When making a hire of this nature it is imperative for the Board to conduct "Due Diligence" before making such an offer. To do anything less would be a breach of their fiduciary responsibility to the tax payers and district they were elected to represent. The reason provided for this hire is driven by two board members who believe they cannot trust current council to provide adequate advise.
What checks were conducted before Kimberley Beatty made the call to Ms. Media and tendered an offer of employment? Were any of Ms. Medina's prior clients contacted for feedback on her abilities? What type of background was done to ensure the highest level of trust could be given and received?
A sampling of alarming articles involving Ms. Medina were found with a simple search of Google.
- July 8, 2015, SanJoseInside "County Education Officials Knew They Were Hiding Public Records" by Josh Koehn
- May 17, 2013, The Sun News "Fontana School Board Dismisses Attorney" by Jim Steinberg
- July 9, 2015, The Santa Clara Weekly "County Education Office Finance Chief and RDA Dissolution Board Member Micaela Ochoa "Steps Down" in Wake of Payroll Mess" by Carolyn Schuk
- April 16, 2013, Whittier Daily News "After Two Years El Rancho Bond Funds, School Repairs Still Waiting" by Peter Fullum
- December 8, 2015, Voice of San Diego "Poway Unified Takes a Step Toward Parting Ways With Superintendent" by Ashley McGlone
I am not so naive as to believe everything I read in a newspaper, on the internet or in a BLOG. But, I do know that where there is smoke there is usually fire, or one about to erupt. The take away from the above articles from various cities and settings is NOT one that engenders a good feeling about this new hire, knowing what her proposed role is to be.
What has the Board of Education done in the way of "Due Diligence" related to the hiring of Ms. Maribel S. Medina? The hiring was done in a manner to avoid much publicity. Was the background check also done in a manner to avoid publicity?
What are these people doing? You do not hire an attorney like this and NOT do a background check and vet that person to ensure they are on the up and up and not surrounded in controversy. You pointed out several incidents at different locations detailing different issues.... but ISSUES all the same. If I understood what I heard while watching the meeting from the video all of the Board members were OK with hiring this person? Have the ALL gone crazy? Our children are the ones who will suffer.
ReplyDeleteMy, my, my. This is so very sad. I want to laugh but find myself getting too angry to muster a laugh. This cannot be true. I went and listened to the meeting where this Ms. Medina was hired. It did not appear any of the attorney's had much information as to what it was they were getting themselves into. The questions from the board were strange in that they were not in any way probing or asked in a way to get someone to share much about their experiences, abilities or ethics. The various articles above are a HUGE concern in my view. I do not understand how this can happen in today's world. I am at a loss. Please, Please, PLEASE... DO NOT STOP WRITING ABOUT THIS!!!!!
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