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Update on Dec. 19, 2024: During a Wednesday, Dec. 18, board meeting, the board voted in closed session to suspend the superintendent’s credit card usage. The finance committee informed the board that the county is actively auditing district credit cards.
The San Mateo County District Attorney’s office has launched an investigation into administrators at the Las Lomitas Elementary School District, Chief Deputy Shin-Mee Chang confirmed to this news organization on Wednesday.
Chang said the DA’s office received a referral and launched an investigation. Since the investigation is ongoing, she said she was unable to provide more details, including who at the district might be the subject of the investigation. She also could not say what actions are being investigated.
The DA’s investigation comes after community members have raised concerns about Superintendent Beth Polito’s spending.
This news organization’s review of credit card charges found that Las Lomitas administrators spent at least $39,000 on food for staff members in less than a year. Polito also stayed at the San Francisco Four Seasons hotel with public money. From the review, it also appears Polito upgraded to business or first class on a United Airlines flight, which violates board policy.
The Las Lomitas Education Association called for Polito and Chief Business Officer Mei Chan’s removal on Facebook, adding that 97% of members voted in favor of Polito’s immediate dismissal. Polito is set to retire in August 2025.
The board requested the County Office of Education work to conduct a review of spending in November. County Superintendent Nancy Magee declined an interview and said that more information would be presented at a board meeting on Wednesday.
Polito has not responded to multiple requests for clarification on her spending. She could not be reached to comment on the District Attorney’s investigation.
The school board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at La Entrada Middle School, in the New Building Atrium at 2200 Sharon Road, Menlo Park. Community members can also join via Zoom.
Thank you for covering this on-going story.
I agree with Mary Wachtel in thanking The Almanac for their coverage of this story.
Polito’s scheduled retirement in August 2025 is a long way off. The odds she will be able to ride this scandal out that long are very slim. The sooner the school board puts this behind them, the better.
Yes – thank you so much, Almanac. Sadly we are not getting much info from the District, so this coverage is very helpful.
Seems pretty clear that Polito stole from taxpayers – from *children.* Polito’s contract restricts her to $500/month of expenses ($6,000/year total). She far exceeded that, spending over 60k/year on travel/food. The Board cannot authorize more compensation beyond her contract without going through the proper contract amendment process (CA Constitution Art XI § 10).
Also, mandatory Board Policies prohibit the Board from approving any upgrades to flights, per diem expenses over $75, outside meals if included with conference registration, stays at luxury hotels instead of the conference hotel, extending stays at hotels beyond conference days, going to Disneyland, going to the Beach Boardwalk, etc.
Thanks again Almanac for keeping us abreast of new developments.