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Community demands accountability after state auditor letter and alleged supplemental-contract issues
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the Evergreen board to pursue repayment and termination related to 2023 supplemental contracts, citing the Washington State Auditor's management letter and alleging misleading statements and retaliation; union leaders announced an upcoming no-confidence vote in COO Jana Gomes.
Dozens of community members used the board's public comment period on May 26 to press for accountability and transparency after concerns about supplemental contracts from Sept. 4, 2023 resurfaced with the state auditor's management letter.
Kendall Teeman, speaking as an Evergreen Education Association member, questioned Superintendent Maloney’s prior statements that supplemental contracts had already been reviewed in a previous audit and alleged that district leadership provided false or misleading information. Teeman said the odds that a specific contract would be reviewed in a random sample were low and argued the district must have provided the contract if the auditor reviewed it.
Other speakers urged an independent legal review, repayment of funds and termination of Chief Operations Officer Jana Gomes. Commenters cited figures discussed publicly — including approximately $13,980 in retroactive compensation to Gomes and roughly $76,879 in combined costs the speakers attributed to contracts, investigations and legal fees — and said the Washington State Auditor’s management letter recommends additional legal review to determine whether repayment is required.
Christy Peak, president of the Evergreen Education Association, said the EA Rep Council passed a resolution directing a vote of no confidence in COO Gomes; the union’s general membership will vote on June 17.
Several parents described systemic problems in special education and IEP timelines, while teachers and students highlighted cuts to language specialists, instructional coaches and fifth-grade music programs that they say disproportionately affect vulnerable students. Student speakers asked why levy funds approved by Clark County were not being used to preserve those positions.
Board members acknowledged the state auditor’s management letter and several directors said they will seek outside legal review to determine whether repayment or other actions are required. No formal board action on personnel or repayment was taken at the meeting; speakers asked the board to report related allegations to law enforcement in at least one instance and sought preservation of records and video.
The meeting record shows vocal, repeated requests for transparency and follow-up; the board later discussed pursuing an outside legal review as recommended in the auditor's letter.
