SAN JOSE — Supporters of former Branham High School athletic director Landon Jacobs have filed a formal complaint to the district office, shedding more light about why the longtime administrator was dismissed while also calling for his reinstatement.
In the complaint, which was submitted this week to the Campbell Union High School District by the “Branham community” and shared by a source in an email to the Bay Area News Group, Jacobs is accused of misappropriation of Associated Student Body funds and not following financial policies after a district audit for the 2022-23 school year.
According to the 12-page complaint, the infractions were not repeated.
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A corrective action plan that included developing an ASB handbook and training for staff has not been fully implemented as of March 29, the complaint claims.
In an email to the Bay Area News Group on Friday, CUHSD Board of Trustees president Jason Baker wrote, “The District has received the complaint and it is being handled according to district policies and procedures. We don’t comment on personnel matters or matters under investigation.”
The complaint isn’t on the agenda for the school board meeting on Thursday. A source said district superintendent Robert Bravo has 30 days to respond and that the issues raised in the complaint can’t be included on the board’s agenda until he does.
The complaint alleges that Branham principal Lindsay Schubert unjustly removed Jacobs and assistant athletic director Heather Cooper while fostering a culture that does not support sports.
Cooper was placed on administrative leave last fall for also misusing ASB funds and not following financial protocols, the complaint states. She has not responded to Bay Area News Group requests for an interview.
Though she hasn’t returned to her administrative job, according to the complaint, Cooper is back coaching volleyball at the school.
In addition to demands that Jacobs and Cooper return to their positions, the complaint calls for Schubert to be removed as principal.
“It is heartbreaking to see the direction we are being led for Athletics and Activities at Branham High School,” the complaint reads. “The systematic dismantling of programs that sit at the core of Branham High School needs to be halted and reversed.”
Schubert didn’t respond to a request for comment on Friday.
The principal and CUHSD have been under fire since Jacobs’ dismissal became public last month. He was given until April 5 to accept an offer to teach history at Del Mar, another high school in the district, but he declined. He has since reapplied for his old job at Branham.
Asked about the allegations in the complaint, Jacobs, who had been the school’s athletic director for 14 years, said on Friday, “There hasn’t been any communication from the district or the principal about my removal from the AD position.”
A change.org petition in support of Jacobs has received more than 1,400 signatures.
At a school board meeting last week, hundreds of his supporters filled the district office to voice their displeasure about Jacobs’ removal and Schubert’s actions.
According to the complaint, Schubert had issues with baseball and swimming purchase orders for items such as food for concessions at athletic events.
The complaint also claims that any purchase order had to include receipts and extensive details about each item. Branham, according to the complaint, was the only school in the district that had such a policy.
In Cooper’s situation, the complaint alleges that the longtime volleyball coach made a mistake in a request for financial reimbursement and was not given an opportunity to correct the error.
The complaint also charges Schubert with blocking the athletic department’s efforts to raise funds.
The complaint alleges that Schubert reneged on an agreement to hang sponsorship banners on campus and also insisted that any athletic fundraising be shared equally among varsity and lower-level teams.
According to the complaint, Schubert is not allowing sports camps “in the name of making sure we follow proper procedures.” The camps are typically an extra source of revenue for athletic teams.
Source: www.mercurynews.com