Multiple controversies abound within CVUSD
Another setback for the Coachella Valley Unified School District, which has been faced multiple controversies in recent years.
Board of Trustee member Frank Becerra, who was elected last Fall, is now facing four felony charges. Three for perjury and one for false declaration of candidacy- after allegedly providing false information in his election documents. In court documents, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office alleged he provided a false address as his place of residence. That address, KESQ News Channel 3’s and CBS Local 2’s Katie Widner found, was an open field.
Becerra faces more than four years in prison if convicted on all charges.
It is just the latest in a stream of controversial issues that have marred the district in recent years.
There was the two-year-long contract dispute with the teachers union that prompted heated protests and a student walk-out.
Read our original report: Dozens of CVUSD teachers call out sick
This past Spring, video of an 11-year-old autistic child who was left on a CVUSD bus on 2014 surfaced. KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 had previously tried to request the video. The District had said it did not exist.
Read our original report: How could this have happened?
Last Monday, a popular high school teacher, 59-year-old Robert Anthony Korwin, was arrested and charged with child molestation after trying to meet up with a 14-year-old for sex. He pleaded not guilty. KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 sent a list of questions surrounding Korwin, and his tenure with the district, on June 12, they never responded. We called the superintendent’s office on Wednesday and were told to resend the questions, they responded to our questions via email a couple of hours later.
The district released a statement on the matter:
“The District is shocked by these events, but also is not aware at this time of any allegations of sexual misconduct or other incidents of concern involving any District students or personnel, or others in the Coachella Valley Unified School District. Nevertheless, I want to assure the District community that the District will cooperate fully with law enforcement, and will take all necessary steps to protect the safety of District students and personnel. Additionally, please be assured that the District is utilizing all means necessary to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the District community.”
The district said that Homeland Security notified them of Korwin’s arrest the day he was arrested.
Korwin is currently on paid administrative leave, the district said that he will remain on paid administrative leave until he is either released or convicted.
Over the phone, Richard Razo, President of the Coachella Valley Teachers Association said that there have been some changes under the new superintendent, Dr. Edwin Gomez, who started June 12, but that is has been slow going and a “frustrating” process. Mayor of Coachella, Steven Hernandez, declined an interview Wednesday and said he did not want to get involved.
