HBCSD Corruption

Proof of the lie:

(1) HBCSD received an email from Jonathan Zaleski, President of TPRC Communications a social media consulting firm after HBCSD lost the 2014 Measure Q vote: 

November 25, 2014 – Email from Jonathan Zaleski President of TPRC Communications (social media consultant) to Superintendent Pat Escalante (by way of executive assistant Michelle Meraz):  (TL-2016Nov25 email J Zaleski TPRC)

“Thanks for taking the time to chat on Friday.  As discussed, had I been involved as a consultant to pilot the district’s social media efforts, Measure Q would have easily passed on Election Day.”

(2) Just prior to the district’s $59M Measure S bond campaign, school board members hired Jonathan Zaleski using taxpayer funds to WIN the Measure S bond vote that would increase taxes on citizens who were paying for Jonathan Zaleski’s services.

April 13, 2016 – Consultant Agreement for Public Relations Services B-51-15/16 (TL-2016Apr13 TPRC hiring), Agreement for Educational Consultant Services (TL-2016Apr13 TPRC agreement)

“RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Board of Education ratify the consultant agreement with TPRC Communications to provide public relations services.”

“BACKGROUND: At the March 9, 2016 School Board Meeting, the Board received information on proposal for a District Communications Plan to maximize the effective distribution of information to the community in a compelling, efficient and accessible way.  The Board approved a budget of $25,000 to be used toward a Communication Plan with contracts to be presented at the April 13, 2016 School Board Meeting.”

NOTE:  Jonathan Zaleski’s contract is entitled “Agreement for Educational Consultant Services”.  Mr. Zaleski is NOT an Educational Consultant.

NOTE:  The term of Jonathan Zaleski’s contract tracks exactly with the Measure S campaign.  (March 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016)  Taxpayer funds were used to hire a social media guru to help pass the district’s $59M facilities bond, Measure S in order to get more money from taxpayers.   

NOTE:  If the social media consultant position was just a regular course of business for the district, in other words not an illegal election related expenditure using taxpayer money, what other Communication consultants were interviewed for the job before the district hired TPRC Communications?

NOTE: The hiring of Mr. Zaleski by HBCSD at exactly the same time as the Yes on Measure S campaign started and for the term of the campaign (March – June 2016), without interviewing any other media consultants and after a letter was received promising to win the next bond measure, was reported to the Fair Political Practice Commission in May 2020.  The alleged violation was that of using taxpayer funds to hire a professional communications media service for the purpose of passing bond Measure S.  Violation Section 18420: Failure to report nonmonetary campaign expenditures by local government agency (Hermosa Beach City School District) of more than $8,000 for the benefit of the Committee to Improve Hermosa Schools – Yes on S, I.D. #1383261. (TL-2002May18 FFPC TPRC Communications)

The response from HBCSD Attorney Terry Tao (who also gave a one-hour presentation one week before the $59M bond vote that was full of misinformation and misleading information and was paid $11,000 by HBCSD.  Please see May 31, 2016 Joint City and HBCSD meeting transcripts.) and rebuttal from Miyo Prassas.  (TL-2020Aug17 FPPC argument)

Response from FPPC.  (TL-2020Sep4 Response from FPPC)