Another troubling chapter has emerged from within the Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD). Steve Everson, the former head of the district’s transportation department, is speaking out after being placed on administrative leave last October. He says it happened shortly after he reported timecard fraud among district employees.
Everson, who had only been on the job for two months at the time, says he noticed inconsistencies in payroll records. “Employees were falsifying timesheets—claiming hours they didn’t work, duplicating entries, or logging unauthorized overtime,” he said. After a brief internal audit, he brought the matter to the attention of human resources, the district’s leadership cabinet, and Superintendent Dr. Francis Esparza.
According to Everson, the response was not what he expected. Instead of support, he was abruptly placed on leave with no explanation, no prior disciplinary action, and no formal charges. “I was told to pack my things and leave. I still haven’t been told what I did wrong,” he told The Roggin Report.
In a letter to the school board, Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, and the governor, several employees allege that Everson and others were targeted in a pattern of retaliatory terminations or forced resignations. “Retaliatory actions against leadership and staff… have been unfairly terminated, pressured to resign, or forced out,” the letter states.
Everson says the stress has taken a toll. “I’ve lost sleep. I’m not myself. I was energetic and upbeat, but this has worn me down,” he said. He has sought legal counsel and says a potential lawsuit is in the works. “I just want to be treated fairly. I shared my findings with the district. I did my job. I want them to do the right thing.”
This isn’t the first controversy involving CVUSD leadership. Superintendent Esparza is already facing legal action for alleged harassment and retaliation, both in her current and former roles.
Everson says he believes he may have simply gotten “too close to something,” and that his actions made others uncomfortable. “I think that had something to do with it.”
As questions mount about transparency and accountability within the district, Everson’s case may serve as a flashpoint for broader concerns about how whistleblowers are treated—and whether integrity is being punished.
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By: Fred Roggin
May 6, 2025
