Letter to the Editor:
I am writing as a concerned community member regarding serious transparency and accountability issues within the Burbank Unified School District Board of Education.
On April 2, 2026, a group of residents formally submitted a “Cure and Correct” demand under the Ralph M. Brown Act after uncovering what appear to be significant violations of open meeting laws and the unauthorized use of public funds. As of the writing of this letter on April 8, there has been no response from the District.
At the center of this issue is the Board’s reported decision to provide retiree health benefits to former Superintendent John Paramo following a month’s long retroactive change in his employment status from resignation to retirement. According to available records, there is no evidence that the Board of Education ever properly agendized, discussed, or approved this action in a public meeting, as required by law.
Even more troubling, public records responses indicate there is no contract, settlement agreement, or Board-approved amendment supporting these payments—and no documentation showing that the Board ever voted on the matter in any session.
If true, this raises fundamental concerns: public funds may have been spent without lawful authorization (again!), and decisions of significant financial consequence may have been made outside the public’s view. That undermines both legal compliance and public trust.
The Brown Act exists to ensure that government decisions are made openly and transparently. When those standards are not followed, the public has a right—and an obligation—to demand correction.
Community members are calling on the District to rescind any unauthorized actions, halt further payments, fully disclose what occurred, and place this matter on a properly noticed public agenda. These are not unreasonable demands; they are the minimum required to restore accountability.
Transparency is not optional in public education—it is essential. Our schools are funded by taxpayers and entrusted with the community’s confidence. That trust must be earned through lawful, open decision-making.
Alexandra Helfrich
Burbank, CA
