On Tuesday, January 20, Superintendent Brinda Leon sent a message from Board President Carrie Flanders, on behalf of the Board of Education providing an update on Board Member Christopher Becerra.
The message reads as follows:
A message from Board President Flanders, on behalf of the Board of Education
January 20, 2026
Dear BOUSD Families, Staff, and Community,
We are writing to provide important information regarding the upcoming BOUSD Board of Education Meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 22, and to address questions and concerns surrounding Board Member Christopher Becerra’s participation and attendance at this meeting following his arrest on December 18.
The District is aware of the seriousness of this matter and understands the concern and distress it has caused within schools, our Board and leadership, and our community. Since his arrest, the District, on behalf of the Board of Education, has sent multiple formal letters to Board Member Becerra requesting his resignation, his intent in holding the position, and his plans to attend or not attend the January 22 Board Meeting. To date, we have not received a response.
It is important for us to help our community understand the legal limitations that govern this situation. Board Member Becerra was elected by the community (Trustee Area 4) to serve as a BOUSD Board Member, and under the law, neither the District nor the School Board has the authority to remove an elected official from office or place him on leave, as he is not an employee of the District. Any decision to resign rests solely with Board Member Becerra.
Should Trustee Becerra choose to attend the January 22 Board meeting, the District is legally required to proceed with Board and District business as usual. We do not have the authority to bar an elected trustee from attending a public meeting. However, we are taking this situation seriously and are working closely with appropriate partners, including law enforcement and legal counsel, to ensure that the meeting is conducted in a safe, orderly, and respectful manner for all attendees.
We recognize that this is a deeply disturbing situation for everyone and puts the district in a frustrating position. The following is an update on actions the district, on behalf of the School Board, has taken since the last community letter regarding Board Member Becerra’s arrest:
- Notified Becerra that he is not allowed on any BOUSD campus.
- Sent multiple correspondence to Board Member Becerra requesting his resignation.
- Consulted with legal counsel on all steps the Board can take should Board Member Becerra choose to remain active on the BOUSD Board of Education.
- Placed two (2) items for Board consideration on the January 22 agenda: an action item to replace Board Member Becerra as a representative of the North Orange County ROP Board, and an action item to establish a Closed Session Sub-Committee of four (4) Board Members, excluding Becerra from participating.
We want to reiterate that BOUSD is committed to continued communication and transparency and that the safety, well-being, and trust of our families, staff, and community, while maintaining a learning and working environment that reflects our shared values, are our top priorities.
Thank you for your continued support of our staff and schools. We remain focused on serving our students, staff, and community with integrity and the utmost care. Should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Superintendent’s Office at 714-990-7824.
Sincerely,
Signed,
Carrie Flanders
Board President
Brinda C. Leon
Superintendent
A downloadable version of the message is also available here: Community Update Regarding Board Member Christopher Becerra