The Perris Union High School Board of Education has created a scenario in which it could hire its second consecutive superintendent with minimal experience and personal ties to board members.
In 2024, the PUHSD board voted 4-1 to hire as superintendent Jose Luis Araux, who had recently retired from his principal’s position in the Jurupa Valley Unified School District. Araux, who had never been an administrator higher than principal, had previously served with three current members on the PUHSD board.
Last week, Araux announced that he will retire as superintendent in December after serving 2 ½ years. And at the Aug. 12 district board meeting, trustees decided by a 3-2 vote that they will “select an internal candidate” as Araux’s replacement – effectively eliminating any qualified outside candidates who might want to apply.
Even more interesting is the fact that all three board members voting in favor of the motion were previously connected through their campaign finances to the man who could now, as a current PUHSD cabinet member, be first in line to get the superintendent’s job.
Alfredo Andrade, previously a human resources manager outside the education sector, raised concerns around the PUHSD community when he was hired with board approval as the district’s Chief Human Resources Officer in November 2024. Andrade doesn’t even have a teaching credential, and the board had to amend the bylaws in order to hire him for the HR position in an academic environment.
Then it became widely known that Andrade served as treasurer in the campaign that got trustee Anthony T. Stafford elected in 2020. Moreover, Andrade’s wife Daniela served as treasurer for the campaign that got Edward Garcia elected in 2022. And to top it off, Daniela Andrade served as treasurer for the campaign that got Jamie Anaya elected in 2024.
According to multiple sources close to the situation, board members’ choice for superintendent may again be someone whom many consider unqualified and who appears to be receiving special treatment.
Several issues are involved here:
— The board’s decision to limit superintendent candidates to “internal” candidates could be considered unethical or illegal hiring practices because it discriminates against outside qualified candidates.
— Andrade wasn’t even qualified to serve as Chief Human Resources Officer in an educational environment until board members in August 2024 amended the job description for that title. Removed were requirements including “an administrative services credential, a secondary teaching credential, or five years of experience in an administrative capacity within a school district” – none of which Andrade has.
— And when you’re talking about a superintendent, the requirements are even more stringent. According to the PUHSD website, the requirements for superintendent include “Minimum of five years of teaching experience; and five years of successful administrative experience, including a principalship.”
— The prior relationship of Andrade and his wife to three board members through financial means could be a serious conflict of interest – if it isn’t already. A spokesperson for the Fair Political Practices Commission referred Menifee 24/7 to the agency’s rules regarding participation by public officials in voting situations on such matters.
“While I cannot speak specifically to your question, what I can share is that in general, the conflict of interest provisions in the Political Reform Act apply to all ‘public officials,’ which includes every member, officer, employee, or consultant of a state or local government agency,” wrote Shery Yang, communications director for the FPPC, in an email to Menifee 24/7.
The FPPC ruling states, in part, that “Under the Act, a public official has a disqualifying conflict of interest in a governmental decision if it is foreseeable that the decision will have a financial impact on his or her personal finances or other financial interests. In such cases, there is a risk of biased decision-making that could sacrifice the public’s interest in favor of the official’s private financial interests. To avoid actual bias or the appearance of possible improprieties, the public official is prohibited from participating in the decision.”
A ruling in this case would involve an interpretation of whether the campaign finances previously handled by Andrade and/or his wife constitutes such a conflict of interest in their participation on the superintendent hiring process.
If the three board members in question are forced to recuse themselves for any vote on Andrade, there wouldn’t be enough remaining board members to approve him. Board members Steve Campos and Charles Hall voted against the recommendation to limit the selection to internal candidates.
Menifee 24/7 emailed Stafford, Garcia, and Anaya for a response. None replied, but we did receive a response from Araux.
“Your email dated Aug. 15 to three of the District’s Board Members was forwarded to me,” he wrote. “Thank you for the inquiry. At this time, no decision has been made regarding any candidate for the superintendent role once I retire. I can assure you that all decisions will be made in compliance with applicable law.”
Araux did not confirm or deny the consideration of Andrade as a candidate.
It’s possible the board could cite State Education Code 35029 if it chooses to justify the hiring of Andrade as superintendent. It states:
“A local governing board may waive any credential requirement for the chief administrative officer of the school district under its jurisdiction. Any individual serving as the chief administrative officer of a school district who does not hold a credential may be required by the local governing board to pursue a program of in-service training conducted pursuant to guidelines approved by the commission.”
