The Santa Clara County Office of Education’s governing board appointed an interim superintendent of schools Wednesday night, after an attempt by recently ousted Superintendent Mary Dewan to stop the appointment was struck down in court.

Dewan — who unexpectedly was removed from her position earlier this month — and her lawyer, Steven Ellenberg, filed a temporary restraining order Monday to attempt to prevent the board from appointing an interim county superintendent.

But the Santa Clara County Superior Court denied Dewan’s request shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday and said she had not adequately shown that she will “ultimately prevail” in her claim that the board violated her contract and wrongfully terminated her.

In a 6-1 vote, the board appointed Charles Hinman as the interim superintendent. He was expected to start Thursday. Board President Maimona Afzal Berta and members Joseph Di Salvo, Don Rocha, Grace Mah, Victoria Chon and Raeena Lari voted in favor of appointing Hinman, while member Tara Sreekrishnan voted no and urged the board to consider an internal appointment.

In an emailed statement, Berta said she was “pleased the court put this unnecessary distraction to rest.”

“I am committed to a process that allows for input from all stakeholders to identity a new superintendent who can deliver the core services of the organization at a top quality, maintain prudent fiscal management and uphold our values of respecting all communities,” Berta said.

Dewan’s lawyer said that while they “were disappointed” by the judge’s decision, they remain optimistic.

“We believe that there is some information that we will provide to the judge that may help him take another look at his decision,” he said.

According to Hinman’s $74,733 contract, he will work a maximum of 62 days or until a new superintendent is appointed. Hinman also will receive up to $21,000 for travel and lodging.

Hinman said at Wednesday’s meeting that he has over 35 years of experience in public education and has “sat in all the seats” as teacher, coach, administrator and superintendent. He has been living and working in Orange County as interim executive director of Oxford Preparatory Academy.

On Wednesday, dozens of community members spoke out in support of Dewan at the board meeting and implored the board to reconsider its decision to fire her, saying they were “appalled,” “saddened” and “distressed” by her shocking firing. Some in attendance even held up paper cutouts of Dewan’s face. Dewan did not attend the meeting.

Several of those who spoke during the public comment period echoed board member Sreekrishnan’s demand for a civil grand jury investigation into the decision and the board’s “governance and mismanagement.”

Maureen McCarty, district director for Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz, read out a portion of the letter Pellerin and five other state legislators — Assemblymembers Robert Rivas, Marc Berman and Evan Low and Sens. Josh Becker and Dave Cortese — sent the board Monday opposing the decision to terminate Dewan and urging them to reconsider.

“The board’s decision wastes finite public resources and will significantly disrupt student services, district supports and critical programs that benefit our highest need populations,” the letter said.

Former Santa Clara County Board of Education member Kathleen King also spoke out at the meeting in support of Dewan.

“Joe (Di Salvo) and Grace (Mah) have been trying to remove Dr. Dewan since I was on the board,” King said. “Maimona (Afzal Berta) and Don (Rocha), please reconsider your decision … Nothing has happened that you cannot undo … It’s hard to tell our children that you’re doing something like this without cause.”

Recent investigative reports obtained by this news organization have revealed additional details that point to a battle between board members and the superintendent, several allegations of wrongdoing by board member Grace Mah and widespread fears over retaliation — including retaliation against Dewan.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board also approved a $36,500 agreement with Leadership Associates, an executive search firm that conducts superintendent and other leadership searches for school districts, to find the next superintendent. The board approved the agreement in a 6-1 vote, with board member Sreekrishnan voting against the agreement.

Notably, the board also approved a contract with law firm Redwood Public Law to serve as its separate legal counsel to navigate Dewan’s lawsuit against the board. The board approved the agreement in a 6-1 vote, with Sreekrishnan opposed. She pointed out that the agreement with Redwood Public Law is the third board contract with separate legal counsel in less than a year.

The assistant superintendent of business services, Stephanie Gomez, said Wednesday that the board has racked up $243,000 in legal costs to date for fiscal 2024 year. She added that the county education office allocates $176,000 for board legal costs from the adopted county budget each year but has “recently exceeded” that amount and is in the process of allocating another $100,000 for existing contracts.