<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1WfBSF_0l9AjKoT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1WfBSF_0l9AjKoT00" width="640" height="610" ></figure>The Stockton Unified Board of Trustees have terminated John Ramirez Jr.’s superintendent emeritus contract with the school district. The seven-member Board of Trustees voted Feb. 28 in closed session to end the former superintendent’s emeritus status to report directly to the board, provide transition assistance and have duties assigned by the board president, with Ramirez still collecting full salary of $285,000 plus benefits for one year. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate>Board President AngelAnn Flores and Trustees Sofia Colón, Donald Donaire and Kennetha Stevens voted to end Ramirez's agreement with the school district. Trustees Cecilia Mendez and Alicia Rico voted against terminating the contract. Trustee Ray Zulueta abstained from voting. Stockton Unified’s Director of Communications, Marketing and Media Relations Melinda Meza, said Ramirez’s severance was paid monthly, beginning on July 1, 2022 and was paid for nine out of the 12 months included in his contract. SUSD officials would not comment on if Ramirez’s contract was paid out in full upon termination of the agreement. Ramirez resigned June 9, 2022, after just more than a year as superintendent of Stockton's largest school district, saying he needed to care for his elderly parents. Less than a month later, the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury released a report showing financial mismanagement and dysfunction at the school district. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate>In August 2022, Ramirez was “placed on leave” from his emeritus role after he was <a href="https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/politics/government/2022/08/26/former-susd-superintendent-john-ramirez-jr-arrested-dui-charges/7907973001/">arrested for DUI</a> in Stockton. Ramirez’s separation contract was the subject of <a href="https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/politics/government/2022/09/17/stockton-unified-trustees-dispute-san-joaquin-county-superintendent-brown-act-claims/10399972002/">a disagreement</a> in September 2022 between San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools Troy Brown and the previous majority within the Stockton Unified Board of Trustees. Brown said the agreement was one of “employment,” and that the board had violated the Brown Act by brokering the deal in closed session. Former SUSD board attorney Jack Lipton said it was a resignation agreement, not an employment agreement. Lipton was <a href="https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/education/2023/01/07/stockton-unified-school-board-parts-ways-with-attorney-lipton/69785960007/">relieved of his duties</a> at Stockton Unified in January, shortly after three new board members were elected. SJ schools chief:<a href="https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/politics/government/2023/02/15/stockton-unified-schools-audit-finds-potential-illegal-fiscal-activity/69905532007/">Stockton Unified had 'disregard for the law,’ ‘troubling culture of leadership’</a><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate>Ramirez’s saga with Stockton Unified may not yet be finished.The Feb. 14 state auditor report showing evidence of fraud at the school district brought new revelations into Ramirez’s role in pushing a $7.3 million contract for air purifier technology with IAQ Distribution, Inc., a subsidiary of Alliance Building Solutions, Inc., while bypassing board policies and procedures. The report revealed that Ramirez sent the district’s former Chief Business Official Susanne Montoya a “hostile and threatening letter” after she expressed concerns about the appearance of the district manipulating the request for proposals process. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

The Stockton Unified Board of Trustees have terminated John Ramirez Jr.’s superintendent emeritus contract with the school district. The seven-member Board of Trustees voted Feb. 28 in closed session to end the former superintendent’s emeritus status to report directly to the board, provide transition assistance and have duties assigned by the board president, with Ramirez still collecting full salary of $285,000 plus benefits for one year.