Temecula Valley Unified School District Board of Education

The applicant is the daughter of the Superintendent of TVUSD. The daughter was charged with a felony and pled guilty to misdemeanor (PC §487(b) (3)) prior to seeking employment with TVUSD. Employment applications require an explanation (statement) if the applicant was previously convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor. Applicant’s original application was for a classified (non-teaching) substitute position. The process for hiring a classified substitute requires a background verification, which results in a Department of Justice (DOJ) report finding. In this case, the DOJ report indicated a misdemeanor conviction. According to interviews with the former Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and the Director of Human Resources for classified personnel, a second statement was requested from the applicant. During both non-sworn and sworn interviews, the Superintendent said he delivered the applicant’s second written statement to the Human Resources Department. This was corroborated in a sworn interview by the former Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and in non- sworn interviews by the Director of Human Resources for classified personnel. However, the applicant stated during two separate interviews that the statement was personally delivered to the Human Resources Department. This second statement indicated that the applicant was asked to leave a previous employer, Pala Casino that was not listed on the application. This omission was repeated on six subsequent applications for other positions within TVUSD. The applicant also checked “NO” to the question “Have you ever been dismissed or asked to resign from any position?” on the subsequent applications. Both the former Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and the Director of Human Resources for classified personnel indicated that it was normal practice, but not written policy, to interview an individual when a positive DOJ report was received. In this instance, no interview was conducted to determine when or where the incident occurred or the outcome of the judicial proceedings. The circumstances of the crime and her subsequent conviction have never been discussed with the applicant. According to Superior Court of California, County of San Diego North County Division Case Number 2 CN286821, the applicant pled guilty to misdemeanor charges. The court sentenced her to three years’ summary (non-supervised) probation and five days public works (community) service, and she agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $18,676.00 to Pala Casino. The former Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources met with the Superintendent to discuss the applicant’s background, and was told by the Superintendent, “She would not hurt the district.” The Superintendent corroborated this statement.

Consent Calendars for BOE meetings in January and March 2013 contained listings of classified substitutes being offered employment. The applicant’s name did not appear on the Consent Calendar for the BOE meeting in April 2013, or anytime thereafter, prior to the applicant obtaining permanent employment with TVUSD in a classified position. When the applicant was initially hired for a permanent classified position, and promoted to another classified position, the applicant’s name did appear on the Consent Calendar for the BOE meetings. No member of the BOE sought further clarification on the identical last names of the Superintendent and his daughter, nor did the Superintendent make it known to the BOE that the applicant was the daughter of the Superintendent. During interviews, two members of the BOE stated they did not read the Consent Calendar in detail and did not notice the same last name. The Superintendent stated he did not find it necessary to address this topic.

Prior to the academic year beginning in August 2012, the Superintendent was approached by representatives of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) to discuss the enrollment of undercover Sheriff’s Department personnel into a high school in TVUSD to investigate possible violations of drug laws. The Superintendent agreed with RCSD to conduct the operation without seeking legal advice as to the potential liabilities to TVUSD.