The investigation into Lompoc High School’s principal, Alfonso Garagarza, has been mysterious and kept tightly under wraps.
While the reason for the investigation remains unclear, a recent development has taken place in the case. Two months after Garagarza was put on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, the Lompoc Unified School District education board announced that it has accepted a letter of resignation from him, effective June 22, 2012. The motion to accept his resignation passed with a 4-0 vote at the board meeting on Feb. 28.
Also at the meeting, board president Greg Doyle announced Garagarza will not return to Lompoc High School “in any capacity.” In the meantime, he’ll be serving as a “principal on assignment,” performing various substitute teaching duties until the date of his resignation in June.
Superintendent Greg Kampf once again stated that the reason for the investigation can’t be disclosed to the public because it’s a personnel matter. He has also stated in the past that this issue isn’t criminal or student-related. Kampf refused to disclose whether the findings of the investigation were enough to fire Garagarza. Doyle also declined to reveal the reasons for the investigation but said “it must have been serious enough that he felt he needed to resign.”
Kampf stated that Garagarza’s letter of resignation means the district doesn’t have any consideration of the matter.
Garagarza’s case was being investigated by a Sacramento law firm—Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann, and Girard—before the findings were turned over to the district in January.
While Garagarza had the opportunity to come before the board to appeal his case, he wasn’t present at the board meeting.
According to Kampf, Paul Bommersbach, who has been serving as interim principal in Garagarza’s absence, will continue to serve as principal until a permanent replacement is found. Kampf said the new principal will be chosen from within the district by April 10.
This article appears in Mar 8-15, 2012.