Tension high after San Diego County school district hires ex-board member’s consulting firm

The Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating a contract Cajon Valley Union School District has with the consulting firm of the former school board president that was awarded after she lost her run for reelection. The contract secured Tamara Otero’s firm a $60,000 no-bid, half-year contract, paying her significantly more than she earned as a board member, and the move has left parents and district employees concerned.

According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, Otero filed paperwork to create her consulting firm, Alfabet Soup LLC, Dec. 9. Some board members said they didn’t know that Alfabet Soup belonged to Otero. The board has now approved a new contract with the firm for a lower amount of money, $50,400, after calling a special board meeting in January. 

This is not the first time the San Diego County district has dealt with issues involving Otero and its contracted companies. In 2019, the Cajon Valley school board awarded a $655,000 contract to her son’s construction company. According to the Union-Tribune, Otero abstained from the vote but did not disclose her son’s involvement.