ORANGE : School Trustee Chief Expected to Keep Post

Maureen Aschoff tonight is expected to become the first Orange Unified School District trustee since 1961 to be elected to a second consecutive term as president.

But she will first take some criticism from Trustee James Fearns, who said he is furious over maneuvering that has polarized the board.

“While I was in San Diego, unbeknownst to me . . . we found that Maureen is going to be the next board president again,” he said.

Fearns said he opposes Aschoff’s presidency for a number of reasons. “Under her tenure this past year, the board has been mired in rancor and has seen little direction,” he said, reading from a statement prepared for tonight’s meeting.

The seven-member board divides into a majority group comprising Aschoff, Max Reissmueller, Martin Jacobson and Bill Lewis, and a minority including Fearns, Rick Ledesma and Robert H. Viviano, the board’s vice president.

Aschoff said the board’s majority has lobbied her for two months to accept the president’s seat again.

“I think, basically, the majority of the board has confidence and trust in me,” she said. “I agree that when I took over the presidency last year, we had turmoil and conflict and it was some job to sit in that hot seat. . . . I personally think we have had a good year.”

Jacobson said Aschoff is the most competent to hold the job because she keeps board members informed and does “not abuse the power of the office.”