Fresno Unified board considers hiring attorney for Hanson, other leaders because of federal investigation
The Fresno Unified school board held an abrupt, closed-session meeting Tuesday to consider hiring an attorney to represent top officials in the face of a federal investigation, but ultimately no action was taken.
While the board reported no vote was taken behind closed doors, the meeting’s purpose was to ask trustees to hire legal counsel for Superintendent Michael Hanson, Chief Financial Officer Ruthie Quinto and Chief Operations Officer Karin Temple while the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to probe the district’s business practices, according to sources.
A federal grand jury subpoena, served to the district last month, is demanding answers about the use of public bond money and school officials’ relationship with Harris and Bush construction firms, which are regularly hired to build schools under no-bid contracts. The district is required to turn over a wide range of documents by Nov. 19, including officials’ personal emails and phone records.
The special meeting agenda only said the meeting was to consider three cases of potential litigation. Trustees would not discuss the matter because it was held in closed session, but Fresno Teachers Association President Tish Rice stood before the board before the closed session and urged trustees to vote against any proposal to hire a criminal attorney to represent the three officials.
“The students of Fresno Unified should not pay for the mistakes of the leaders of this district,” Rice said. “We live in one of the most poverty-stricken areas in this state, and I believe it is immoral for this district to be wasting money that should be going to our students. ... Do the right thing and vote against any proposal to pay for legal fees for Michael Hanson, Ruthie Quinto and Karin Temple.”
The board recently hired criminal defense attorney Carl Faller at $400 an hour to help theFresno Unified board considers hiring attorney for Hanson, other leaders because of federal investigation | Fresno Bee:
