Just hours after returning from Sacramento, Coachella Valley Teachers Association President Carissa Carrero shared what she called disturbing behind-the-scenes efforts to derail a proposed state audit of the Coachella Valley Unified School District.
Carrero, who was among several witnesses at the hearing, described receiving a call the night before the vote from California State Senator Steve Padilla. According to Carrero, Padilla raised his voice and scolded her in a condescending tone during a dinner with other witnesses.
“He called me while I was out to dinner and basically reprimanded me like a parent scolding a child,” Carrero said. “He told me, ‘Lady, I ought to report you to the California Teachers Association for speaking rudely to me.’”
While Padilla is not a member of the state audit committee, Carrero said he was clear about wanting the audit delayed until he had a better understanding of the issue, despite acknowledging that he knew some of the district’s board members—raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Padilla has since acknowledged contacting a witness and questioning the audit’s necessity, but denied attempting to suppress testimony.
Carrero said that while some committee members who were present clearly supported the audit—calling the district a “hot mess”—others avoided taking a stance altogether. “You really couldn’t vote no. There was too much evidence. So they just didn’t vote,” she said.
Carrero also criticized CVUSD leadership for opposing transparency. “If there’s nothing to hide, why not welcome the audit? That’s what you’d do if you wanted to clear the air,” she said. She believes the district is actively avoiding exposure and claims the process has been riddled with internal retaliation and deflection tactics.
According to Carrero, Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza even used her time before the committee to suggest an audit of the teachers’ union contract—a comment Carrero said was inappropriate and intended to divert attention.
Though disappointed, Carrero said she isn’t giving up. “I don’t know the next steps yet, but I had been hoping for this for years. And now it’s been tossed out—not on the merits, but because of politics.”
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By: Fred Roggin
June 19, 2025
