A finalist for the Cambridge superintendent position, Lourenço Garcia, lost over $750,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scheme. Records show the Cambridge School Committee was aware of the financial loss and past allegations against the candidate months before the information became public but did not disclose the details to residents.
Key Takeaways
- Lourenço Garcia, a superintendent candidate, lost $751,000 in a cryptocurrency scam between late 2021 and early 2022.
- The Cambridge School Committee knew about the financial loss and separate domestic abuse allegations from 2013 but remained silent.
- A district official stated the committee was advised not to comment on candidates' private lives to avoid potential lawsuits.
- The superintendent search process has faced criticism, with the local teachers' union previously calling for a complete restart.
Details of the Financial Loss Emerge
Information first reported by the Boston Globe revealed that Lourenço Garcia, currently the assistant superintendent for equity and inclusion for Revere Public Schools, was the victim of a significant financial scam. The incident involved a total investment of $751,000 into a cryptocurrency platform.
The transactions occurred in late 2021 and early 2022. After the funds disappeared from the platform, Garcia took legal action against his bank, alleging it failed to implement sufficient fraud prevention measures. A Massachusetts court, however, denied his lawsuit. His subsequent appeal was also unsuccessful.
Financial Details
Total Loss: $751,000
Timeline: Late 2021 to early 2022
Outcome: Garcia unsuccessfully sued his bank to recover the funds.
Details from the case became publicly accessible through the online ruling on his appeal. This documentation provided a clear record of the financial mismanagement that has now become a central issue in his candidacy for the top school district position in Cambridge.
School Committee's Awareness and Silence
According to a district official familiar with the search process, members of the Cambridge School Committee were made aware of Garcia's financial situation earlier this summer. The committee also received information regarding separate, older allegations against the candidate.
Despite possessing this information, the committee chose not to take public action or inform Cambridge residents. The decision to remain silent was reportedly based on informal legal advice from a city attorney. The official explained that committee members were cautioned against commenting publicly on the private lives of candidates.
This legal guidance suggested that such public comments could expose the school district to a potential lawsuit from a candidate. As a result, the information remained internal until it was reported by the media.
The Role of a Superintendent
A school superintendent is the chief executive officer of a school district, responsible for managing its budget, personnel, and overall educational strategy. The role requires significant financial oversight and public trust, making a candidate's history of financial judgment a relevant factor for consideration.
School Committee member Elizabeth C.P. Hudson confirmed to the Globe that she had discussed the incident with Garcia. She expressed concerns about whether he would be a suitable choice for the superintendent role given the circumstances.
Past Allegations Also Resurface
In addition to the financial controversy, the superintendent search has brought renewed attention to past allegations against Garcia. Court documents from a 2013 divorce proceeding contain accusations of domestic violence from his ex-wife.
A filing from that period, as reported by the Globe, alleged that Garcia "was cruel & abusive to the plaintiff by striking her in the face & struggling w/her causing serious bodily injury." A later document further claimed he often yelled at her and was physically abusive on several occasions.
Like the financial loss, the School Committee was reportedly made aware of these allegations from nearly a decade ago during the vetting process but did not make them a matter of public discussion. These resurfaced claims add another layer of scrutiny to Garcia's candidacy.
A Contentious Search Process
The issues surrounding Garcia's candidacy are part of a wider pattern of controversy that has plagued the search for a new Cambridge superintendent. The process has faced significant backlash from community members and educators.
Another semifinalist, Adam Taylor, a former superintendent in Rutland, Vermont, drew criticism for controversial remarks he made in 2019. In those remarks, he compared teachers building relationships with students to the methods of pimps or pedophiles, which caused a major outcry in Cambridge.
The search process has been fraught with challenges, leading to a loss of confidence among some key stakeholders in the district's ability to select a suitable leader.
Dissatisfaction with the candidate pool and the overall process reached a peak in August. The Cambridge Education Association, the union representing the district's faculty and staff, took the step of publicly calling for the entire search to be halted and restarted from the beginning.
This call from the teachers' union highlighted a deep-seated frustration with the direction of the leadership search. Despite these widespread concerns, the School Committee has continued with the current slate of finalists. Garcia is scheduled to appear for final interviews with the committee and the public, where he will likely face questions about these recent revelations.
