Schools

School Corruption Suspect Demanded Lobster Dinner Before Business, Grand Jury Was Told

One contractor in the alleged school corruption that has led to the indictment of 15 contractors said school officials drank all his liquor. Another said a former superintendent refused to stay at meetings unless someone bought him lobster.

Everyone with the power to award a contract in San Diego expects some sort of handouts or free perks, Henry Amigable told a Grand Jury last fall, but current and former South County school board officials were particularly greedy. 

Whereas with some clients the expectation was that the contractor would pay part of their costs at a restaurant or sporting event, South County school officials always expected contractors to pay for everything, he said.

Amigable pleaded guilty to a charge related to the school corruption probe last year and is cooperating with authorities.

On Tuesday a Superior Court judge ruled to allow thousands of pages of Grand Jury testimony transcripts be made public.

Attorneys for some of the 15 defendants currently accused of bribery, perjury and other crimes protested since there is no rebuttal in defense of the accused during testimony at Grand Jury proceedings. 

Former Sweetwater Union High School District Superintendent Jesus Gandara would allegedly get up and walk away from a meeting if lobster wasn't on the menu, according to U-T San Diego. 

Others would complain about the quality of tickets to sporting events like football games at the Rose Bowl, Lakers games and Padres baseball games.

Current and former school board members and officials from Southwestern College and Sweetwater and San Ysidro school districts are accused of participating in pay-to-play politics; they allegedly expected gifts in return for multi-million dollar contracts.

Prop O and Prop R, bonds approved by voters in 2006 and 2008 to improve Sweetwater Union High School District and Southwestern College facilities were worth more than $1 billion. 

Judge Ana España ruled that the transcripts may be released Tuesday, though a portion must be redacted. Additional transcripts will be released in the future, the newspaper reported.

Click here to read articles by U-T San Diego about the alleged school corruption cases and Grand Jury testimony.


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