By Alberto Garcia
A recent state audit report that made allegations of illegal campaign contributions and corruption has been revised after it was revealed its conclusions were based solely on unsubstantiated rumors.
A new report by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistant Team (FCMAT), released Monday, June 8, now makes clear that the audit found no evidence to support the allegations related to campaign contributions.
The FCMAT audit conducted at the request of the San Diego County Office of Education was supposed to review recent fiscal irregularities at San Ysidro School District.
Instead, the report released on May 9th focused primarily on a solar energy project built at San Ysidro under a contract with a local energy company.
Board President Rosaleah Pallasigue,
Board Member Irene Lopez, and former Superintendent Julio Fonseca. Photo – Mario A. Cortez
San Ysidro School District Superintendent Julio Fonseca resigned abruptly on Friday night after a four-hour closed-door Board meeting.
The District’s Board of Trustees had called a special meeting for September 1, to review complaints against Fonseca, including one raised by a district employee.
The Board conducted a closed-door meeting among the board members, Fonseca, and his lawyer for over four hours, before emerging to announce its action.
“The Board, by a vote of five to zero, accepted the resignation of the Superintendent effective immediately, in exchange for 18 months of compensation and release of all claims,” reported Board President Rosaleah Pallasigue. “Dr. Fonseca’s departure is based on a personal situation,” Pallasigue added.