The last time Superintendent Al Mijares was present at an Orange County Department of Education meeting was in December 2022.

He has been on medical leave since August — and says he is hoping to make a return in full capacity to the department this August.

“Currently, I remain focused on my health — and following my medical team’s advice closely,” Mijares said in a statement. “Yet if all goes as planned, I am hopeful to be cleared to resume my responsibilities in August, following an appointment with a trusted physician.”

In late 2022, shortly after his most recent reelection as county superintendent, Mijares’ public appearances started dwindling, and in March 2023, Mijares alerted his staff that he was experiencing complications from ongoing undisclosed medical issues. Doctors advised him in August to take an official full medical leave of absence, OCDE spokesperson Ian Hanigan said.

The department, Hanigan said, has “fully supported (Mijares’) decision” and will continue to “implement the vision and direction established by Dr. Mijares.”

In the case of extended medical leave, Hanigan said the department has certain protocols in place for interim leadership, and that has included the appointment of Ramon Miramontes to deputy superintendent. Hanigan said this is to “ensure continuity and stability.”

“Dr. Miramontes is fully empowered to manage the operations and strategic initiatives of the Orange County Department of Education,” Hanigan said.

Miramontes fulfills the same duties and responsibilities as Mijares, which includes stamping approval on O.C. school district’s budgets, conducting school inspections and managing all personnel in the county department of education.

“As we move forward, I am committed to upholding the vision and directives established by Dr. Mijares,” Miramontes said. “I have great respect and appreciation for our dedicated staff at OCDE, whose hard work and commitment ensure that we continue to provide excellent service and support to our community’s educators and students. Together, we will keep advancing our goals and making a positive impact on education in Orange County.”

And although he has been on medical leave since August, Hanigan said that Mijares continues to be involved in decisions affecting the organization, primarily in an advisory capacity.

“(This) ensures that his experience and insight continue to guide OCDE’s major decisions, while day-to-day operations are managed by Dr. Miramontes and the leadership team,” Hanigan said.

However, the Orange County Board of Education has received different complaints from department staff members regarding Mijares’ absence and has concerns about transparency, OCBE President Tim Shaw said.

“The voters elected Dr. Mijares, not Dr. Miramontes,” Shaw said. “As someone who takes democracy very seriously, I have a concern that someone who is not elected is going to be running the department for years in lieu of the person who was actually elected.”

Mijares has been drawing a regular salary using a combination of accrued sick time and medical leave available to him, Hanigan said. According to 2022 salary data from the county, this amounts to just under $400,000 annually.

“If you are receiving a substantial amount of money from taxpayer dollars like he is, I think you kind of owe it to the public to say why you aren’t fulfilling your duties,” Shaw said. “In fairness to Dr. Mijares’, he has spent ages in the public school system, and had the sick time available to him.”

“The whole situation is just complicated,” Shaw said.

Mijares was first appointed as Orange County’s superintendent in 2012; then he was elected to a full term in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and 2022. Before his time with the county, he served as the vice president of the College Board as well as superintendent of the Santa Ana Unified School District, the Bakersfield City School District and the Coachella Valley Unified School District.

“Given his long and distinguished service in education, spanning more than 40 years, it’s reasonable to infer that Dr. Mijares has accrued a significant amount of sick leave, reflective of his tenure,” Hanigan said. “However, specific details about individual employee leave balances are considered confidential personnel information.”

OCDE is the acting district for over 15 alternative school programs and provides support and mandated fiscal oversight to 28 school districts serving more than 600 schools and approximately 440,000 students.

Along with providing direct instruction to Orange County students through its own alternative and special education programs, OCDE supports local districts with an array of services necessary for their operations, including professional development, high-speed internet access and security, legal and fiscal guidance, payroll systems, Local Control and Accountability Plan assistance and approval and student enrichment.