SD Unified Votes To Remove Administrator From Position

Brenda Campbell Remains On Paid Administrative Leave

Posted: 09/05/2012
Last Updated: 256 days ago

The San Diego Unified School District Board voted Tuesday to remove a local administrator from her position as District 1 superintendent.

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Brenda Campbell's attorney, Dan Gilleon, told 10News that Campbell has not been terminated but remains on paid administrative leave while the board and district superintendent decide whether Campbell should be reassigned to a different post.

Campbell spoke publicly for the first time on Tuesday since she was placed on administrative leave last month.

"I haven't done anything wrong," she said. "I'm just doing my job."

Campbell, who was in charge of more than 20,000 students in southeast San Diego, came under scrutiny after allegations surfaced that she mismanaged funds. Her attorney told 10News Campbell was accused of signing off on the work of an independent contractor who was writing grants.

Campbell's lawyer called it a district "witch hunt."

"They hired two lawyers to go out and try to find some legal basis to terminate her," said Dan Gilleon. "And when you don't have a good reason to terminate, you wind up having pretty shoddy excuses, and that's what's happening here. There's all sorts of allegations about her being condescending and rude to her employees, but none of the employees have actually complained."

School board members met in executive session Tuesday to discuss a personnel action involving Campbell, but said they are bound by law to keep it confidential.

The board did allow some public comment before the closed-door session.

Several community members spoke out in favor of Campbell, saying she took on a tough job in a part of the district they claim is often ignored, raising test scores and helping students get ahead.

"Dr. Campbell was asked by you, by our community to get the test scores of our children up," said Staajubu Heshiumi, a parent. "I'm no dummy. I know that some people have taken issue with Dr. Campbell's leadership style, but her leadership style has delivered for us where no other has done before."

Members of some of the unions that operate within the district had a different viewpoint.

"I have spent a lot of time in the last few months counseling people who have been out on stress leave, vacation… some have retired, some don't come to work because of the unfair treatment and harassment," said Debora Beaver, Chief Jobs Steward for OTBS. "So while I applaud raised test scores, it cannot be at the expense of respect and dignity and being treated fairly."

Campbell clutched a white notebook she claims is full of emails and other correspondence related to allegations she mistreated employees. She believes those notes will help the board understand she did nothing wrong.

Campbell says she should keep her job.

"Because I've done an outstanding job… in southeast San Diego, it has been a long time coming that they've had a leader that was willing to take on the challenges of making sure that every student has a quality education," she said.

Copyright Do you have more information about this story? Click here to contact usCopyright 2012 by 10News.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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