San Ysidro Superintendent Remains on Paid Administrative Leave

San Ysidro Schools Superintendent Manuel Paul remains on paid administrative leave following no reportable action from the board of trustees Wednesday.

Paul was placed on paid administrative leave on Jan. 15, following indictments by San Diego County Grand Jury and a federal investigation into a parking-lot cash exchange. He could not be reached for comment.

Assistant Superintendent Gloria Madera will continue her role as acting superintendent, according to board president Jason Wells.

Paul testified under oath in a June deposition about a lawsuit that involved outfitting the district's eight schools with solar panels. Paul said he accepted about $2,500 in cash from a different contractor who was seeking construction work with the district.

The story was first reported by NBC7 Investigates in August.

A Grand Jury issued indictments in January to Paul and 14 others in a South County bribery scandal involving multi-million construction contracts and three school districts. Paul's previous defense attorney said the superintendent is innocent, and he is scheduled to enter a plea in April.

Paul is receiving $185,000 in annual salary, per his contract, while on paid administrative leave. Madera receives a base salary of $145,000 per year, but she is getting a prorated difference for her interim as acting superintendent.
 
Activists within the teacher's union have raised concerns that Paul has continued attending meetings, even though he is on leave. Trustee Wells has said the superintendent is free to attend meetings that are open to the public , as a community member. 
 
The vice-president on the board, Yolanda Hernandez, is also facing a string of indictments from the San Diego County Grand Jury. She has declined to comment.

The board of trustees set a Monday special board meeting to resume talks about whether to terminate Paul's contract or place him back in his position as schools chief.

The meeting will take place Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the district offices at 4350 Otay Mesa Road. 

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