Compton : Trustees Delay Decision on Fate of 2 Administrators

Trustees at Compton Community College have delayed plans to fire two administrators who have been under investigation for alleged mismanagement of federal funds intended for low-income students.

Trustees spent nearly four hours in closed session Tuesday night but emerged without a decision. Two weeks ago, board members had directed the college’s attorney to prepare dismissal notices for Dean of Instruction James Willard and Associate Dean Velta Jones.

Willard, Jones and two other officials were placed on paid leave after a U.S. Department of Education report found that nearly $500,000 was misspent at the college during a three-year period. Willard and Jones have been on leave since October.

A subsequent audit confirmed the federal findings, including expenditures on improper items such as clothing and building materials. Jones also drew fire for hiring two relatives with questionable credentials, then paying them much higher salaries than recommended.

The other suspended administrators were reinstated in March after the board concluded that neither was responsible for the misspent money.

The audit led to the removal of Warren A. Washington as the school’s president. The board also postponed action Tuesday night on awarding Washington $37,000 in back pay for vacation time and sick days.