San Diego Unified School District recently made headlines after a unanimous decision by the board to terminate Superintendent Lamont Jackson due to substantiated allegations of misconduct involving female staff members.
An investigation found that Jackson “more likely than not” engaged in unwelcome, sex-based behavior towards two former employees. While some allegations against Jackson were not substantiated due to lack of evidence, others claimed that he made sexual advances towards the employees, which they rejected, leading to their termination. The women further alleged that their firings were in retaliation for rejecting Jackson’s advances.
Additional allegations included that Jackson promoted women with whom he had sexual relations and engaged in offensive and sexually charged behavior.
Board President Shana Hazan announced that following the investigation’s findings, both the board and Jackson agreed that his separation from the district was in the best interest of all parties involved. Despite the decision, Hazan expressed gratitude for Jackson’s past leadership.
The move to terminate Jackson comes months after an external investigation was commissioned in response to allegations of misconduct. The confirmation of these allegations prompted the board to take action.
Amidst the controversy, Deputy Superintendent Fabiola Bagula has been appointed as the interim superintendent. Bagula, who has a decade of experience within the district and the county office of education, is expected to provide stability during this transition period.
Although Jackson’s contract was terminated without cause, the district is still obligated to pay his salary and provide health benefits for the next six months. This decision raises questions about the district’s future leadership and whether a search will be conducted for Jackson’s replacement.
