San Jose school district names acting replacement after firing of superintendent; parents frustrated

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The board of trustees of the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District in San Jose have appointed Assistant Superintendent Sandra Garcia to serve as acting superintendent.

The change was made during an emergency meeting Saturday morning to address the firing of superintendent German Cerda.

He was dismissed Thursday night without explanation.

The abrupt firing so close to the start of the year has left parents angry and confused.

"Unless you know you found something that was absolutely totally horrible about this person, well then let the people know that there's something horrible that happened, and that's why you let them go. But eight days before school begins?" said David Williams, a parent. "Everybody out here is angry because they are not being transparent."

RELATED: San Jose school district fires superintendent hired just last year, weeks before 1st day of school

Parents and teachers in the South Bay are sharing their frustration and shock after Superintendent German Cerda's firing just weeks before school starts.

Cerda had been superintendent for less than a year.

He came in because the board also fired the previous superintendent.

The first day of school is August 13.