YORBA LINDA : Candidate’s Children Are Taught at Home

Patrick Hanrahan, who is running for trustee of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, teaches his two oldest children at home.

Under the direction of a private Christian education group that provides curriculum and other assistance, Hanrahan and his wife instruct their 8-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter at home. Their 6-year-old son has cerebral palsy and attends special-education classes at a district school in Placentia.

Hanrahan did not disclose where his children attended school in campaign literature nor at a recent candidate forum, but said he was not hiding the information.

“I didn’t think it was important,” he said. “I figured only a very small segment would see it as a true issue.”

But several other school board candidates disagreed.

Incumbent Karin Freeman criticized Hanrahan for his decision to run while he has chosen to teach his children at home.

“It’s his right to make that choice to home-school his children,” Freeman said. “But I question him for wanting to govern those students in district schools.”

Juliet Zaidi, another trustee candidate, said she would have worked to improve public schools instead of pulling her children out of them. “He should have worked through the system first,” Zaidi said.

Hanrahan said his decision to pull his older children out of Bryant Ranch is consistent with his position that district schools are overcrowded.

“I believe that I should put my money where my mouth is,” Hanrahan said. “I believe schools are overcrowded and I need to find a place where my children’s needs will be met.”