CVUSD to hire new assistant superintendent of business services as questions swirl about predecessor
The Coachella Valley Unified School District extended a job offer to a new assistant superintendent of business services on Thursday night.
Mayela Salcedo was offered a three-year contract for a base salary of $194,487 per year. Salcedo currently serves as the director of fiscal services for the district.
The district has been without an assistant superintendent of business services since February when Joe Dominguez left without any public explanation.
In March, Superintendent Luis Valentino would not comment on Dominguez’s departure from CVUSD, and he would not say if Dominguez was dismissed or voluntarily left his position.
The assistant superintendent of business services is responsible for overseeing district finances.
Last fall, some trustees publicly expressed concern over construction costs at Palm View Elementary School in Coachella, which was $30 million over budget, according to Trustee Jesus Gonzalez.
Costs had ballooned due to numerous change orders, contract amendments that affect a contractor's scope of work.
Dominguez had explained to the trustees that the change orders needed to be approved or the district would be open to liability for failure to pay for services already completed.
Dominguez had previously served as the chief budget officer for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District in Watsonville, where he resigned in August 2020 under unclear circumstances, as well.
Jonathan Horwitz covers education for The Desert Sun. Reach him at jonathan.horwitz@desertsun.com or @Writes_Jonathan.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: CVUSD to hire new assistant superintendent of business services
