Evelyn Maruska, who has been at the center of a public dispute with the weekly newspaper in Española, has been ousted as superintendent of Española Public Schools.
School board president Coco Archuleta said the decision was made at Wednesday night’s board meeting, but he declined to comment further.
Reading a prepared statement over the phone, Archuleta said, “The district … is heading in another direction. Therefore the board has decided to place the superintendent on administrative leave.”
But it sounds like Maruska will not return to the superintendent’s position. A decision will be made at a Feb. 1 school board meeting if the job will advertised or if a permanent replacement will be found from current staff. Gloria Shuttles, principal of Tony E. Quintana Elementary School, is serving as interim superintendent.
Maruska recently a sparked dispute with the Rio Grande Sun newspaper by placing restrictions on the paper’s access to school campuses and school district personnel. The Sun, in response, stopped covering Española Valley High School sporting events.
Coco Archuleta wouldn’t say if the dispute with the local newspaper was among the reasons Maruska was fired.
Wednesday afternoon, Shuttles issued a memo to principals saying, “Please be advised that we will follow our regular procedures for visitors on campus. We will not be opposing media visits to our schools.”
And Wednesday night, a Sun reporter was covering a Española Valley Lady Sundevils game for the first time this season.
Maruska was previously the interim superintendent, replacing Janette Archuleta, who was placed on administrative leave May 4, 2011. Maruska was then hired on a permanent basis prior to the start of the school year.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal
