Embedded Files
GUHSD School Board Area 5
■ Restore Trust and Transparency
■ Bring Back Libraries and Educational Services
■ Fully resource English Learner Programs
Pete Mergens (Area 5)
is running in coordination with
and
Steve Mull (Area 4).
Please consider voting for the candidate in your area.
Pete's Bio
Pete's Bio
Hi, my name is Pete Mergens and I am a life-long resident of Lakeside and East County.
I attended Lindo Park Elementary, TDS Middle school and I graduated from El Capitan HS in 1983.
My family and I attended OLPH where I was an altar boy.
I graduated from University of Southern California with a Bachelor's Degree in Math in December, 1986 and a Master's Degree in Education in May, 1988.
I taught in the Los Angeles area from 1987 through 1990. Then, I decided to come home.
I was hired to teach at West Hills High School in the summer of 1990 -- the year of the first senior class at WHHS.
In my time at West Hills, I have worn many hats. I have always taught math. I coached Academic League and Academic Decathalon. I was the first AVID teacher and coordinator. I was the GATE coordinator. In 2003, I was elected the Math Department Chair. I have served the Math department faithfully in this capacity for 24 years. This year was my 39th teaching, I just retired in June. I have loved my career and could not imagine having had any other. My plan has always been to substitute when I retire because I saw the extreme need for good math subs. I am setting this aside to help out my many friends and students who have been affected by the recent decisions of the current GUHSD Board
In 1991, the summer after my first year at WHHS, I married Jane. We will have our 35th anniversary this summer.
For the first 27 years of our marriage, Jane and I attended North Park Community Church where Jane's Dad had pastored.
For the last eight years, we have attended Lakeside Christian Church where we very happily attend Bible study weekly with many dear friends.
We have two kids, Collrane (25) and Miranda(24). Both are graduates of El Capitan and both are working on post-graduate degrees.
What can I do to help out with the campaign?
What can I do to help out with the campaign?
☺️ I would like to volunteer to help Grossmont Education Association get the word out.
☺️ I would like to endorse Pete with a written statement.
☺️ I would like to join Pete's list of supporters.
☺️ I would like to donate money for Pete's campaign.
What is the San Diego media saying about the actions of the GUHSD Board?
What is the San Diego media saying about the actions of the GUHSD Board?
These articles are a great summary:
Voice of San Diego November,2025
Voice of San Diego August, 2026
Links to other media and sites:
East County Magazine March, 2024
YouTube -- Student Protests February, 2025
East County Magazine March, 2025
Voice of San Diego March, 2025
SD Union Tribune OP Ed June, 2025
What did the Board do to Ed Services?
What did the Board do to Ed Services?
Two years ago, the board fired the Director of Educational Services, removed the Subject Area Specialists, and Digital Learning Coaches (teachers on special assignment.) These positions were vital to the educational processes. They provided support for all of the teachers at all of the GUHSD schools – especially new teachers. This was accomplished by pink-slipping ALL administrative positions in the District. Consequently, teachers and administrators did not feel safe. If they could fire so capriciously, what would this rogue board do next? In the end, the Board chose to fire almost all of the Educational Services department.
What was done to the Librarians?
What was done to the Librarians?
The following year they pink-slipped several vice principals, counselors and all teacher/librarians under the guise of financial hardship. Incidentally, the GUHSD budget is flush with money. During this financial 'crisis', the board created a new position, Chief of Staff, which was awarded to an individual who had not gone through any hiring process -- at a salary greater than any teacher in the district. The outrage was enormous. Teachers, students and community members who had never attended the School Board's meetings flooded the venue. Under great pressure from the crowds at the Board meetings and internal in-fighting, the board realized they needed to remove the Chief of Staff -- and gave a generous severance package, wasting a very large chunk of the District's general fund.
In the case of the librarians, the Board was not moved and reassigned the teacher/librarians from the school sites. The board claimed that this was in an effort to save money; however, each of these individuals were moved back into classrooms. The only teachers who would lose their jobs would be the first and second year teachers. In fact, the board SPENT more money hiring librarian techs at each site.
Public Outrage!
Public Outrage!
Normal board meeting have a few district administrators, some folks being recognized for their great works or accomplishments and a few commumity members -- maybe 30 -40 people.
In 2023-24 the teachers and administrators were completely upset by the pink-slipping of so many employees. The Grossmont community and the news media started attending the meeting in droves. We all watched as the Board fired all of the Educational services department. Dan McDowell, the head of the department said, ,,,
"You said this wasn't personal -- it feels pretty personal to me."
In 2024-25, the Board majority was at it again. This time they pink-slipped vice principals, teachers and librarians. Students, teachers and community members were again horribly upset. Now Board Meetings had become one of the hottest tickets in town. Overflow seating was needed and the meetings were broadcast on Zoom. With meetings packed with so many, the Board refused to back down on their wildly unpopular actions. The community members were so outraged that parents and community members in the Grossmont District began the process of collecting signatures for the recall of the board's majority.
As a vocal opponent*1 to the board's actions, I protested by interupting the February, 2025 meeting where the board would not allow the students to speak. That evening, the students were heard by those in the room and the San Diego news media.
At the next meeting, the board had realized that they had better make it so that the voices of the dissenters were heard. They were heard by all in the room again -- except by the board. Infamously, at one of the next meetings, there was a Zoom ' hot mic (go to the 12 minute mark**) ' incident before the call to order, where the Board Member, Rob Shield, is heard to be dismissive of the crowd and to encourage the relatively new member, Scott Eckert, to ignore the crowds -- they will not be able to keep this up.
This is where MY campaign for the Board begins.
Our community deserves better than ...
👎Public money payouts for lawsuit settlements based on board actions
👎Closed door meeting violations
👎Grand Jury investigations
👎Public Employee Relations Board investigations.
It’s time to turn the page. As a recently retired teacher, I’ll restore trust, protect taxpayer dollars, and get GUHSD back to doing what it should have been doing all along: helping students succeed.
*video credit: Carissa McCoullough
**board archive video
What are people saying about Pete?
What are people saying about Pete?
Andy Trimlett : You're a rockstar. Parent
Pete's List of Supporters
Pete's List of Supporters
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse