Fresno teachers board accused of misdeeds

Union's president writes that board is trying to oust him.

Thursday, Mar. 26, 2009

By Paula Lloyd / The Fresno Bee



The union that represents Fresno Unified School District teachers is embroiled in an internal dispute between the president and board members over alleged misuse of union funds.
In a March 23 letter to union members, Fresno Teachers Association President Greg Gadams outlined alleged misdeeds by board members and said the board is trying to oust him and seize control of union bank accounts.
Gadams could not be reached for comment on Thursday.



Two Fresno Teachers Association board members said Gadams' allegations are untrue.
"One hundred percent of the letter is not true," said board member Jeanne Davidson, a teacher at Turner Elementary School. "It makes it sound like we're trying to steal money."
When the district is facing "many serious issues, it's sad this is how he's choosing to spend his time," she said.
Board member James Dunn, a teacher at Bullard TALENT, said the dispute has been going on since August.
In his letter, Gadams wrote that the board is misusing union funds, but Dunn denied the allegation.
"The problem is, we are not getting full disclosure" on how much is being spent, and on what, Dunn said.
In one allegation, Gadams wrote that union board members refused to reimburse the Fresno Teachers Association for alcoholic drinks bought with a union credit card while entertaining Fresno Unified school board members.
Gadams also alleged that board members tried to remove him and the union's treasurer from the union's checking and savings accounts, and that board members tried to remove Gadams from office.
Dunn declined to comment on specific allegations in the letter, but said the dispute is not black and white.
Gadams "does weave some truth into this," Dunn said. "But I can say the majority of these items are entirely false."