Thumbs down: Confusion and tension at Technology High

This one belongs to administrators at Technology High School and the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District for the very undexterous way they handled a controversy surrounding a student election. Call it an apparent controversy because it’s still not clear what the issue is other than concerns were raised about the collection of ballots at Sonoma State University-based Tech High.

Whatever the problem, two students, including one who was running for student body president, ended up being suspended and a popular teacher was placed on administrative leave. The dubious disciplinary actions prompted at least two on-campus demonstrations last week including one in which dozens of students walked out of class in protest. On Friday, students were circulating a petition to reinstate the suspended students “pending a full and complete investigation of the circumstances leading to their suspensions.”

It’s curious enough as to why officials at Tech High felt the need to get involved in the election. But why did top officials in the district feel the need to intervene? Maybe it’s just a coincidence that the student government candidate who was suspended was running against the daughter of Cotati-Rohnert Park school Superintendent Robert Haley. But it sure looks suspicious. Haley has so far declined to say when or how he found out about the election controversy and what role he played, if any, in putting it all on hold.

The election was supposed to have been completed on April 14. If and when it will resume is anybody’s guess. And you thought the campaign for the GOP presidential nomination was getting testy - and confusing.