Parents, former staff allege special-education noncompliance, Medi‑Cal billing and abuse complaints at San Bernardino County board meeting

Three public speakers used the San Bernardino County Board of Education’s public‑comment period in August 2025 to make a series of allegations about special‑education practices in local districts, including claims of improper Medi‑Cal billing, withheld records and failures to follow mandated‑reporting rules.

Des Alvarez, a member of the public, told the board: “You show pictures of minority children and make it look like you care about us. But I don't believe you care about minorities, English language learners, or low income families. You just use them because you financially benefit from them, and you use them to make you look like you're a decent human being that cares.” Alvarez alleged that staff at the county office billed Medi‑Cal improperly and named an individual he identified as Rebecca Smith as a billing contact.

Antoinette Jensen said she was “exposing whistleblowing in this county where politics protect power and money comes before students,” and alleged campaign‑finance and…