SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools Executive Director Murdock “Doc” Smith announced Wednesday he's stepping down.
The announcement comes after ABC10’s ongoing investigation “The Wild West of Education” uncovered an intrinsic maze of issues related to the charter school – including allegations of inflating attendance numbers, nepotism, retaliation and a toxic work environment.
ABC10’s investigation uncovered millions of public school dollars being spent on travel, fine-dining, lobbying efforts and six-figure salaries for leadership.
ABC10’s reporting was cited in an audit request by four California legislators, including the Senate and Assembly Education Committee Chairs. The request asked the California State Auditor’s Office to audit Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools, The California Innovative Career Academy, The Doc Smith Legacy Foundation, and the oversight agency Twin Rivers Unified School District – all entities ABC10’s reporting focused on.
The audit request was approved in mid-May. ABC10 reached out to the auditor’s office for details on the audit's timeline. We are waiting for a response from the agency.
Highlands Board President Ernie Daniels provided ABC10 with the following statement:
“Murdock ‘Doc’ Smith recently informed the Board of Directors of his decision to retire. Under his leadership, Highlands grew from a small community charter school to a thriving charter school serving more than 20,000 adult students at the end of this year. Doc loves this community and passionately advocated for them so we could expand our impact and give our students and staff what they need to succeed. We thank Doc for his nine years of service and wish him well in retirement.”
ABC10 re-requested an interview with the Highlands board upon Smith’s announcement. They declined.
We asked if Smith’s decision was in response to our reporting. The school responded saying, Smith “did not give a reason” for his decision.
Mayra Valdivia will serve as the interim executive director of Highlands until a replacement is chosen by the board, the school confirmed.
Prior to Highlands, Smith was employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation State Parole for 26 years.
At his time of retirement, Smith made upwards of $348,500 in salary and benefits, records show.
According to Highlands current employment agreement with Smith, per a dismissal, he will receive six months salary and medical benefits, but it's unclear how long he will receive these benefits for. ABC10 reached out to Highlands asking if this was the case per “retirement” and if he received any other benefits. We are waiting for Highlands’ response.
Smith is not the only Highlands employee to leave after ABC10's investigation. Deputy Director Kevin Taylor, Special Projects Coordinator - also former Sacramento Police Chief - Daniel Hahn left the school after our reports aired. When asked about Taylor and Hahn leaving, the school did not respond. Sources say other educators also resigned.
Twin Rivers Unified School District (TRUSD) Linda Fowler also lost her re-election bid for the first time since 1971. Fowler was the focus of our first report which uncovered conflicts of interest in her position on the TRUSD board tasked with regulating Highlands. Her final board meeting was Tuesday night, during which Smith and other Highlands board members including Daniels and Sonja Cameron attended- to seemingly support Fowler and give her flowers.