The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has concluded its investigation into an “employee’s misuse of (Coachella Valley Unified School District) funds” and determined that the claims were unfounded, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department confirmed.
Yet Carissa Carrera, the teachers’ union president and a CVUSD teacher since 2004, has remained on administrative leave since Oct. 25, according to a press release that the Coachella Valley Teachers Association emailed Tuesday evening.
“For unknown reasons, CVUSD has not restored Ms. Carrera to her position nor taken steps to remedy this error,” the statement said. “Knowing it to be false, CVTA believes the allegation, administrative leave and public shaming — all times within days of the November 2024 election — is retaliation against Ms. Carrera and CVTA for our collective opposition to unlawful and unethical conduct by CVUSD employees and/or board members as well as retaliation against Ms. Carrera’s participation in political activities and protected activities.”