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Three Rio trustees pledge not to fire leaders this year
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More from Other NewsRamos, along with trustees Simon Ayala and Henrietta Macias, said they would not support dismissals at a board meeting Wednesday attended by dozens of parents and teachers, many of them concerned that an administrative shake-up was in the works.
The other two trustees, board President Ron Mosqueda and veteran Ernest Almanza, did not make a statement on the dismissals, which have been rumored in the district for weeks.
None of the trustees has ever publicly said they wanted to dismiss administrators, including Superintendent Yolanda Benitez, either by bringing them up on charges or by not renewing their contracts. But the League of United Latin American Citizens, a Hispanic rights organization, had sounded its concerns for weeks and conducted a campaign in neighborhoods to bring out people to board meetings.
LULAC had portrayed the possible firings as a vendetta that county Supervisor John Flynn was orchestrating against Benitez.
Flynn, who personally campaigned to put new trustees on the board, has adamantly denied that he is looking for retaliation. He said the board needed to change because it would not help him provide recreational activities for children in the new El Rio Gym. The old board was controlled by Benitez, he said, and needed some fresh, independent thinkers.
Ramos said he hopes the board's statements allay the fears about firings.
"I've been getting calls from my constituency that tensions and rumors are starting to affect classrooms," he said. "This was the board's initial step to try to address that concern."
Ramos said board members also expressed support for the administration and teachers in late January. They then met with Benitez to discuss their respective roles and responsibilities, aided by a staff person from the California School Boards Association.
Benitez, an eight-year superintendent, has a contract that lasts until 2006. Her annual performance review is usually scheduled in the summer or right before the beginning of school in September, Ramos said.
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