In his privileged speech during yesterday’s session, Torres said there is enough evidence against Fernandez’s mismanagement at the college that would warrant the early termination of her contract.
“Are we now an island of political cowards, whose ancestors braved ancient hardships of illness, severe storms, invasions of cruel conquistadores and other calamities but still survived?” the lawmaker said.
“Time and again, we hear stories and see actual proof of fiscal and personnel mismanagement at NMC under the misguided and selfish leadership of Carmen Fernandez and yet the board of regents seems paralyzed to terminate her and we as political leaders of this island sit here and quietly talk back and forth that if we take any action — that Barbara Beno of [the Western Association of Schools and Colleges] will scold us like her foster children and threaten NMC’s accreditation again,” he added.
According to Torres, a transition report from the Fitial administration pointed out “serious flaws” at how NMC was managed under Fernandez’s leadership.
These included changing grades, travelling and sponsoring parties allegedly using funds earmarked for NMC’s educational tax credit.
Torres said Fernandez’s decision to let go of long time and loyal NMC instructors and staffers like Danny Wyatt, Patricia
Taylor, Bernie Sablan, Robert Churney, Ignacia Villaluz and Sam McPhetres should also be looked into.
He was also critical of WASC.
“Unfortunately, NMC has to pay WASC large amounts of money to stay accredited and it’s like having to pay the mafia to keep your store ‘protected’ to stay open in the old days in Chicago and New York. Didn’t the United States government stop this activity and other business monopolies in the past?” he said.
Torres further alleged that Beno and Fernandez are in cahoots, and the House Committee on Education should look into this issue.
“The biggest problem at NMC is the climate of fear and chaos among its employees due to the lack of due process protection for its employees. We need to prevent any future self-serving and paranoiac queen or king at NMC from chopping off the heads of its employees without cause, whenever someone raises a valid concern that displeases an unprofessional and insecure president,” he said.
