Sweetwater Union High School District Boardmembers' Homes Raided

Today, December 20, district attorney investigators raided the homes of several Sweetwater Union High School District boardmembers and Henry Amigable, who served as a bond construction program manager for both the district and Southwestern College.

By midday, investigators had gone to the homes of boardmembers Pearl Quinones, Arlie Ricasa, Bertha Lopez, and Amigable's. It is suspected that the investigation will include other boardmembers.

In June of this year, community activists Fran Brinkman, Stewart Payne, John Brickley, Kathleen Cheers, and Maty Adato set today’s actions in motion when they took their complaints about former Sweetwater superintendent Jesus Gandara to the district attorney’s office.

Brinkman said they had initially gone to the FBI with stacks of documents but decided to pursue their complaints through the D.A.’s office. Brinkman said that their group became a funnel for information from teachers and administrators within the district.

When the Union-Tribune broke the story last June about the investigation, Brinkman told the reporter, “If we can get a leader that is honest — I think we can get back to a good district and not a district that relies on cheating, forgery, and lies.”

Brinkman said she initially supported Sweetwater interim superintendent Ed Brand, but from all appearances, the district is back to the same old business. She was disappointed to learn that the board is considering offering Brand a three-year contract.

Pictured: Pearl Quinones, Ed Brand