TUSD board trims administration budget

The TUSD Governing Board balked at voting for the proposed cuts to administration offered by the Distict’s administration. While schools were closed and major layoffs loom, the administration surgically cut a few employees here and there.

The Board almost refused to approve the cuts, but Superintendent Pedicone told them a no vote would mean that no cuts would be made. They finally agreed to the move on the condition that more cuts could be made.

Major cuts were made to exceptional education, but the cuts that seemed to disturb most of the Board members were the cuts to technology staff. As a result, the department will not fill all open positions and make minor cuts.

The Board approved a “soft-capital” expenditure of $1.8 million for technology improvements. The lone no vote was Dr. Mark Stegeman who asked if the Board or administration had any real idea where the money was going to come from.

The highlight of the meeting came when Pedicone complained that he was making huge sacrifices and said, “We need a writer in the marketing department,” and noted that other staff had to pick up the slack. 

Dr. Stegeman was the lone dissenting vote against the proposal to write Pima Community College a letter in support of providing DACA students on-state tuition. He said that he agreed with the principle of the letter, but it has been his policy over the years to not interfere in other educational entities and their policy issues.

The District is still trying to figure how to close a $3 million hole in the budget, but it is unlikely to be filled with more administrative cuts.