BY AMELIA BISCARDI
Daily Post Staff Writer
A newly elected Sequoia Union High School District Trustee had to quit her job as a principal of a charter school in the district a day before her term began to prevent any concerns of conflict of interest.
Mary Beth Thompson was the principal of Summit Prep until Dec. 12, after she got a letter from attorney Chad Morgan, who said he was representing clients who were prepared to pursue the “appropriate legal remedies” if she continued her employment.
Morgan didn’t name his clients in his Dec. 4 letter to Thompson, Sequoia Superintendent Crystal Leach and Summit Prep Chief Executive Officer Cady Ching. Morgan cited educational code 35107(b) (1) which says a district employee cannot work as an elected or appointed school board member. Summit Prep is chartered by the Sequoia Union High School District.
“I am committed to ensuring that neither my family nor the incredible work being done at Summit Prep and in our district is overshadowed by distraction or division from my new position with the district,” Thompson said in an email to the Post.
Thompson had said during the campaign that she was not planning to resign, but instead recuse herself from any discussions about Summit.
Thompson is representing Area B on the board, which includes San Carlos, Belmont and parts of Redwood City. Carrie DuBois previously held the seat.
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