Dr. Randy Ward, Superintendent of the San Diego County Office of Education, will be placed on paid administrative leave after teachers, community leaders and parents demanded he be removed.
NBC 7 has confirmed that Ward will be put on the paid leave pending a forensic audit. The County Office of Education has not officially announced information on Ward's current employment status.
Protesters say Ward was dishonest and abused district finances for his benefit.
Ward has oversight over budgets and some legal matters for all 42 school district in the county.
San Ysidro teachers say because of Ward, they didn’t get the pay raises in 2014.
At the time, the San Ysidro School District gave itself a negative certification – meaning it couldn’t pay its bills. The County Office of Education agreed with the district's assessment.
The teachers union now says the County Office of Education had it all wrong. They say there was plenty of money.
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So now, the teachers union is filing a lawsuit against the County Office of Education. The suit names Ward and Chief Finance Officer Laura Duzyk.
Another lawsuit filed by a taxpayers group represented by attorney Cory Briggs alleges Ward and Duzyk gave themselves unauthorized raises.
The County Office of Education is not commenting on pending litigation.
