Chula Vista Elementary School District will hire an outside law firm to investigate corruption allegations raised in a Voice of San Diego story earlier this month.
In Voice’s original story, the district’s former chief operating officer made multiple allegations about top officials at the district. The former COO, Jovanim Martinez, said the district Superintendent Eduardo Reyes pressured him on multiple occasions to award a contract to a company called Dr. Build. Martinez also said board member Francisco Tamayo told him to award a contract to Gafcon, a local construction management company. He also said an assistant superintendent instructed him and another employee to plan and throw a political fundraiser for board members on district time.
Each of the allegations will be investigated, according to district spokesperson Giovanna Castro.
District board members voted to initiate the investigations into Reyes and Tamayo during a closed session portion of a board meeting Wednesday night. Tamayo recused himself from the vote on whether the allegations against him should be investigated.
The investigation into the allegations against the assistant superintendent, Jason Romero, was initiated earlier by the superintendent and did not require board approval, according to Castro.
Three days ago, both Tamayo and Reyes sent emails to Board President Lucy Ugarte to request the investigations.
“These allegations are completely inaccurate, false, mean-spirited, and intended to generate baseless clickbait,” Reyes wrote. “I have never pressured Mr. Martinez or any other staff member to give any type of contract to anyone. Furthermore, there has never been any contract or recommendation given for any type of work for Dr. Build.”
Tamayo’s letter was similar.
“While these articles include factual inaccuracies and subjective framing, I recognize the importance of maintaining public trust and upholding the highest standards of ethical governance,” he wrote. “I believe it is in the best interest of the district, our community, and this Board to seek an objective legal review.”
District officials have not said which law firm will be performing the investigations.
The exact parameters of the investigations are also not immediately clear. In Tamayo’s letter, he requested an investigation that would specifically look into whether he had violated Government Code 1090, which is related to conflicts of interest in government contracts, the Political Reform Act and the Brown Act.
At Wednesday’s board meeting, Rosemary Lowry, a parent, said she was bothered by the allegations.
“I am deeply concerned about these allegations of conflicts of interest. We rely on you [the board] to be impartial and represent children,” she said.
Martinez, the former COO who made allegations against district officials, is also under investigation. District officials believe he had an improper relationship with a company called W2W Sport.
Both Martinez and W2W officials have denied the allegations.
Gafcon officials have also denied having any inappropriate relationship with Tamayo.
Al Renteria, the operator of Dr. Build, did not respond to inquiries about his relationship with Reyes. Reyes, through a district spokesperson, has also not responded to questions about how long the two have known each other.
Before becoming superintendent, Reyes served as a board member for Chula Vista Elementary School District. Renteria donated $100 to his 2018 campaign for school board. He also donated to a failed bid for Chula Vista City Council in 2016.
Renteria wrote in a text message that it was his “first amendment right to contribute to the campaign of [his] choosing.”
Castro, the district spokesperson, previously said it was “preposterous” to think Reyes would be influenced by small political donations.
At the board meeting, Tamayo said: “I have nothing to hide.”
Three questions immediately come to mind:
1- Who is choosing the firm? CVESD?
2- Why isn’t the firm named?
3- Perimeters should most definitely be provided.
IF the firm chosen has done work for any school district – that is a concern. My point, to lay the issue to rest – clear those involved – we, the taxpaying community of Parents/Voters must have total confidence in the independence of this investigation. Yes, I have been jaded by my past involvement with SUHSD.
Haha, CVESD is going to hire a cozy law firm to investigate allegations against themselves, what a joke.
I couldn’t agree more with the Annie J and Maty comments. It needs to be a truly independent investigation, and broad in scope. For example, they should be looking into how Tamayo got his wife hired into the payroll department. Also, re “Castro, the district spokesperson, previously said it was “preposterous” to think Reyes would be influenced by small political donations.” She’s right right. lol He’s influenced by BIG political donations. Follow the dollar, VOSD.
The family job option may have been negotiated by “Cozy Rosi.”
This is concerning! I heard that the investigators will be from the Law Firm of Howe, Dewey, Cheatem.
This is a situation where the State or Federal Grand Jury should be involved
in this matter and the Department of Justice also and look into White Collar Corruption within the Chula Vista School District.
It’s crucial that Reyes, Tamayo, and Romero undergo an investigation by an independent law firm—one not connected to CVESD or the union, especially the influence of Lucy Urgate. There are serious concerns about Reyes and his team, who seem more focused on power politics than the best interests of our children.
The Voice of San Diego should take a deeper look into the numerous staff members who left after Reyes took over, as well as the troubling reports about how Reyes allegedly used Ramos to carry out the union’s political agenda and eliminate individuals who were seen as obstacles by Rosi and the union. Tamayo, as Reyes’ right-hand man, has played a key role in this dynamic.
What we need is a school board that prioritizes children over politics—one that is free of baggage and focused on true educational progress. The time has come for term limits for board members to ensure accountability and prevent the entrenchment of political agendas.
The skeletons are coming out, and there are many within the educational community who are aware of the inner workings and tactics used to silence dissent. I urge Voice of San Diego to keep digging. These individuals have been silencing voices and covering up key issues for far too long.