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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016
INSIDE
■ Vacation Photos, A10 ■ Opinion, A12 ■ Don Higginson, A13 ■ Calendar, A14 ■ Obituaries, A14
Rancho Bernardo/4S Ranch News Journal
An Edition of
14023 Midland Road Poway, CA 92064 (858) 218-7200 pomeradonews.com
BY EMILY SORENSEN The firing of Poway Unified Superintendent John Collins dominated the local news scene in 2016. Collins, whose contract was due to end in June 2017, was fired on July 13 in a unanimous vote by the board members over an alleged $345,000 in overpayments and unauthorized payments. Collins has repeatedly denied these and other allegations. The financial discrepancies were uncovered during an audit of Collins’
contract conducted by VLS Forensic Services of Glendora. "The board was dismayed when the final audit report identified $320,769 in overpayments and unauthorized payments made to Dr. Collins, and an additional $24,494 in other transactions that violated district policies. The severity of the findings justified terminating the superintendent's contract for cause,” board President Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff said in a statement. The list of charges filed by the board against Collins included engaging in unprofessional conduct, dishonesty and refusing to obey the laws of the state and regulations prescribed by the PUSD governing board.
The board also filed a civil lawsuit to recoup the money members said Collins owed the district. The alleged overpayments totaling included $77,241 in base pay, $132,090 in longevity pay and $109,792 in vacation payout, as well as $1,646 for internet services, were paid out of the revolving cash fund, a petty cash fund meant for expediting small purchases, emergency payments and reducing purchasing costs. Purchases through the RCF should never exceed $150, according to district policy. The saga took another twist in August when Collins’ wife, Lisa Johnston-Collins, sued the district for sexual harassment, failure to prevent SEE COLLINS, A9
FILE PHOTO
Supt. John Collins was fired by the Poway Unified School Board on July 10.
1) Poway Unified fires Supt. John Collins Page A1 2) Westwood’s parking problem continues Page A1 ELIZABETH MARIE HIMCHAK
Parked cars line both sides of Botero Drive every evening, one of several Westwood streets impacted by vehicles from the Waterbridge condo complex.
Westwood, Waterbridge parking problem continues BY ELIZABETH MARIE HIMCHAK The year ended much in the same way it started for some Westwood residents seeking a remedy for a decade-old overflow parking problem on their streets. After starting out 2016 with a door-to-door canvas of several impacted streets, residents of at least 75 percent of the 122 Westwood homes affected by vehicles coming from the nearby Waterbridge condo complex had signed
3) Hurdles cleared for Palomar College’s RB campus Page A2 4) Poway honors the late Tony Gwynn Page A3 5) Future of StoneRidge Country Club being decided Page A4 6) Poway Unified board has another contentious year Page A6
a petition asking the city to implement a two-hour parking limit from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on their streets so no vehicles — theirs or Waterbridge’s — could stay there overnight. The impacted homes are on Poblado Road (from Botero Drive to Capilla Road), Botero Drive, Poblado Court, Poblado Way, Oculto Road, Oculto Court, Oculto Way and Oculto Place. SEE PARKING, A9
7) The 2016 elections were a mix of expectations and surprises Page A7 8) Money shortage forces Spirit of the Fourth to downsize Page A8 9) RB is abuzz with construction projects Page A8 10) Poway Community Center’s future still in flux Page A10
GEORGE COOKE Get The Big Picture
(858) 674-1222
Vol. 64, ISSUE 31
PUSD superintendent’s firing top story of 2016
The Broncos’ Jaden Abas is the Athlete of the Week. B2
■ Sports, B1 ■ Entertainment, B6 ■ Classifieds, B9 ■ Because I Said So, B14 ■ FACEs, B14 ■ Mr. Marketing, B15 ■ Homes, B15
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