On Alert: Highly Qualified Superintendents and Cabinet Members Fired Across California
As California sees a wave of school boards gaining right-wing members, those districts where they have clenched a board majority have begun to see the effects this will have on their communities.
Within the first month they took office, two California school district’s boards called emergency meetings and fired highly praised, effective superintendents without cause and with very little warning or community input.
Gateway Unified School District’s newly sworn in board called a last-minute special meeting on December 20, 2022, where they voted 3-2 to fire Jim Harrell, their long time superintendent without cause. According to the Shasta Scout, this decision will cost taxpayers around $180,000 in severance payments.
Read more here:https://shastascout.org/tension-transparency-concerns-take-center-stage-in-latest-gateway-unified-school-district-board-meeting/.
Orange Unified School District’s new Board called an emergency special meeting on January 5th, 2023, with less than 24 hours notice and during the district’s winter break. The Board voted 4-3 to terminate the current superintendent’s contract and placed their assistant superintendent of education on administrative leave pending an “academic audit.” The severance of both superintendents could cost this community almost one million dollars.
Read more here: https://edsource.org/2023/orange-unifieds-conservative-majority-fires-superintendent-with-a-days-notice/683766?amp=1