After nearly two days of closed-session meetings, the board for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) placed Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on paid administrative leave amid a federal investigation into his time as the head of Miami’s school district.
On Friday, the board announced that the decision was made unanimously. They also appointed the district’s chief of operations, Andres Chait, as interim superintendent.
Carvalho began his newest contract with LAUSD just two weeks ago. The contract is a four-year deal worth $1.7 million.
On Wednesday, the FBI served a series of search warrants at Carvalho’s home and at LAUSD’s headquarters, officials said. Sources told CBS News that the FBI also raided a Florida residence linked to Carvalho.
The reason for the search warrants remains unknown, as the FBI confirmed that the underlying affidavit is under seal. Law enforcement sources told CBS News that investigations in both California and Florida are directly related to Carvalho. However, it is not clear what, if any, wrongdoing Carvalho is accused of.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office declined to comment on the investigation, which is standard procedure until potential charges are filed.
Prior to joining LAUSD in 2022, Carvalho served as the superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. A source with direct knowledge of the matter said the investigation predates the Trump administration and is focused on allegations that Carvalho may have received kickbacks from a business while serving as Miami’s superintendent.
The source added that the investigation is not directly tied to LAUSD or Carvalho’s work at the district, and there is no known culpability or connection to LAUSD.
Operations at LAUSD appear to be unaffected as the investigation continues. After recessing Thursday night, the LAUSD board issued a statement regarding the closed-session meeting:
“The District continues normal operations across all schools and offices. We are grateful to our dedicated employees, families, and students for their steady focus and commitment to our school communities.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lausd-superintendent-alberto-carvalho-administrative-fbi-investigation/