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FUHSD superintendent Pedroza gets termination without cause

There will be a major overhaul of the board of directors of the Fallbrook Union High School District Board of Trustees next week as a result of the Nov. 6 general election, which saw three challengers top three incumbents for the open seats on the board.

Voted off the board were president James O'Donnell, Richard Goodlake and Sherry Ludwig. Voted on the board were Diane Summers (who received the most votes), Lita Tabish and Elana Sterling. The election winners will join vice president Sharon Koehler (term: 2016-2020) and Lee De Meo (term: 2016-2020) as members of the board when they are sworn in Monday, Dec. 10.

The election results prompted Dr. Hugo Pedroza, superintendent of FUHSD, to ask the board to terminate without cause his employment agreement with the district. The board had amended Pedroza's employment agreement in July, giving him a three-year deal (July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021) with an annual salary of $242,131.

The board, in closed session Nov. 26, agreed to terminate without cause Pedroza's employment agreement. Pedroza, per the terms of his employment agreement, will receive a year's salary in severance pay. Pedroza serves his final day as superintendent Dec. 7.

“Obviously, the elections for board membership changed the makeup of the board, and I felt that this would be an appropriate time for me to step aside and let the new folks – the new majority – kind of do what they want to do," said Pedroza. "I wish them nothing but the best."

Koehler said Dr. Pedroza "did an excellent job" for FUHSD and that the board election results prompted his decision to leave. She added the tone and focus of the campaign was "very negative" against Pedroza and that the board, taking into consideration "all he has done for the district," unanimously supported his desire to step down.

Pedroza acknowledged that the campaigning by the winning candidates "seemed to indicate that things were going to be a bit different, and you know, I think that the community – the voters ¬– supported that, and I think that’s fine. That’s absolutely how democracy works.

"I saw this as, ‘OK, I think it’s time for me to move on professionally,' and the current board agreed with me," said Pedroza. "And we were able to amicably just make this happen. I wish nothing but the best for the new board, for the district and for everybody who works there and who has been there for a long time.”

The current board's final major action did not go over well with Sterling and Tabish.

"I am appalled at the decision of the outgoing board to terminate Dr. Pedoza without cause," said Sterling. "This unscrupulous decision has saddled the school with a huge unnecessary debt. The incoming board was willing to work with Dr. Pedroza and cut costs in a fiscally responsible manner. The outgoing board's decision will necessitate drastic changes to prevent the district from going into deficit spending."

"My reaction to the outgoing board's last-minute choice to terminate 'without cause' is both bewilderment and frustration," said Tabish. "As one of the newly-elected board members I was looking forward to working together with Dr. Pedroza to cut administrative costs and bring our district into financial stability. This decision by the outgoing board shows such a callous disrespect for the students of Fallbrook, as they could have used this money in the classrooms. It also goes against the voice of the voting public as the outgoing board has now saddled the incoming board with additional money constraints."

Koehler was asked if there would be an acting or permanent superintendent immediately appointed, and if not, who would carry out the duties that Dr. Pedroza had been performing.

"These questions will be addressed by the new board," said Koehler. "The board will have a number of options to consider – acting, interim, permanent. Until then, other district representatives will insure continuity in addressing operational needs and serving the needs of our students, employees and community."

Pedroza served as superintendent for 4 1/2 years and Koehler offered a long list of his accomplishments, which included: improving the fiscal health of the district, the district achieving the highest Moody's bond rating possible, employees receiving a 12 percent on schedule increase in salary in the last four years, the district no longer losing students to other schools (enrollment posted a positive gain this year), and the district adding relevant and high-interest student programs (Marine Corps JROTC, cyber security, advanced manufacturing, transportation technology and dual immersion).

Koehler added that under Pedroza's leadership the school district put a bond measure on the 2016 ballot and it passed with over 65 percent of the vote. Koehler said the measure is being implemented in a systematic and effective manner and has already yielded completed projects which positively affect the lives of students on a daily basis.

Pedroza termed his employment as superintendent of FUHSD "one of the biggest highlights of my professional career."

"I loved it," said Pedroza. "I really enjoyed my time at Fallbrook and we've done some pretty great things. I've worked with awesome people throughout and that to me is what I will remember. It was a hard decision (to leave) but I think it's the right decision and the board agreed."

 

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