New records released Monday afternoon provide the first details about the sexual misconduct allegations against former San Diego Unified Superintendent Lamont Jackson that ultimately led to his firing last month.
The two former district administrators who said they were effectively fired for rejecting Jackson’s sexual advances filed claims for legal damages against the school district in July. Their claims, which detail their allegations, were released by the district Monday in response to a record request by The San Diego Union-Tribune.
An investigation that had been commissioned by the board in April of this year and concluded last month found the two former administrators’ allegations to be credible.
Based on those findings, the school board unanimously voted last month to fire Jackson “without cause” — which means that he receives half a year’s worth of severance pay and that he waives all potential claims against the district in relation to his contract. The district has declined to release the full investigation report, citing potential litigation.
The two women who filed the claims are former area superintendent Monika Hazel and former chief of leadership and learning Tavga Bustani. They both allege that Jackson “groomed” them by making repeated sexual overtures, causing them to feel uncomfortable and fearful.
Then, when they rejected his sexual advances, they were demoted from high-level district office positions to classroom teacher, their claims allege. The demotions were effectively terminations because they came with significant pay cuts and embarrassment, forcing them to look for work elsewhere, they claimed.
In Bustani’s case, she also alleged the district coerced her into signing a settlement agreement in which she would release all claims against the district in exchange for a few months’ pay.
Jackson could not be immediately reached for comment.
Both women allege the district has long known about Jackson’s alleged misconduct and that it should have intervened to stop his misconduct long ago, but failed to do so.
Records released by the district Monday also show that, more than a year ago, a group that said they were San Diego Unified principals had addressed concerns to the school board in a letter about several allegations of sexual misconduct by Jackson, including allegations that Jackson was having sex with specific named employees who had been recently promoted.
The letter was written nine months before the school board launched an investigation by an outside attorney into Jackson’s conduct; a board trustee told the Union-Tribune Monday that the board hadn’t been made aware of the letter at the time.
The allegations in the letter that some employees were promoted based on having sex with Jackson were investigated, and the outside attorney said she had not found enough evidence to say whether those employees had been promoted based on their having had sex with Jackson.
When asked for comment about the claims and the principals’ letter, district spokesperson Mike Murad provided this statement: “The San Diego Unified School District took all claims and allegations seriously, and immediately engaged an independent third-party investigator with no ties to the district to conduct the investigation. This investigation began immediately upon the district becoming aware of the claims and allegations, in advance of formally receiving the complaints. The allegation of inappropriate conduct toward two former employees was found to be credible. All claims and allegations raised in the letters have been thoroughly investigated, addressed, and are now closed. San Diego Unified remains committed to transparency, the safety and well-being of all students and staff, and to upholding the values of our community.”
The claims filed by Hazel and Bustani’s attorney, Linda Albers, allege punitive damages against Jackson as well as his deputy superintendent, and now interim superintendent, Fabiola Bagula as individuals. The claims also allege general and special damages against the school district.
As of last month, Hazel and Bustani offered to waive their claims against the district in exchange for $700,000 and $2 million, respectively. Albers could not be immediately reached for comment.
Hazel had worked for San Diego Unified for 17 years.
She alleges in her complaint that Jackson had made promises to her of promotion, including a cabinet-level position. Meanwhile he also allegedly made frequent sexual comments to her.
She alleges that Jackson called her his “work wife” and made remarks about her appearance and clothing. He allegedly made sexual overtures to her, including inviting her to his hotel room, to Las Vegas and to his home when his wife wasn’t there, all of which she rejected.
After she rejected one last sexual overture in December 2022, she was told in January 2023 that she would be demoted from area superintendent to teacher, “a humiliating downgrade in position and pay,” Albers wrote.
“The facts confirm that the terms and conditions of Mrs. Hazel’s employment were impliedly and expressly predicated on acceptance of Dr. Jackson’s unwelcome sexual advances,” Albers wrote.
Hazel also alleges harassment by Bagula, claiming she treated Hazel in a hostile and offensive way. For example, Hazel claims Bagula ordered her to speak to her in a “baby girl” voice while cowering and bowing to her. Hazel, who is White, also accused Bagula of making racist comments about White people by referring to another person’s actions as being “White-womaned.”
