Prosecutors Investigate Lynwood School Board

The Los Angeles district attorney’s office has launched an investigation of Lynwood school board members regarding alleged misuse of district funds, excessive spending and conflicts of interest with outside contractors, according to district attorney and school district sources.

The probe began about a month ago after the district attorney’s office received two anonymous letters containing allegations regarding the district, said office spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.

Gibbons said she could not comment further. But a source in the district attorney’s office said that the probe--being conducted by the office’s special investigations division--is examining allegations concerning the district’s five-member board.

It is still in a preliminary stage and the allegations in the letters remain unsubstantiated, the source said.

In a letter received by the district last week, investigators requested all travel, cellular phone and credit card records for board members since Jan. 1, 1997, a district source said.

The letter also asked for members’ voting records on--and details about--all district contracts awarded in the last 2 1/2 years.

“I was surprised to learn that we were being investigated by the district attorney, and when we received formal notice that there is a formal investigation I was upset,” said Rachel Chavez, president of the school board. “But I hope that if there was any wrongdoing, that anyone who is guilty of misusing district funds or resources is brought to justice.”

Chavez said board members can attend conferences to remain informed about the latest developments in education. But some members, she said, were abusing that right.

“The number of conferences are too many, and some are political in nature and not pertinent to educational issues,” she said. She declined to say which board members were spending too much.

Board member Errick R. Lee said he was aware of the request for information but knew of no allegations against board members. Lee and board member Margaret Araujo said they also were unaware of any financial impropriety by other members.

Board members Thelma Williams and Cynthia Green-Geter could not be reached for comment.

The Lynwood Unified School District oversees the education of about 16,000 students at the city’s 13 schools.