The lone board member who voted against firing the Alum Rock Union School District superintendent spoke out Friday in an exclusive interview with NBC Bay Area.
Corina Herrera-Loera says she’s demanding answers about questionable reimbursement to a fellow board member.
Herrera-Loera says there’s not much specific information she can share because of closed session rules. She found out about the reimbursements in question through NBC Bay Area’s report.
Last week, the board voted 4-1 to fire Superintendent German Cerda without cause. Cerda told NBC Bay Area he believes he was fired for questioning reimbursements made to board members.
In particular, Andres Quintero, who was allegedly reimbursed more than $30,000 for course work to get his doctorate degree.
“I think there are to me very serious allegations that have been made towards our board member, and anything that serious should be looked into,” Herrera-Loera said.
During Thursday’s board meeting, Herrera-Loera ordered staff to produce by the next meeting a spreadsheet of all reimbursements made to board members. And after the Santa Clara County Office of Education asked for similar data, it apparently wasn’t happy with the results. That office ordered what’s called an extraordinary audit.
At Thursday’s board meeting, Quintero made his first public comments acknowledging some reimbursements. He said it was done legally and within the rules.
“I did hear him say a couple things that were concerning. But I’m not going to move forward on that yet,” Herrera-Loera said. “I do trust that third party will investigate.”
Last year, the same board stripped Herrera-Loera of her title as board president and voted in the current leadership.
Source: NBC Bay Area
Be First to Comment