College Places Executive on Administrative Leave
Ventura College’s executive vice president has been placed on paid administrative leave and told his contract will be not be renewed over allegations that he made negative comments about district business.
Ron Dyste, who oversaw academic affairs at the 12,000-student campus, was suspended last week and told his employment would end June 30, according to his attorney, Martha Torgow.
Ventura County Community College District Chancellor Philip Westin objected to comments Dyste allegedly made to colleagues, prompting the chancellor to dismiss him, according to a claim for reinstatement Dyste filed against the district.
Dyste’s claim states that he was exercising his free-speech rights by bringing to light “certain proposed actions which would have been in violation of the law or board policy.”
Torgow declined to be more specific.
College officials have told Torgow they do not plan to settle the matter, so she said late last week she would file a lawsuit.
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