District Deeds has discovered that San Diego Unified Trustee Marne Foster used her San Diego Unified Profile as a PORTAL to Re-Election/ Personal Fundraisers…potentially a violation of California Department of Education Code!

The Facebook Page link on her profile-“SDUSD Board Trustee Marne Foster – District E Cabinet”…the ONLY link on her San Diego Unified School District Trustee Profile…led directly to solicitations for Re-Election and Personal Fundraisers.

The California Department of Education Code relevant to Foster’s potential violation is Education Code 7054

Link: Ed Code 7054

(a) No school district or community college district funds, services, supplies, or equipment shall be used for the purpose of urging the support or defeat of any ballot measure or candidate, including, but not limited to, any candidate for election to the governing board of the district.

(c) A violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor or felony punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both, or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months, or two or three years.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 56. Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

Here is a screen print of Trustee Marne Fosters Profile Page archived on April 21, 2015 and still available on her SDUSD Website Profile on July 25th, 2015:

The (circled in red) Facebook link that Foster direct the SDUSD Stakeholders to is here: SDUSD Board Trustee Marne Foster – District E Cabinet

The directions by Foster on her profile stated

“Marne Foster can be reached at mfoster@sandi.net or connect with me on Facebook “

The Facebook contact link IS THE ONLY LINK OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT WEBSITE provided by Foster.

Here are screen prints of that Facebook Page:

“Marne Foster For School Board 2016” Political Fundraiser Solicitation

The link to the Facebook page containing “Marne Foster for School Board 2016” was available ON THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED DISTRICT WEBSITE for over a month before Political Fundraising Event.

But wait…there’s more!

Foster also promoted a Scholarship Fundraiser solicitation for her sons on that same Facebook page for her personal benefit according to a Voice of San Diego (VOSD) article titled “School Board President Solicits Funds for Kids — Her Own” by Mario Koran.

“Foster can’t use school district resources to promote the event, host it on district property, for example, or solicit funds from employees and contractors who have business before the school board. She must disclose any gifts over $50, once a year. There’s also a provision in state law that says public officials can’t engage in or benefit from activities that contradict their duties in office.”

Here is a screen print of the Scholarship Fundraiser Solicitation for her sons:

Foster’s Profile Page on the SDUSD Website IS A SDUSD RESOURCE that attracts HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HITS ANNUALLY…a PERFECT Marketing “PORTAL”to “promote the event” for Trustee Marne Foster’s PERSONAL AND POLITICAL FUNDRAISING SOLICITATIONS AND DONATIONS ON FACEBOOK!

The VOSD article also said:

“Foster said she committed none of those transgressions, she simply posted the event on Facebook.”

FOSTER JUST ADMITTED THAT SHE DID IT!

Check out the Trustee Marne Foster Profile on the SDUSD Website NOW…7/31/15:

That’s right…

NO FACEBOOK LINK!!!

Meddlin’ Marne not only ADMITTED ADDING THE SOLICITATIONS TO FACEBOOK…but then DID HER BEST TO COVER UP THE EVIDENCE THAT SHE USED THE SDUSD WEBSITE AS A PORTAL BY DELETING THE FACEBOOK LINK RIGHT AFTER THE EVENT!

District Deeds is not a legal expert and will not speculate whether the California Education Code 7054 was violated by using the SDUSD Website as a PORTAL for Political and Personal fundraising.

Local and State Officials who are authorized to prosecute California State Education Code Violations are in charge of that.

REMEMBER…being convicted of violating CDE Code 7054 is a crime AND Is either a Misdemeanor or Felony WITH JAIL TIME AND FINES! 

District Deeds will BE SURE to do our part.

We will MAKE SURE the PROPER AUTHORITIES receive ALL this information immediately.

There is MUCH, MUCH MORE to come…DON’T MISS OUT!

Get ALL the REAL information about the SDUSD…scroll to the bottom of this page and “Follow” the District Deeds Blog!