Las Lomitas superintendent steps down following credit card use investigation

Amid criticism over alleged district credit card misuse, Las Lomitas Elementary School District Superintendent Beth Polito has stepped down, officially taking leave until her retirement in August.

The announcement was made by Board President Paige Winikoff at the district’s meeting on Wednesday.

Winikoff stated that the board accepted Polito’s resignation, and Polito will be eligible to receive her retirement benefits after August. Valerie Park has been named interim superintendent, according to a memo posted on the district’s website.

The district came under scrutiny following a November report by local news outlet The Almanac, which revealed that Polito and other administrators charged public funds at least $39,000 for food deliveries and luxury hotel stays, including accommodations at the Four Seasons in San Francisco and The Wallace in New York City.

The allegations emerged as part of a broader investigation into the district’s spending practices.

Community members and parents have been calling for Polito’s resignation for months. A Change.org petition circulated around September last year by the Las Lomitas Education Association garnered 1,063 signatures, alleging that under Polito’s leadership, the district had been “mismanaging the budget by purchasing unneeded materials and allocating excessive funds for additional administrative positions and salaries.”

The district serves parts of Atherton and Menlo Park — some of the wealthiest ZIP codes in the United States and home to Silicon Valley’s elite.

Despite the area’s affluence, the district has faced ongoing budgetary struggles, including contentious negotiations over teacher pay raises.

Last October, elementary teachers went on a week-long strike demanding higher pay. The strike ended with an agreement that included a 16% raise over three years and employer-funded health care benefits, according to the teachers’ union.

During public comment at Wednesday night’s meeting, resident Vera Conley raised concerns about the superintendent and the district’s credit card use, questioning whether spending adhered to proper budgeting guidelines and what consequences would follow any misuse.

“You all have to earn back the community trust through better communication, transparency, and by answering community questions directly,” Conley said, addressing the district’s shake-up under Park’s leadership.

Christine Arnould of Menlo Park expressed disappointment over the handling of the district’s expenses.

“It is unacceptable to mismanage funds and then expect the community to shoulder the burden without clear assurances that changes have been made,” she said.

San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe confirmed that his office is investigating Polito’s spending to determine if there was any unlawful use of district credit cards. He declined to comment further on the specifics of the case.

The school board voted last December to revoke Polito’s district credit cards following questions about her expenses.

Kevin Bultema, deputy superintendent at the San Mateo County Office of Education, briefed the board in closed session but has yet to present his complete findings publicly.

In a letter dated Jan. 10, Bultema revealed that the district had issued 16 credit cards to employees. His review focused on ensuring proper control procedures, such as obtaining signatures from employees and supervisors and maintaining supporting documentation. However, the letter clarified that determining the “appropriateness” of expenses would be left to the county education office’s board of trustees.

Polito declined to comment on the matter and referred inquiries to Interim Superintendent Park, who has not yet responded to requests for comment.