Hayward school district board deciding fate of suspended superintendent

Byby Katie Utehs KGO logo
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Hayward school district deciding fate of suspended superintendent
The Hayward Unified School District Board of Trustees is deciding the fate of its suspended superintendent Wednesday.

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) -- The Hayward Unified School District Board of Trustees is deciding the fate of its suspended superintendent Wednesday.

The board says it has grounds for the termination of superintendent Stan Dobbs.

In a notice, they say he has an explosive temper, has engaged in dishonest acts, has violated state law and has failed to keep the board informed.

Dobbs says his spending scrutiny made waves. "I was warned on that day in that room that OK, if you can't put the board members first, then I no longer support you," he said.

In 2014, board members approved a $250 advance for themselves on top of their $420 in monthly compensation.

Dobbs says some expenses members tried to claim were improper. "Like, you know you're getting your hair done, getting your nails done, getting your weave done, paying for your cellphone bill," he said.

When asked how much extra money the board was paid that was unaccounted for, Dobbs answered, "$3,000 per board member."

The advance stipend happened for about a year. Board member John Taylor and board president Lisa Brunner were asked about the money.

"This is the first I've heard of that. I know you can account for mine. I don't know about the others," Taylor said.

When Brunner was asked if the unaccounted for money was returned, she said, "I returned any monies I was asked for. I did do that. I mean, I left it up to them."

Dobbs says for years, three current board member also received health insurance when they shouldn't have.

"Prior to me getting on the board, that was a practice, where the majority or all of the board was doing it," Taylor said.

When asked if that is legal, Dobbs replied, "Well, it's not being in compliance with ed code and government code and it's also not being transparent and it's also not being open and being compliant with the law."

"As soon as I was made aware I stopped mine," Taylor said.

Dobbs says the practice cost the district around $200,000 over the past seven years.