The Newport-Mesa Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to terminate the contract of Superintendent Jeffrey Hubbard. Deputy Superintendent Paul Reed will take Hubbard's place until a temporary replacement is found.
District officials say the 7-0 decision to fire Hubbard was made retroactive to Monday, when he was convicted of misappropriating public money at his previous job as superintendent of the Beverly Hills Unified School District. Laura Boss, district spokeswoman, said at Tuesday night's school board meeting, the board announced it will start looking to hire a new superintendent by July 1. In the meantime Reed will serve as superintendent until March 5, or until an interim superintendent can be found.
An L.A. County Superior Court jury found Hubbard, 54, to a female employee -- -- but acquitted him of a third charge involving another employee.
The charges began in December 2010. Prosecutors said Hubbard illegally authorized a $20,000 stipend and $500 monthly car allowance to Karen Anne Christiansen, a former facilities director for Beverly Hills Unified. Hubbard took five months of voluntary paid leave to prepare for his defense and at N-MUSD in June.
Hubbard did not attend Tuesday's school board meeting. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 23 when he faces a maximum of five years in prison.
But he won't lose his pension. According to the Orange County Register, Hubbard turns 55 this week and is eligible to retire with a pension of nearly $120,000 a year.
