RICHMOND — The West Contra Costa school board on Wednesday will again consider more than doubling the amount spent to legally represent board President Charles Ramsey in a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation.
The board has already approved a $150,000 contract with Ismail Ramsey to cover legal costs incurred by Charles Ramsey as he responds to the SEC probe into the district’s bond financing.
Last month, the board rejected by a 2-1 vote a request to increase the contract to $500,000. Trustees Todd Groves and Elaine Merriweather voted against it, Trustee Madeline Kronenberg voted in favor, Trustee Randall Enos abstained and Ramsey recused himself.
On Wednesday, the board is being asked to consider a smaller, $200,000 increase, which if approved would boost the district’s coverage of Ramsey’s legal fees to $350,000. The board is also scheduled to vote on a $205,000 increase to a $30,000 contract with Nixon Peabody to represent the district in the SEC investigation, along with a $30,000 increase to a $20,000 contract with Barg, Coffin, Lewis and Trapp LLP to represent associate superintendent for business services Sheri Gamba, and a $16,000 increase to a $13,750 contract with F1 Discovery for data gathering, production and retention.
If approved, the district would be responsible for five contracts worth up to $764,750 related to the SEC investigation. District resident Scottie Smith said she and others are outraged that money that could support education in the low-performing district is being diverted for legal costs. In a Tuesday email to Merriweather, Enos and Groves, she criticized the previous contract approvals and asked for an end to the funding.
“I would appreciate your thoughtful approach to rejecting this legal trust in light of the request for just documents,” she wrote, “and instead think about the many things that this money grab could provide to our students and teachers.” The board will also vote Wednesday on three charter school petitions and a $7.5 million increase in design fees for WLC Architects’ work on Pinole Valley High.
IF YOU GO
The West Contra Costa school board will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Lovonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 MacDonald Ave., Richmond. More information is available by calling 510-231-1101 or by visiting www.wccusd.net. Click on Board of Education Packet.
