An organization calling itself "S.E.R.V.E. Alameda" has initiated the process to recall three out of five Alameda Unified School District board members.

Rather than dealing with the more mundane affairs connected with starting a new school year, board members Tracy Jensen, Ron Mooney and Niel Tam must now face the possible loss of their seats on the board. At issue is the way the three voted on the anti-bullying curriculum on May 26.

According to the organization's Web page, S.E.R.V.E. stands for "Seeking Equity & Respect for all Viewpoints in Education."

"We are a grass-roots organization in the city of Alameda seeking equity and respect for all viewpoints in public education," S.E.R.V.E. Alameda says on its Web page. "We empower parents to successfully engage the school district's policies and personnel by providing training to insure sound democracy and respect for everyone."

The links on S.E.R.V.E. Alameda's cached Web page bring visitors to "Community Events," "Volunteer," and "Opt-Out Letters," even though AUSD's policies would not allow parents to opt out of the curriculum the board approved last May 26. Board president Mike McMahon voted against the curriculum over the opt-out issue.

The "Donations" link invites visitors to "join S.E.R.V.E Alameda with your financial support to unite and empower our community to restore true democratic processes and respect for all protected groups within public education."

According to the wording in S.E.R.V.E. Alameda's "Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition," Mooney, Jensen and Tam "were unresponsive to the will of the majority of the citizens of the city of Alameda." The notice also claims "the voters have lost faith in these three members' ability to represent the entire community. As such, their recall and removal from the school board has become necessary."

S.E.R.V.E. Alameda says Mooney, Jensen and Tam approved the curriculum "over the objections of 73 percent of the citizens addressing the board in the three days of hearings."

The organization says that it objects to the curriculum because it excludes instruction "that would protect elementary school children based on their race and ethnicity, gender, disability, nationality and religion."

"Instead, the board gave one group of citizens a near monopoly on anti-bully instruction," S.E.R.V.E. Alameda says. "All students deserve safe schools."

According to S.E.R.V.E. Alameda, California law and common sense require safe campuses for all students.

Contact Dennis Evanosky at