Wednesday, March 31, 2010

State considers additional sanctions for Alisal Union School District - MontereyHerald.com :

State considers additional sanctions for Alisal Union School District - MontereyHerald.com :

State considers additional sanctions for Alisal Union School District

Resignation, consulting fee under scrutiny

In light of major changes made at Alisal Union School District last week, the California State Board of Education will meet today to consider possible additional sanctions for the district.

On Friday, the three-member Alisal board voted to accept the "voluntary resignation" of Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas, and named John Ramirez Jr. as interim superintendent through 2013.

But the state board had placed the district under a trustee March 11 — along with Greenfield Union School District — and officials expected no major changes in the district until a trustee arrived, said Executive Director Theresa Garcia.

"Sanctions are always immediate, the appointment of a trustee was immediate," Garcia said, even though a specific person was not named.

The state board's special meeting was called in response to the "major commitment of district resources prior to a specific trustee being announced," she said. "The expectations (from the state board) is that no major changes would take place until a trustee came and had the opportunity to review the district and make determinations on best use of its resources."

Having a new interim superintendent and removing Zendejas will cost the district at least $206,000 in her