Employees raise complaints about Santa Fe High leadership and district hiring error at public forum

Several speakers used the board’s public forum Tuesday to raise personnel concerns involving Santa Fe High School and a separate district job‑posting error.

Samantha Valenzuela introduced herself as an educational assistant (EVA) at Santa Fe High and described what she called repeated false accusations and administrative handling that, she said, has harmed morale and caused staff to leave. "Morale is low, and there are exceptionally qualified staff members leaving Santa Fe High by transfer or other outside jobs," Valenzuela told the board. She said instances included being accused of failing to perform duties on a day she was not at work, and that requests to move into a medically fragile classroom were unanswered. Valenzuela said the situation had left her fearful to finish her contract.

Gail Hansen, who said she applied for a secretarial position posted as a nine‑month job, described a year‑long effort to resolve a district error. Hansen said she filed a level‑one grievance after repeated requests to HR did not resolve the discrepancy. "Deputy Superintendent Romero responded to my level grievance 1 about the 9 month contract. She admitted that the district did make an error and apologized for it, but no resolution was made," Hansen said. Hansen said an interim plan proposed by HR would have her work beyond the posted contract end date and be placed on unpaid administrative leave, which she challenged as unfair under board policy and the collective bargaining agreement.

Kobi Hansen, who spoke in support of Valenzuela, cited board policies on ethical conduct and contract terms and said employees must be held accountable to the terms posted and signed. The speakers urged the board to ensure district adherence to board policy and the collective bargaining agreement and to follow up with staff and school leadership.

Board members did not take formal action during the meeting but acknowledged the concerns. Deputy Superintendent Romero, Superintendent Veronica Garcia and other administrators are on the public record as having been involved in follow‑up conversations; board members said personnel matters are handled through established HR processes and grievance procedures.

The board’s public comment rules remind speakers that the board by law cannot act on items not on the posted agenda; the speakers were advised the board could still direct staff to investigate under administrative processes.