The Santa Clara County Office of Education, rocked by controversy over the recent dismissal of its superintendent, has announced an investigation into alleged misuse of public funds.
The SCCOE asked independent auditors to examine evidence suggesting potential misuse of public funds, including “improper contract awards, unauthorized legal expense reimbursements, conflict waivers, and security concerns, including IT monitoring,” according to a news release Friday.
“Local law enforcement has been notified, and the SCCOE will fully cooperate with any federal investigation into its Head Start program, which remains under federal review,” the office stated in the news release.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education provides instructional, business, and technology services plus academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to the county’s 31 school districts. The SCCOE also directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy.
“It is critical to maintain the SCCOE’s fiscal and operational integrity, which is why I am seeking experts to conduct comprehensive audits of our budgets, expenditures, and operations,” interim Superintendent Charles Hinman said in the news release.
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Board President Maimona Afzal Berta said in the statement that “any potential misuse of public funds needs to be investigated immediately,” and vowed to “ensure fiscal and operational oversight in accordance with state law and board policies, while being accountable to the citizens who elected us as fiduciaries of the public interest.”
Last month, Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan was abruptly fired and subsequently filed a lawsuit against the county Board of Education.
Dewan was removed from her position by a 4-2 vote. Although the reason for her dismissal was not immediately disclosed, reports later emerged suggesting that her firing stemmed from alleged tensions with board members.