Peralta Board Asks State to Investigate Spending

The board of the Peralta Community College District voted Tuesday to ask California officials to investigate allegations of inappropriate spending, The Oakland Tribune reported. The move followed reports that Eilhu Harris, the district chancellor, had helped steer contracts to a business partner without disclosing a conflict of interest, that managers' salaries were raised wtihout board approval, and that the chancellor and trustees violated travel policies. Faculty leaders demanded more action on the allegations and criticized a lack of transparency at the district. Harris denied wrongdoing, but said he was "embarrassed" by the situation.