CUSD Update: Carter’s Party Is Over

The CUSD board of trustees put Supt. Woodrow Carter on paid administrative leave on Jan. 7 and fired him on March 9. For months, the trustees have been legally prevented from discussing closed-session information and personnel matters that involved allegations against Carter.

Teachers union members and a few parents have lambasted the trustees during public comments at board meetings, knowing the trustees couldn’t address questions and accusations about Carter.

The tables turned on March 19 when the district released a report describing the trustees’ charges against the ex-superintendent. The trustees had conducted an investigation of Carter after putting him on leave, and some of the findings are stunning. A few of the charges are outlined in a March 20 OC Weekly article by Daffodil J. Altran, “Spa getaway bites ex-superintendent in the butt.”

Altran’s list of Carter’s deeds includes some of the following:

• His weekend at a spa, partially funded by an architectural firm that later received multimillion dollar contracts from CUSD.
• Misappropriation of district funds for political purposes (Fleming is awaiting trial after being charged with felonies for similar allegations). Evidence of illegal use of district time and resources was found in Carter’s emails seeking support for school board candidates Erin Kutnick, Duane Stiff, Andrea Kooiman and Ken Maddox. Carter also directed his assistant to promote Kooiman’s visits to schools. He asked OC School Supt. Bill Habermehl to endorse Kutnick, Stiff, Kooiman and Maddox.
• He wrote to ex-trustee Sheila Benecke, asking about her opinion of how the November election would turn out: “Will I be stuck with [candidates Sue] Palazzo and Mike Winsten? If so, I need to give notice to my landlord!!"
• He illegally added 18 months of severance pay to his contract without the board’s approval.
• He deceived the board by “double dipping” on reimbursements and prepared misleading agendas.
• He withheld information requested by the board and breached confidentiality laws.
• He behaved inappropriately (usually angrily) with parents

The board’s 54-page report is backed with 58 pages of exhibits.

The report and Carter’s rebuttal can be found in an OC Register article:  http://www.ocregister.com/articles/carter-report-district-2341049-school-board

Supporting documentation was forwarded to this blog by a CUSD parent, and can be accessed with these links: 4of9 5of9 6of9 7of9 8of9 9of9 These files contain obscenity-laced communication and include the following email written by Carter on Jan. 5 while he was at work: "There are 5 trustees who are as cowardly as any group I known [sic], and they backed off trying to fire me. I hope the hell they do, then I would get a nice buy-out and go on an extended golfing vacation!"

Carter also sent numerous emails to personal friends about sensitive and/or confidential issues. A Jan. 6 email from a CUSD parent to Carter starts off with, "Hi Babe" and asks questions “Is it true that Maddox is back on our side? Do we have three solids now?” She signs off with "hugs, kisses and massages. XXOOXX”

A Dec. 21 email from Carter ends, “Meanwhile, I absolutely am crazy about your little Sister. Gonna spend 10 days with her over the break. I will try to whip [redacted] into shape … that will keep me sharp for January when I take up the sword with the trustees again.”

A Jan. 12 email from Carter: “I am in Dana Bro … awaiting a call from my fine lawyer friend. I suspect they [trustees] have to go back into closed session after the regular meeting. I will call you tomorrow. Where are all the white women??”

On Jan. 6, Carter writes to ex-trustee Sheila Benecke, “It will be interesting to see what happens tonight. I really let them have it in closed session Dec. 18th … this could be pay-back. So be it … I am tired of this little troop of idiots!”