A superintendent of the San Diego County Office of Education resigned after months of being placed on paid administrative leave, NBC 7 learned on Tuesday.
Dr. Randy Ward was placed on leave in July after teachers, community leaders and parents demanded his removal for allegedly abusing district finances for his own benefit. Ward allegedly had a budget oversight over all 42 school districts in the county.
A lawsuit filed against Ward and the Chief Financial Officer of the district allege they gave themselves unauthorized raises.
In August, Edward Velasquez was selected as an interim county superintendent.
According to a statement released by the board, they voted 5-0 to accept Ward's resignation in a special meeting on Tuesday night.
The statement in part, read:
"Dr. Ward and the Board have agreed that it would be in the best interests of all involved to reach an amicable separation at this point in time. We also wish to reiterate that the placement of Dr. Ward on leave was not, nor was it intended to be, any kind of assertion that the allegations of the California Taxpayers Action Network lawsuit have any merit."
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Ward's resignation will become effective on Nov. 15.
