Demonstrating that he never fully understood the purpose and scope of use of desegregation funds, TUSD Superintendent Sanchez, confirmed at last night’s Governing Board meeting that he had wanted to use those funds for daycare services. For years, the plaintiffs in the case had urged that the money be spent paying for highly skilled teachers in small sized classrooms.
The plaintiffs and the Special Master in the desegregation case have made their objection to this use of funds known to the Court according to sources. Sanchez believes that he can talk the parties into agreeing with his plan, but told the Board that if he fails he hoped that the District will fund it through another means.
Sanchez claimed that the daycare will be an incentive for District teachers. He argued that when teachers are choosing District to work in, the daycare service will be an added benefit. However, TUSD pays the highest wages in the area, and it is the discipline policy in the District and failure of administration to support staff that has kept quality teachers from coming on board. Sanchez has done nothing to improve those two areas of concern.
Only Governing Board members Michael Hicks and Mark Stegeman voted against the misuse of funds. Hicks explained that he could not support using desegregation funds
Although the monies have been misspent for years, there has never been a more overt attempt to funnel money away from existing classrooms into another pet project.
However, Sanchez revealed at the meeting that he has already begun discussions with Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias and County Supervisor Chuck Huckelberry to offer the daycare to County employees. Elias was instrumental in the Promotoras program which was shut down by former TUSD administrator Lupita Garcia, when she discovered that TUSD staff was funneling Title 1 money out of Rose Elementary School and into Pima Community College to train women to become community organizers. The program targeted women who had entered the United States illegally and were associated with Derechos Humanos.
The District was fined $3.7 million for the misuse of Title 1 funds. At the time Garcia had advised Elias that she was shutting the slush fund down, Elias laughed at Garcia and told her he would find County sources.
Using District money intended for the most underserved students in the District for other purposes is not a new practice, but only Sanchez has been so blatant in his disregard for the Court and the plaintiffs position.
Under Sanchez, the District has descended into near chaos. He is frequently out of town, and staff morale is at an all time low.
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