After Karla Soto presented a bright financial picture to the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board on Tuesday, board members Michael Hicks and Mark Stegeman along with members of the public expressed surprise. After all, just weeks before, departing Deputy Superintendent Yousef Awwad had advised Board member Michael Hicks that the outlook was gloomy.
The surprised Board members and taxpayers wondered how Awwad, who had earned high marks and wide-spread respect throughout the community, reported that the district was facing a potential $15 million deficit, and in no time at all Soto could report that the district had a surplus.
At Tuesday’s meeting those board members were not given an explanation for the recovery. They were expected to take Soto’s numbers at face value, or face the scorn of the majority of the Board led by Board president Adelita Grijalva. Some in the media were quick to report the miraculous event and cast doubt on the doubters.
So how did the district go from negative 15 million to surplus 20 million dollars? How is it possible to have a $35 million mathematical error?
Three independent sources confirm that the recovery was not miraculous, but in fact a “dog and pony show Ms. Soto and Dr. Sanchez choreographed.” At the direction of Superintendent H.T. Sanchez money was shifted around to cover the growing deficit.
They shifted the burden to the classrooms and swept Title I and Desegregation funds away from the children in desperate need.
Schools lost:
Reading interventionists
Math interventionists
Counselors
Librarians
Library Assistants
Teaching Assistants
Attendance Clerks
Learning Support Coordinators
Achieve 3000 and Study Island computer programs
ALEKS intervention program
Campus Monitors
Academic Tutors
Principals also lost their ability to purchase school supplies and books.
The district is now experiencing huge vacancies, has fewer custodians, fewer campus monitors, no capital budget, no instructional software licenses and no ability to purchase instructional aids. Schools had a hiring freeze so they were unable to advertise or interview for positions.
Sources report that Dr. Sanchez and his right-hand man; Dr. Vega have been on a spending spree since they arrived: 2.5 million for the ELC start-up costs in addition to the negative monthly expenses.
They have hired new administrators:
2 new directors in the Student Equity Department
2 new directors in Human Relations
1 new deputy superintendent position
Administrative assistants have been hired for each of these executives. A $20K pay raise was granted to the Chief Legal Counsel. Three new executive directors have been hired.
According to one employee, while Dr. Sanchez’s 3 year old son enjoys the benefits of the new Early Learning Centers, classrooms have been striped to the bone. The employee who fears retaliation wrote in an email, “This dog and pony show probably worked for the short run. Dr. Sanchez only cares about winning the election and keeping his yes men on the governing board.”
Awwad told board member Hicks on Wednesday, “Watch out for those journal entries. While the district may get away with it for a few years, it could eventually get the district in trouble.