Hazel brought up multiple concerns about Bagula to Jackson, who she claims didn’t do anything. After Hazel rejected Jackson’s advances, she alleges he told her he was supporting Bagula instead, and that he could only have one “work wife.”
The school board unanimously confirmed Bagula as the interim superintendent last week, and several trustees have said she is the best person to lead the district.
When asked about the allegations against Bagula, Trustee Richard Barrera said they were fully addressed by the outside attorney, and the board “has full confidence” in her track record and leadership going forward.
Bustani had worked for San Diego Unified for 27 years.
She alleges in her complaint that Jackson groomed her by complimenting her appearance and clothing, inviting her to dinner after work and making excuses to meet with her alone. She alleges Jackson directly invited her to have sex with him several times. Meanwhile, she claimed he was also suggesting promotion opportunities for her, which implied to her that she would get a career advancement in exchange for sex. Bustani said she repeatedly rejected his sexual advances.
Jackson also came to her house unannounced, twice, Bustani alleges. The first time was in January 2022, when she alleges Jackson toured her house and, upon arriving at her bedroom, asked her about her relationship with her boyfriend.
In the following months, during conversations about work, Jackson allegedly made comments about Bustani’s relationship, including, “You chose him over me” and “I would lose my job protecting you from anyone, including ‘your boyfriend.’”
Later that year, Bustani claimed Jackson harassed her about her work performance, including yelling at her and interrogating her in front of her direct reports and his assistant. Bustani alleges the mistreatment was because of her rejection of Jackson’s advances.
In early 2023, Bustani was also, like Hazel, told she would be demoted to teacher. She was told to clean out her office and stop doing her job, even though the demotion wouldn’t take effect until the end of the school year.
Bustani alleged the district’s general counsel gave her a proposed settlement agreement in which she would waive all claims against the district in exchange for a few months of pay.
She said she was effectively coerced into signing it because she was given a deadline of three days to sign it and, as the sole breadwinner for two children, she feared financial ruin if she didn’t sign it. Albers alleges that violated federal law, which would have given her 21 days to sign such an agreement because of her age; Bustani is over 40 years old.
Bustani alleges Jackson’s harassment continued even after signing the agreement. He allegedly texted her a message that said, “Sending you and the kids much love.”
Then he came to her house unannounced again, she alleges. He said he was “sorry about what happened to you,” Bustani claims, then tried to enter the door as she was trying to prevent him from coming in.
Albers wrote that both Hazel and Bustani had reasons to believe that the district has known and has been told about allegations regarding Jackson but failed to act on them earlier.
The district received a letter dated July 2023 that was addressed to the school board from a group who said they were concerned school principals, writing anonymously out of fear of retaliation.
They said they have lost confidence in Jackson because they were concerned that his hiring and firing decisions raised “ethical, moral and possibly legal concerns,” including concerns about alleged sexual misconduct.
They called for the district to investigate specific claims that at least three identified employees were promoted because of an alleged sexual relationship with Jackson, as well as an allegation that another person had been promoted despite a history of unprofessional conduct. They also said the district should investigate whether Jackson’s alleged sexual misconduct or “covering-up of other’s misconduct” had resulted in two specific employees’ removal from their positions and one other person’s “sudden departure.”
“Women who are linked to Dr. Jackson through speculative sexual relationships and personal loyalties are being promoted,” the letter said. “There is a perception that appears Dr. Jackson is surrounding himself with these individuals on a quid pro quo basis.”
The letter also questioned why the district’s county-contracted search for new area superintendents last year resulted in hiring only candidates who have worked with Jackson or Bagula. “It feels more like a popularity contest than a real search for the best, most qualified candidates,” the letter said.
Board trustees have held that April 2024 was the first time they were made aware of specific allegations about Jackson, and that they acted immediately upon hearing the concerns. Barrera told the Union-Tribune Monday that the board was not made aware of the principals’ letter, even though it was addressed to the board.
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