THE GOVERNMENT REALLY SHOULD FOLLOW THE LAW

By Bob Walsh

                                        

                                                   John Ramirez Jr.

 

California has some pretty definite laws about public meetings.  When I was on the bond committee at the local community college we had to get training in it.  It was required by law.  The law is called the Brown Act.

 

John Ramirez Jr. was the former head of the Stockton Unified School District.  The district is under very close scrutiny right now for serious financial incompetence at best, criminal behavior at worst.  It is likely the district will go into receivership with the county board of education taking over running the district.  

 

The board hired Ramirez as the "superintendent emeritus" immediately upon his resignation at a June 9 special meeting of the board.  This position, which did not exist previously, comes with all the pay and benefits he got as superintendent.  

 

The law STRICTLY FORBIDS special meeting to address executive compensation.  The board also failed to provide an oral report of the new "hire" which is also specifically required by the law.  

 

The San Joaquin County Superintended of Schools, Troy Brown, has contacted the Stockton USD board and demanded that they rescind the hire of Ramirez.  He has also contacted the District Attorney in the matter.  The D. A. has responded that they are sitting on the matter for 30 days and anticipate they will act of the USD Board does not.  The district has indicated that they intend to comply with the demand by the county and give Ramirez his walking papers, though they have yet to do so..

 

To further muddy the waters Ramirez was placed "on leave" from his emeritus position following an August 25 DUI arrest.  He blew a 0.225 on the breathalyzer, which is basically stinking drunk.  In CA legally impaired is 0.08.