Hayward Superintendent Stan “Data” Dobbs was 
accused by two school members of berating and 
cursing the board during a closed session meeting.

EXCLUSIVE!
HAYWARD SCHOOLS | Two members of the Hayward School Board of Trustees filed police incident reports against its Superintendent Stan “Data” Dobbs following an aggressive, expletive-laden tirade against the entire board last week during a closed session meeting.

Hayward School Trustees Luis Reynoso and William McGee each filed incident reports with the Hayward Police Department shortly after the incident Sept. 16, they said.

Reynoso, though, said he is seeking to press charges against Dobbs for threateningly shoving his chest against Reynoso’s face and shoulder during the confrontation. McGee is awaiting the conclusion of an investigation into the matter before making a similar decision, he said.

Hayward School Trustee Luis Reynoso

The incident occurred before last week’s regularly scheduled board meeting at Hayward City Hall, they said, when Dobbs became animated over a single topic heard in closed session. The issue being discussed could not be disclosed because of the confidential nature of the meeting, said Reynoso. Dobbs then began berating and cursing each school board member, said Reynoso, before McGee told him to calm down.

Reynoso said he told police Dobbs jumped from his seat and hovered over McGee while screaming expletives, including the phrase, “I have been dealing with motherf–king punks like you all day…”

Reynoso attempted to intercede in the confrontation by instructed Dobbs to relax, he said. “In response to my call for calm Mr. Dobbs turned his fury turned towards me. I too was seated and he came at me in a threatening and aggressive manner which made me fear for my personal safety,” Reynoso told police.

Hayward School Trustee William McGee

“He was screaming shouting expletives and behaving in a aggressive physical manner. I continued to tell Mr. Dobbs to calm down at the same time ordering him to stay away from me. However, he continued to approach until his chest was shoved against my shoulder and face. I made every effort to get up from my seated position but I could not because he was blocking me from rising from my chair and moving to a safe place in a room.”

Dobbs did not attend the regular meeting that followed Sept. 16, but Reynoso admitted felling anxious and unable to fully concentrate over the possibility Dobbs would rejoin the meeting that night.

Reynoso and McGee said they have not made contact or spoken with Dobbs since the incident last week. A call to Dobbs’ office Wednesday was not returned. In addition, school board member Annette Walker did not respond to an email for comment over the alleged incident.

A special meeting is set for Thursday, 6:30 p.m. at the Hayward Unified School District offices. In closed session, the board will discuss the “Discipline/Dismissal/Release” of a public employee, according to the agenda.

Dobbs was hired as Hayward superintendent of schools in 2013 following a stint at the San Diego Unified School District. However, Dobbs previously served as assistant superintendent for business services for HUSD. Dobbs earns $242,123 a year with a contract that runs through 2017.

While at the helm of Hayward’s struggling school district, Dobbs has pushed a string of publicity-conscious strategies to boost the morale of its students and the public, known as “Made in Hayward.” In addition to focusing on school achievement, Dobbs has also initiated anti-bullying measures in Hayward. Reynoso, in an interview, skewered the latter. “How can this anti-bullying program work when the board itself is getting bullied?”

Reynoso said he wants the school board to place police officers at meetings following the incident with Dobbs. He later noted Dobbs is the school board’s sole employee. “We are his boss and yet we are the ones that allow this type of behavior towards us,” said Reynoso. “If it happens to the board what is happening to the employees?”

Reynoso, added, he fears the alleged incident last week will have repercussion on how the board interacts with Dobbs in the near-future. “How can any school board member now communicate freely with the superintendent?” said Reynoso. “The fear of such violent outbursts by the superintendent will prevent the school board member from freely performing their functions as an elected official.”

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