 9:12 am
Without question, a prime example of a ton of administrative overload that spends more time ensure political dumbness is adhered to, and less time educating their product base – the student!!!
Accountability for arborent behavior, regardless of the side, is mitigated down to useless babble, while the product (education) is provided with another useless method downgrading the paradigm of the basic requirement, education.
Eliminate 90% of the district staff (where the majority have made up titles using abusive descriptive adjectives.
Return to your prime product responsibility, education!
Alex station
August 27, 2019 at 2:43 pm
Monadnock Man Aka Terry Slatic
Still doesn’t understand or take accountability of his own actions always deferring and making it about something else when the core issue is you resign sir resign
You are digging yourself so far deep it’s unbelievable and your comment about idiot all that’s the closest thing you ever did right
The whole lone Mountain Lonewolf sheepdog it’s getting old already dude go do something else with your life leave the education system to the experts sorry you have a family that’s fucked up don’t blame everybody else take care of your own shit and stop projecting on others get yourself some mental health retire like a proper normal man and get a life maybe you should go help your brother in San Diego smoke some of that weed and calm the beep down