This is an open letter addressed to Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District School Board.
Maria Leon-Vazquez has brought shame onto all members of the SMMUSD School Board by voting to hire companies that her husband worked for and not declaring it. It’s illegal to use your position of power for financial benefit. So, when Craig Foster suggested she retire, he’s absolutely right to try to save the reputation of the whole school board. Public trust is eroding every minute she lingers and refuses to step down and accept the consequences of her actions. In addition, the school board and the whole process of “investigation” now looks suspicious because the board won’t release all of the findings from the law firm they hired. No transparency. Why not? What have they got to hide?
Ms. Lieberman seemed to defend Ms. Leon-Vazquez, claiming that we all make mistakes and things like this happen—it was just a little “oopsie daisy.” Well, Maria’s long career on the board (18 years) makes me feel certain that she knows all the rules and did at the time she voted. In any case, ignorance is no defense in the eyes of the law.
I am a parent in the district and feel utterly disheartened to know that one of our leaders can’t be trusted. To rectify her wrong and restore the public’s trust, the board must vote to remove her from office.
Jessica Isles