I Want to be a Superintendent When I Grow Up

Supt. Jose Fernandez

Centinela Valley Union High School district is nestled in the heart of the South Bay, south of LAX, and to the west of Downtown Los Angeles, right next to the 405 Freeway.

The district has a "filthy" reputation, per a budget analyst in the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

In 2008, the CVUHSD School Board fired their superintendent Cheryl White, who was replaced by former Inglewood Councilmember Jose Fernandez.

Within one year, Fernandez received permanent status, and then after that he received massive salary increases, along with unheard of benefits and perks.

The Daily Breeze reported that the school board only reviewed Fernandez' performance one time in five years, and only with the prodding of board member Sandra Suarez, who was later censured by the board then ousted in the last election.

For his latest salary, Fernandez took $675,000, including "air time" to increase his pension.

Following the revelations of his extravagant paid, coupled with the failing stats of Centinela Valley, the CV school board moved to place Fernandez on paid leave. The FBI has also been contacted to investigate, since the LA County Office of Education, which is supposed to follow how much district officials get paid, apparently was not paying attention.

Rumors from staff in the district have also talked about a lucrative life insurance policy which the superintendent and school members received, too.

If being a superintendent guarantees such easy cash, with extra vacation time, I want to be a superintendent when I grow up!