Frustrated and angry, parent Bernardo Vasquez called for change at the top of the Sweetwater Union High School District during Monday night’s school board meeting.
“I’m calling on you to remove Dr. [Karen] Janney as superintendent,” said Vasquez from the podium during public comments.
As a father with a son currently in the district, two that have graduated and a former member of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, Vasquez said he is angered by years of financial mismanagement within the district.
“I find it hard to believe that in a $400 million organization that your CEO isn't aware of red flags in your organization," he said.
In January of this year, news broke of an ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) inquiry into the district's finances. That followed the September 2018 announcement the district had overspent by $30 million.
Board President Kevin Pike addressed the financial issues with a written statement at Monday night's meeting.
It reads in part: “We as a board are resolved to ensuring we get to the bottom of this situation and to bringing those responsible for getting us into the situation… At this time, we are participating in and fully-cooperating with multiple inquiries, audits and reviews and as a result, we are implementing steps to reform and restructure the district’s financial systems…"
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To slash costs, employees were offered early retirement -- 94 teachers took the buyout in December.
Sweetwater Education Association (SEA) President Gene Chavira says at least 50 more have signed up to leave by year's end.
Despite their retirement, he says there's no need for parents to worry about quality education for their children.
“They are going to get a good education. The teachers that left are veteran teachers. They're very good teachers. New teachers always come into the system at different times of the year. It's really business as usual," Chavira said.
Special education teacher Diana Clayton voiced what she called her disappointment with the district, and noted that one of the employees who retired was in the classroom with her.
Without another assistant, she worries the district is opening her up to danger and legal liabilities when dealing with the children. She’s also concerned about quality education.
“How are you meeting the needs of students if you're taking from one to help out another?" she asked.
SEA President Chavira says the district has hired 27 new teachers.
