Firing of Selma school superintendent launches recall effort

SELMA, Calif. (KFSN) -- The cry to recall the three board members who voted to oust Selma School Superintendent Mark Sutton started after Tuesday night's vote. The decision came despite a strong show of public support for Sutton.

School Board President John Lorona was behind the push, which passed on a three to two vote. No reason was given.

Assistant Superintendent Teresa Wood told Action News district administrators are at-will employees and can be let go anytime, for any reason.

"It's built into our contract that you can be released for no cause. That basically means there's no provocation, no allegation of wrongdoing, there's no charges filed against an employee, it's simply for no cause," she said.

The board also voted to buy out the next 18 months of Sutton's contract, paying him about $260,000. Sutton had no comment. But many Selma parents like Reyna Martinez and Jennifer Scott support Sutton, and don't like what happened.

"I'm disappointed in how things turned out and I do feel like we were not listened to at all," Martinez said.

"It makes me really wonder the motives of those board members," Scott added.

Both women, who each have five children in Selma schools, are joining in an effort to recall the three board members behind the ouster.

Martinez told Action News, "I believe there is going to be a recall; in fact it's in progress at this point."

So after seven years on the job and just three months after signing a new contract for four years, Selma's school superintendent is gone. Nobody will say why or when his spot will be filled.