Documents released this week by San Diego Unified shed new light on the allegations against the district’s former superintendent, and the person poised to replace him.
Two former administrators allege they were harassed by Lamont Jackson, the former superintendent, and Fabiola Bagula, who San Diego Unified’s board voted in as interim superintendent last week.
The new documents also show that specific complaints against Jackson surfaced months before the district began an investigation into his conduct. They also include allegations that Jackson himself helped cover up other people’s misconduct.
Claims against the new supe: The two former administrators, Monika Hazel and Tavga Bustani, claim that Bagula was reinforcing Jackson’s harassment. Hazel’s complaint alleges that Bagula ordered her to speak to her in a “baby girl” voice while cowering and bowing towards her.
District officials said the investigations against Bagula were thoroughly investigated, but they declined to say whether the allegations against her were found to have occurred or not.
Both Hazel and Tavga allege that Jackson’s sexual harassment was tied to their career prospects. Both say they understood they would be promoted if they had sex with Jackson. Both say they believe they were demoted, because they refused his advances.
Some board members claim the district does not have a culture that is permissive to sexual harassment, but last month federal officials slammed the district for mishandling years worth of sexual misconduct allegations.
If that name sounds familiar: Tavga Bustani was the principal responsible for the most inspiring education story we have covered in San Diego: The success against odds of Edison Elementary.
A Take on SANDAG’s Train Tunnel
Del Mar, Solana Beach and the Del Mar Fairgrounds all signed off on a joint agreement over the past week in an effort to present a united front when it comes to SANDAG’s plans for an underground train tunnel.
The agreement calls for a “mutually agreed upon” process to select a new tunnel route option, the Union-Tribune reported.
Let’s rewind: The San Diego Association of Governments, which is the region’s transportation agency better known as SANDAG, released three route options for the tunnel in June, narrowing the choices down from more than a dozen options.
The plan is to move about 1.7 miles of the train tracks that run along the edge of the Del Mar bluffs into an underground tunnel. It’s called the LOSSAN Rail Realignment project.
But those three options really ruffled some feathers. Solana Beach and Del Mar Fairgrounds don’t like Alternative A, and Del Mar residents don’t like Alternatives B or C. Now, the three entities are joining together to ask SANDAG to work with them to pick a new option.
County Picks Internal Candidates for Top Posts
After national searches for several key open county leadership posts, the county’s new top bureaucrat is promoting six internal candidates.
County Chief Administrative Officer Ebony Shelton announced Tuesday that nearly 19-year county official Caroline Smith will become her No. 2 effective Sept. 30 while county finance veteran Joan Bracci will become the county’s chief financial officer next month. Shelton also revealed that fellow county veterans Brian Albright, Kim Giardina and Andrew Strong will serve as deputy chief administrative officers starting Sept. 30. DCAO Dahvia Lynch began serving in that role Wednesday.
The promotions come as the county grapples with a wave of key leadership openings in its nearly 19,000-employee operation that our Lisa Halverstadt detailed last month. Some county stakeholders – including union members and progressives – have hinted that they hoped for outsiders who might drive change at the county.
County spokesperson Michael Workman defended the county’s decision to go with internal candidates.
“After a nationwide search, with extensive input from community members and stakeholders during each of the phases of recruitment and selection, the finalists were chosen because they were deemed the best fit for the role,” Workman wrote. “Each one of the individuals selected are distinguished county leaders who are beyond ready to guide the organization.”
Hiring processes remain under way for a handful of other key county leadership posts, including its public health officer and chief medical officer.
In Other News
- The rodeo is returning to Petco Park next year. The city of San Diego had flirted with banning such events in response to animal welfare concerns after a horse was injured at the January rodeo. But efforts stalled when Native American tribes and other groups raised concerns that a ban would hurt cultural traditions. (Union-Tribune)
- KPBS reports that Mexican drug cartels are increasingly recruiting young U.S. citizens to smuggle fentanyl into the county.
- While some school districts are considering banning cellphones on campus, at least one is considering whether its restrictions have been effective. Parents and teachers like the bans, but students are asking for some flexibility from the Lakeside Union School District. (CBS 8)
- Two cities in the South Bay yesterday considered banning homeless encampments. As our South County reporter Jim Hinch wrote earlier this week, across the county, momentum is growing for these bans. City councils that once rejected the idea, are now embracing their own rules to crack down on encampments. Read more here.
- Opinion: Michael Stepner, a professor of architecture and urban design and the former city architect for the city of San Diego, makes the case for design in a new op-ed for Voice. He writes, “How we experience the shape of our cities defines how we feel, how we get about and how we decide where we want to be.”
- Mayoral candidate Larry Turner was saddled with a $500 ethics fine for failing to disclose required information on some fliers. (Union-Tribune)
The Morning Report was written by Will Huntsberry, Lisa Halverstadt and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña. It was edited by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña and Scott Lewis.
Correction: A Wednesday Morning Report item misstated the start dates for two county executives. Veteran county executive Caroline Smith will begin serving as assistant chief administrative officer effective Sept. 30 and Dahvia Lynch began as the deputy chief administrative officer for land use and the environment on Wednesday.