Santa Clara County’s top education office is planning for a wave of firings amid questions over top-heavy management and executive assistants with six-figure salaries. Workers will be notified about their dismissal by March 15, according to a Thursday statement by the Santa Clara County Office of Education. It’s unclear how many jobs could be cut....
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Ex-Silicon Valley education leader splurged on staffing
A top Silicon Valley education leader had five highly-paid admins and assistants working for her — with some making nearly $200,000 each a year in public dollars meant to serve the county’s most vulnerable students. An analysis by San José Spotlight revealed an office studded with six-figure salaried assistants, strategy managers and a “senior administrator...
Santa Clara County education leader accused of malfeasance
Santa Clara County’s top educator says a series of investigations into his ousted predecessor have revealed even more issues — beyond major allegations of misspending public funds and malfeasance — and now the findings are being turned over to authorities. Former superintendent Dr. Mary Ann Dewan faces “deeply concerning” accusations of wrongdoing, according to a...
Should Santa Clara County school superintendents be elected?
Several resignations and firings across Silicon Valley schools have raised questions about how districts select their top educators — and whether voters should make that decision themselves. Santa Clara County leaders will tackle this question come January, when they weigh letting voters choose the county superintendent instead of the Board of Education. This follows the...
Silicon Valley education office audits misuse of funds
As the Santa Clara County Office of Education board faces backlash for firing Superintendent Mary Ann Dewan, it’s responding with an “extraordinary” request for third-party audits into misuse of school district funds during Dewan’s tenure. The audits will focus on unspecified contract awards and expenditures of public funds, as well as allegations of email surveillance...
Former San Jose mayor pulls endorsement of education official
A dispute is deepening over Santa Clara County’s top education leaders — one of whom just lost her reelection endorsement from former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo amid the firing of county Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan. Liccardo — who’s vying for Congressional District 16 — on Thursday confirmed he withdrew his endorsement for...
Santa Clara County leaders could expand control over education board
Santa Clara County leaders may exert more power over the Office of Education, whose elected board voted to fire its controversial superintendent, Mary Ann Dewan. The Board Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-0 to look into whether it should decide who sits on the countywide school district’s Board of Education. Supervisor Susan Ellenberg recused herself, with...
Santa Clara County education board appoints new leader amid turmoil
The Santa Clara County Office of Education has found a new interim superintendent, and he lives in Southern California. The county Board of Education voted 6-1 to appoint Charles Hinman Wednesday to temporarily replace ousted superintendent Mary Ann Dewan. Hinman has a 35-year career in public education, which includes multiple stints as a superintendent in school...
Santa Clara County’s top educator loses legal bid to get job back
Recently fired Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan’s request to be reinstated has been denied by the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The court said Dewan, who filed suit against the Board of Education last week, did “not adequately establish ‘some possibility’ she will ultimately prevail on the merits.” Dewan alleged the board had no...
Top Santa Clara County education leader sues
Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan has filed a lawsuit against the county Board of Education after trustees voted to fire her in closed session. Trustees last week voted 4-2 behind closed doors to terminate Dewan’s contract “without cause upon 30 days written notice.” But Dewan has come back swinging as she seeks to...