A superintendent search and grand jury response are among the top tasks being tackled by the newly elected Twin Rivers Unified School District trustees, but old wounds continued to show during Tuesday's first meeting of the new board.
Twin Rivers Deputy Superintendent Ziggy Robeson, who is on paid administrative leave, addressed the board and demanded that the new board reinstate her or publicly state the allegations against her.
Robeson was placed on leave in April as the Sacramento Police Department investigated the school district police force, which she oversaw. That investigation is ongoing.
Twin Rivers trustee Linda Fowler stepped off the dais to address the board about her concerns with teachers union President John Ennis, who was placed on leave in May while police investigated allegations that he was involved in an altercation with a special education student. Ennis has denied any wrongdoing.
Fowler said she hopes "our teachers show they have integrity and find a leader with ethics." Fowler was not endorsed by the teachers union during the June election.
The new board unanimously elected Cortez Quinn president. Before the June election, Twin Rivers officials informed the Sacramento County district attorney of allegations that Quinn illegally took $55,000 in loans from a district employee.
That employee also accused Quinn of fathering her child. The DA and Fair Political Practices Commission launched investigations into the allegations.
Quinn told those at Tuesday's board meeting, "We will move forward from this. We will be better from this. I will be better from this."
The new board was scheduled to form a committee to address the grand jury report, but a vote on the matter was after press time.
The Sacramento County grand jury alleged widespread corruption and illegal actions within the district's police force and among district leaders.
The board was also scheduled to approve a recommendation of an executive search firm for a new superintendent. Frank Porter retired in June as the district's superintendent. Associate Superintendent Rob Ball was named interim superintendent.
"We have a lot of work to do," trustee John Dexter said.
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