BRAWLEY — Less than a year after he had been fired under a cloud of controversy, the Brawley Elementary School District board of trustees voted Tuesday to unanimously rehire Ron Garcia as superintendent, vowing to put the contentious issue over his ouster behind them and move forward.
The 5-0 vote was met with little fanfare during the relatively subdued meeting, but Garcia, who attended the session, was nonetheless happy over the decision. The board also voted during closed session to award Garcia $30,000 in its settlement with him over a lawsuit he filed against the district.
“I’m just happy to be back and to start work early tomorrow morning,” Garcia said after the meeting adjourned. “I’ll be here first thing in the morning.”
But even as the trustees opted to grant Garcia a contract that provides him with an annual $135,000 salary for his services which officially starts today and continues through June 30, 2013, board Vice President Armando Padilla sternly told the board of his disappointment over its decision in late December to enter negotiations to bring Garcia back.
Citing how the children should always come first, Padilla said in a prepared statement that contrary to Garcia’s past contention that his firing was about former Myron D. Witter Elementary School Principal Irene Salazar, who received a vote of no confidence by a majority of teachers at the school, “he would have learned that she was at this point already planning on stepping down from her principal post.”
In fact, it was the results of a management assessment of the district under Garcia’s watch, “the total dysfunction” of Garcia’s cabinet and an attempt by Garcia to get paid overtime he was not contractually entitled to that all played into his termination, Padilla said. Ultimately, Garcia’s dismissal became so hotly contested that former board members Omer Stiff and Kathy Pryor — who were both voted out of office — “sacrificed their political careers for the sake of the children in voting to oust Garcia,” Padilla said.
“Mr. Garcia’s firing was strictly about his management style or lack thereof,” said Padilla, who ended his speech by stating how the board should “go forward,” and expressed his hope that Garcia proves him wrong “in the best interest of the district.” Padilla said after the meeting that he voted “in solidarity” with the board to rehire Garcia.
Many in the Brawley community rallied to Garcia’s side following his termination, contending that it was wrongful in nature. It was widely believed that Garcia’s ouster was somehow tied to his lack of support for Salazar, who is Padilla’s sister.
Padilla participated in the vote to fire Garcia but critics felt he should have recused himself. But Padilla did recuse himself from the vote during closed session to accept Salazar’s retirement, which becomes effective July 1.
A highlight of the meeting came when interim Roberto Moreno received a standing ovation from the audience when the board accepted his resignation and thanked him for his service. Moreno took the helm of the district for 7 1/2 months following Garcia’s firing.
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at spanta@ivpressonline.com
The 5-0 vote was met with little fanfare during the relatively subdued meeting, but Garcia, who attended the session, was nonetheless happy over the decision. The board also voted during closed session to award Garcia $30,000 in its settlement with him over a lawsuit he filed against the district.
“I’m just happy to be back and to start work early tomorrow morning,” Garcia said after the meeting adjourned. “I’ll be here first thing in the morning.”
But even as the trustees opted to grant Garcia a contract that provides him with an annual $135,000 salary for his services which officially starts today and continues through June 30, 2013, board Vice President Armando Padilla sternly told the board of his disappointment over its decision in late December to enter negotiations to bring Garcia back.
Citing how the children should always come first, Padilla said in a prepared statement that contrary to Garcia’s past contention that his firing was about former Myron D. Witter Elementary School Principal Irene Salazar, who received a vote of no confidence by a majority of teachers at the school, “he would have learned that she was at this point already planning on stepping down from her principal post.”
In fact, it was the results of a management assessment of the district under Garcia’s watch, “the total dysfunction” of Garcia’s cabinet and an attempt by Garcia to get paid overtime he was not contractually entitled to that all played into his termination, Padilla said. Ultimately, Garcia’s dismissal became so hotly contested that former board members Omer Stiff and Kathy Pryor — who were both voted out of office — “sacrificed their political careers for the sake of the children in voting to oust Garcia,” Padilla said.
“Mr. Garcia’s firing was strictly about his management style or lack thereof,” said Padilla, who ended his speech by stating how the board should “go forward,” and expressed his hope that Garcia proves him wrong “in the best interest of the district.” Padilla said after the meeting that he voted “in solidarity” with the board to rehire Garcia.
Many in the Brawley community rallied to Garcia’s side following his termination, contending that it was wrongful in nature. It was widely believed that Garcia’s ouster was somehow tied to his lack of support for Salazar, who is Padilla’s sister.
Padilla participated in the vote to fire Garcia but critics felt he should have recused himself. But Padilla did recuse himself from the vote during closed session to accept Salazar’s retirement, which becomes effective July 1.
A highlight of the meeting came when interim Roberto Moreno received a standing ovation from the audience when the board accepted his resignation and thanked him for his service. Moreno took the helm of the district for 7 1/2 months following Garcia’s firing.
Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760-337-3442 or at spanta@ivpressonline.com
