Public commenter urges overhaul of district governance and board hears request for forensic audit
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Summary
Public commenter Jennifer Douglas Ramirez told the board that recurring litigation stems from governance shortcomings; a board member asked to place a forensic-audit request on the February agenda while staff noted FCMAT would conduct an initial fiscal health review.
Jennifer Douglas Ramirez, who identified herself as CEO of GenEd Enterprises, used the public-comment period at the Jan. 27 special meeting to press the board on governance and dispute prevention.
"Litigation is not inevitable. It is the predictable result of upstream system failures," Ramirez said, urging the board to invest in systems, training and verification so that special-education services are delivered consistently.
Ramirez said she has worked inside and with districts for two decades and argued that recurring special-education disputes are avoidable when governance reaches into the classroom through sustainable systems and verified implementation. She offered to partner with the district and emphasized prevention rather than piecemeal corrections.
During board discussion, a board member requested that the board place an item on the next regular meeting agenda (February 2026) to consider requesting a forensic audit by the San Diego County Office of Education and, if appropriate, coordination with state oversight agencies such as the California Department of Education or the state controller’s office. District staff and the county fiscal adviser responded that the Financial Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) would perform a fiscal health survey and that FCMAT reports are publicly posted when complete; staff did not commit to a formal county/state forensic audit that evening.
The board did not take a formal vote to direct a forensic audit during the special meeting; the request to agendize the audit consideration was entered for the record and may return on the regular agenda in February.