Allegations of fraud within Parlier School District continue to rock the community

PARLIER, Calif. (KFSN) -- Beginning at around nine Friday morning, agents with the District Attorney's Office could be seen removing box loads of paperwork from the Parlier School District headquarters. The raid was part of a year long investigation into the mishandling of funds and other wrong doings within the district

"We've been waiting for this to happen. We've been having dialogue with the county office and DA Office. We knew it was coming just didn't when or what time," said Edward Lucero, Parlier Unified Superintendent.

Lucero was not named in the investigation. He took over as Parlier Unified Superintendent after numerous red flags were raised following a grand jury report.

"It's an investigation detailing financial improprieties and mis-use of public funds and some other things related to that nature. Maybe some hiring practices that might be kind of cloudy those kinds of things."

These reports of shady dealings within the district has become big news in this small town.

"This is another black eye for the community. People say Parlier this, Parlier that, but we have great residency, great people here. It's just a few people who want control and seem to forget this is about the kids," said Trinidad Pimentel, running for School Board.

Fresno County Superintendent Jim Yovino released a statement Friday saying, in part, "In my role as the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, it is my obligation to conduct fiscal oversight of school districts, which includes Parlier Unified School District."

"We are looking forward to this coming to a close at some point. Not sure when that looks like the timeline but we really want to close this chapter and move forward and do great things for this community and these kids," said Lucero.