Parents upset over changes after recall election involving Raisin City school board members

RAISIN CITY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A small farming community is divided. Weeks after a recall election involving several school board members, parents are upset over the changes.

Action News has also learned that a criminal investigation is underway into possible wrongdoing at the school district.

The quiet community of Raisin City, southwest of the city of Fresno, is going through some changes after a hotly contested school board recall election. Some parents are now worried about how the politics of the district will affect their children.

Esther Clark, whose son attends Raisin City Elementary School, says "You're here wanting your kids to have a good education and then for something like this to happen it makes you wonder if I put my child in the right school."

Clark is among a group of people who are upset over an April 12 special election to recall school board members. Nancy Schwabenland, Federico Garcia and Anthony Monreal were all pushed out of office. Three others were chosen to replace them.

The one board member who survived the election was Evangalina Urias. 55-percent of voters chose to keep her in office. Clark, and recently fired employee Elaine Reynoso, claim Urias is taking over the district and putting her friends in office.

Elaine Reynoso says, "I feel like it's terrorists coming in and taking over."

The Fresno County District Attorney's office confirmed an investigation is underway after complaints were submitted about the Raisin City School District.

Officials couldn't comment because the allegations are still being looked into. After the special election, Superintendent Anna Ramirez told me she was put on administrative leave. An interim superintendent at the office told Action News she could not provide us with a comment.

Clark says, she just hopes people put the children's interests first.

Clark says, "It should be more about the students and not about their own personal vendetta against each other."

Action News reached out to Evangalina Urias but she did not return our calls.