The Los Angeles Times reports that a former South Bay schools superintendent fired last year following a furor over his $750,000-plus annual pay package is suing the Centinela Valley Union High School District for wrongful termination, age discrimination and other alleged legal violations, including false workers’ compensation claims allegedly filed by a school board member. In a lawsuit filed this week, Jose A. Fernandez alleged that the Centinela district had suspended, then fired, him last year without following the proper steps outlined in his contract and in violation of the state open-meeting law.

Centinela educates 6,600 high school students enrolled on three campuses and in two small alternative programs, but Fernandez’s earnings dwarfed those of superintendents of far larger school districts. New York City schools Chancellor Carmen Farina oversees the nation’s largest district, with more than 1 million students, and makes $412,193. Los Angeles Unified Supt. Ramon Cortines makes $300,000 annually running the nation’s second-largest school system of 640,000 students.

Among other issues, the lawsuit alleged that Fernandez was fired in retaliation for refusing to participate in what he believed would be illegal activities by two Board of Education members. Actions alleged in the lawsuit included an attempt by Board President Hugo Rojas for the district to hire his girlfriend without the required education credentials and board member Gloria Ramos’ request for Fernandez to support what he believed were fraudulent workers’ compensation claims. He also opposed what he believed was the improper use of district resources for Ramos’ political activities.

Fernandez is asking for reinstatement, back pay and damages for emotional distress, among other things.

Bob Cox, Centinela’s interim superintendent, said district officials would not comment because they had not yet seen the lawsuit. Fernandez and his attorney, Thomas W. Porter, also declined to comment to the Times.