Source: Questions about San Marcos school board member’s credentials – 10News.com KGTV-TV San Diego
SAN MARCOS, Calif. (KGTV) – A North County school board member admitted she does not have the college degree she claimed to have on the district’s website.
San Marcos Unified School District Board President Stacy Carlson said she’s just learning that she still has a class pending.
The revelation comes as 10News looked into a tip that the information listed on the district’s site was inaccurate.
According to the district website, “Stacy holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Vanguard University.”
The district told 10News board members submit their credential information.
Team 10 contacted Vanguard University in Orange County to check the status of Carlson’s education and whether or not she obtained a degree from the university.
At first, a spokesperson for the university told us, “Vanguard is able to confirm that she did graduate from Vanguard.”
But when questioned on the specifics, the spokesperson clarified the university’s statement and said, “Stacy was a student at Vanguard University with senior status, but we do not have record of her receiving a degree.”
Team 10 spoke with Carlson on the phone last week.
Initially, she disputed the university’s statement and said she graduated and earned a degree.
Late Tuesday afternoon Carlson sent 10News a statement saying:
“Last Thursday I was contacted by a reporter asking me to verify that I had my degree from Vanguard University. I was confident that I had my degree and requested verification from Vanguard. Upon review, Vanguard informed me this morning that the lab course I took 16 years ago at Mira Costa does not currently meet Vanguard’s requirements and that in order for the current registrar to verify my degree I would need to take a lab science course from a currently approved list of courses. 16 years ago, Vanguard allowed me to walk at commencement with my lab course pending. I took that course the following summer at Mira Costa College and submitted my transcripts believing I had completed my coursework and my degree. As this has been the first time my degree has been called into question, this is the first time I had heard that my lab science course did not qualify. I am embarrassed that I have gone the last 16 years believing that I had my degree only to learn that I have a class pending. I am working with Vanguard to determine if the coursework I did in 2002 qualified at the time even if it does not qualify now. If it did not, then I will complete that course as soon as possible and ask for grace on behalf of all students maneuvering their way toward a college education.”
Carlson is currently running for re-election on the school governing board.
The initial tip came from her opponent, Christina Linden’s campaign.
A spokesperson for that campaign released a statement saying, “We believe San Marcos voters should be informed when a current School Board member falsely states her education. The election process forces honesty and transparency in leaders who should set an example of excellence for our students.”
