Southwestern College Official Placed on Administrative Leave

Southwestern College placed Arlie Ricasa, director of student development, on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave Thursday, pending the college’s own internal investigation.

Ricasa faces four felony and two misdemeanor charges after District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis filed charges on Wednesday morning in the ongoing involving the Sweetwater Union High School District and Southwestern College. Charges include perjury, filing false instrument and wrongful influence.

Ricasa was elected to the Sweetwater board of trustees in 1998, began working at Southwestern in 1990 and became director of student development in 2001.

On Wednesday, after three hours in closed session, Southwestern College Governing Board President Norma Hernandez said the governing board was continuing to cooperate and share information with the District Attorney’s Office.

Following a contentious 2010 election when two long-term incumbents, Yolanda Salcido and Jorge Dominguez, were voted out of office, the new board requested the college hold its own internal investigation at an open session in April 2011. It hired an external forensic audit to review prior Proposition R contracts and related fiscal issues.

This came after numerous complaints from the college community about the actions of college administrators and board members in their handling of the Corner Lot Project funded by voter-approved, $389 million Proposition R. Other complaints included large amounts of money collected by incumbents for campaigns and the several “pay to play” accusations reported by the college community and county, local and college news media.

“Our own internal investigation is ongoing,” said Hernandez. “And to protect the integrity of the process the findings will be shared with the public only upon completion.”

Hernandez said that the governing board acknowledges that the recent events from the DA’s office had a profound impact on the college community and raised many questions about the construction contracts at the college.

“These questions will be answered in the days and weeks ahead as more information becomes available and the board can make legally sound decisions based on accurate evidence,” said Hernandez. “We acknowledge that the events of the past two weeks have been unsettling and distracting.”

In public comment, Derrick Roach, a Chula Vista resident, brought several documents to present to the board and said he was concerned about the recent investigations and charges involving SUHSD and Southwestern College.

Roach said he knew some of the board members, administrators and faculty at the college and had a great respect for their continued good efforts in providing higher education to students in the area.

“I know that they are good people and their hearts are in the right place,” he said. “But there is a cloud hanging over the college right now. A cloud of suspicion, accusations of corruption and I call on the board to take action.”

Roach said that he was concerned that Ricasa was still currently working as director of student development at Southwestern College at a time when she now faces several felony criminal charges.

“Ms. Ricasa, in the past, has been the subject of investigations with the Fair Political Practices Commission in which she has claimed all the allegations were baseless. But she was found to be guilty and fined,” he said.

Roach said he is a concerned parent with children soon to be at the community college level and asked the board to investigate these charges. He said he believed in this governing board to do the right thing.

Southwestern College Education Association President Andrew MacNeill said he commended the board on the way they have met this challenge so far, and the faculty, staff and community that spoke out over a year ago about the questionable activities in contract negotiations between contractors and college administrators.

“I do not disagree with Mr. Roach,” he said. “I think that this should also extend to those who do business with Southwestern College. This community has waited 50 years for the corner lot to be built and they deserve us to do a thorough job in finding out what things are unethical, immoral and possibly illegal before we proceed.”

Hernandez said the board appreciates the patience of the college community, faculty staff and students.

“On Monday we will resume our important mission to educate and elevate our community with all of the talent, energy and commitment that Southwestern College has been known for since 1961.”