Former Sweetwater Union High School District trustee Bertha Lopez is back on a school board a little more than a year after being convicted and sentenced for a misdemeanor in a corruption scandal that plagued the South Bay.
In September Lopez was elected to a community leader position on the seven-member Feaster Charter School board, which is made up of three parents, one classified member, one certified member and two community members.
She was one of two candidates seeking to replace business owner Rene Loaiza, who did not seek reelection. The staff of teachers and classified employees at Feaster elected Lopez to the Feaster board with 75 percent of the vote.
She was elected to a two-year term. All seven board seats are volunteer positions.
Lopez said she was able to move on with her life from the corruption scandal, in which she pleaded guilty to receiving gifts above the state limit, by remaining engaged with the community.
“I’ve always been involved (with the community),” she said. “I have never stopped being involved even with this court business.
“If you don’t fear anything, you don’t go into hiding.”
Lopez said with her educational experience she can bring a lot to the table.
“I am very honored to participate as the Feaster Charter Community Representative board of directors,” she wrote in an email. “ I have been a lifelong educator in the South Bay for the past 39 years and will continue to be a strong advocate for student achievement. I have extensive experience in dealing with educational issues, bi-literacy and budget. My mission is to be a tireless advocate to support the parents, staff and community members of the Feaster Charter School.”
Francisco Velasco, Feaster’s executive director, said he has known about Lopez from his time as a principal at the Chula Vista Elementary School District.
He said he wasn’t concerned with Lopez’s past.
“As far as I remember, she is an amazing lady who knows education, who was a champion for kids, for bilingual education,” he said. “You’re talking about someone who truly cares for education.”
Velasco said before Lopez sought the school board seat she emailed Velasco asking him if it was OK for her to submit her application.
Velasco said he had no issue with her wanting to apply.
“Was I concerned with anything that happened at Sweetwater? No, not really. I’m not into the politics or know exactly what happened.”
Velasco said he believes in giving second chances.
Chula Vista Elementary School District spokesman Anthony Millican said if a judge allowed Lopez to run for reelection at Sweetwater after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor, then she shouldn’t be prevented from serving at Feaster.
“It would be illogical to disqualify her from a school charter seat when she was allowed to run in her district at Sweetwater,” Millican said.
Millican added that neither he nor Velasco are in the position to judge Lopez and that she was well liked by community members at the Sweetwater Union High School District.
Lopez finished fourth of five in her bid for reelection on the Sweetwater school board, garnering only 16.5 percent or 2,878 votes in last November’s election for Area 2.
Lopez is a lifelong educator having taught at the National School District for nearly four decades. She also served on the Chula Vista Elementary School District from 1998 to 2008, and was elected to a four-year term on the Sweetwater Union High School District’s governing board.
Velasco said Lopez fits in on the school board nicely.
“She’s been a champion for teachers and the rights of teachers,” he said. “She has lots of experience serving on school boards.”
Lopez has already appeared for one school board meeting and she said she knows what needs to get done.
“I know what I need to do because my passion is education and helping my community,” she said.
