The San Benito High School District agreed to pay former Superintendent John Perales two months of salary and health benefits along with undisclosed vacation-accrual compensation.
That was in exchange for his “irrevocable resignation and a mutual release of claims,” according to a letter provided by the district’s interim Superintendent Shawn Tennenbaum in response to a records request for information on the Perales departure in mid-January.
The district did not elaborate about the “claims” referenced in the document.
The high school district serving 3,000 students did not provide a specific dollar amount paid to Perales, but did confirm he received the equivalent of pay and health benefits for two months along with an undisclosed vacation accrual.
Perales received $214,000 in total compensation—pay and benefits—in 2015, according to Transparent California. The vacation-accrual amount remains unclear.
The Free Lance initially requested all available details on his release agreement—and has requested further details on the dollar amounts.
The newspaper submitted the request Jan. 17, and the high school dated its mailed response Feb. 2. State law says public institutions have 10 days to respond. The district did send a letter in the interim period, but it merely acknowledged receiving the records request.
“The District is unable to provide a copy of the resignation/release agreement with former Superintendent Perales because it is exempt from disclosure under provisions of law protecting the confidentiality of District employees, …” the district wrote in its response dated Feb. 2 to the first records request.
The district placed Perales on administrative leave Dec. 12. The school board had contracted with an investigator to examine Perales and appointed Tennenbaum as interim superintendent. Tennenbaum is the district’s longtime director of human resources. When reached by phone in December before his resignation, Perales said he couldn’t comment on the situation.
It came out, however, that Perales was accused of brandishing a gun at a man parked in a car outside his house. The incident was reportedly Oct. 22 before the official’s arrest in mid-December.
Gilroy police said they received a complaint Oct. 23 about Perales brandishing a gun at a man parked in a car outside his Greystone Court house the night before.
The victim went to the police department and said while he had been waiting in his car for a friend who lived near Perales, the former superintendant pointed a gun at him and told him to leave. He calmed down and the man left. But the next day he decided to report it to police.
GPD sent the report to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office, which filed a charge Dec. 13 against Perales for brandishing a handgun. Perales turned himself into Gilroy police Dec. 16, posted bail and was given a court date.
Perales is a Gilroy native who previously served as principal of Christopher High School.
Brad Kava contributed to this report.
