The president of the Oklahoma City chapter of the American Federation of Teachers is calling on an Oklahoma City Public School Board member to temporarily resign.
During Monday night's OKCPS board meeting, Ed Allen said Gloria Torres should step down over accusations she may have been involved in enrollment fraud at Oklahoma City Community College.
“I think it is appropriate – if any board member is under investigation for criminal conduct – that board member should not participate in any board activity until cleared by the investigation," Allen said.
The Oklahoman’s Tim Willert reports two OCCC employees in Torres' department were suspended with pay earlier this month:
An OCCC employee told authorities Aug. 9 “that her supervisor was altering/changing test scores and enrollment information, which would reflect inflated numbers in order to gain money for state and federal grants,” an officer for OCCC campus police wrote in a search warrant affidavit. The supervisor wasn't named in the affidavit. The officer reported the falsified information was entered on computers owned by OCCC.
No one – including Torres – has been named in an ongoing police investigation into the allegations of fraud.
But Allen says the board could damage its integrity and trust within the community by keeping her on.
Torres has served in the educational profession for 25 years. Beginning her career in 1989 with Oklahoma City Public Schools, Gloria served in several capacities, from teacher assistant to principal.
She was appointed to the board as the District 6 representative in August 2014. Torres has also served in leadership roles with the Community Action Agency, Historic Capitol Hill Business Council, Oklahoma City Habitat for Humanity-Family Selection Committee and American Red Cross-Hispanic Advisory Council.
