Rialto schools chief: ‘I have not committed a crime’
In his first public comment since Rialto police arrested Judy Oakes, 49, last week on suspicion of burglary, embezzlement and grand theft from the district, Rialto Unified Superintendent Harold Cebrun on Wednesday neither confirmed nor denied a personal relationship with Oakes — something that has been alluded to by his critics — but he angrily denied he was involved in the alleged crime.
“I have not violated any district policy,” he said. “I have not committed a crime, been associated with a crime or had knowledge of a crime.”
Oakes, of San Bernardino, was arrested at the district’s nutrition services offices at 151 S. Cactus Ave. on Aug. 7.
She had a large amount of cash on her when she was arrested and when her home was searched more cash and evidence was discovered, according to Rialto police.
An accountant for the nutrition services department, Oakes had been working for the district since 1993. She was released on $50,000 bail on Aug. 8 and resigned the same day.
The arrest set off comments, including one from Rialto school board member Edgar Montes, suggesting that the law enforcement investigation could reveal other district employees or administrators being involved.
Community members, some armed with signs demanding an audit of the district, filled the Multipurpose Room at Preston Elementary for the school board meeting on Wednesday night.
“I stood here before the board four years ago and said Rialto needs to be cleaned up,” Moreno Valley community activist Raul Wilson told the board members.
Some even called for Cebrun to step down, at least while the district investigates.
“The need to objectively deal with this issue is paramount,” San Bernardino attorney Tim Prince said. “It’s difficult to do that when the superintendent is compromised in his personal relationship.”
“The superintendent should be relieved of his duties, at least until this investigation is completed, ...” he said. “We need to make sure the investigation is neutral.”
Cebrun stopped short of confirming any romance, past or present, with Oakes, although he noted that many district employees had found love in the workplace.
“This issue is not about any relationship, but about a crime, a crime that I had nothing to do with,” Cebrun said.
Cebrun had his supporters on and off the dais Wednesday.
“We don’t have all the information,” school board member Joanne Gilbert said. “We need to listen and wait for the district attorney and Police Department. Trying people in public is not a way of solving any problems.”
Board member Joseph Martinez disputed any alleged links between Oakes and Cebrun.
“People are trying to bring Dr. Cebrun alongside someone” who has been accused of certain crimes, Martinez said. “That link is not there.”
Montes criticized the school board, saying Oakes’ alleged crimes constitute a failure on its part.
“As a parent and a member of this community, I’m deeply, deeply concerned,” he said. “We are the oversight: these five people in the middle.”
The nutrition services department’s finances will receive a forensic audit, said Cebrun, to determine what happened to any missing funds.
The school board will meet next on Monday evening, in a special closed-doors session to discuss “personnel related matters and procedures to abide by during the ongoing audit and investigation of nutritional services,” according to a Thursday afternoon news release announcing the meeting.
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