The Tucson Unified School District Governing Board will once again consider terminating the employment of Superintendent H.T. Sanchez. This will be the third time in as many weeks that the Board considers Sanchez’s future.
Sanchez has violated the terms of his contract numerous times. Those violations were ignored while Board member Adelita Grijalva controlled the Board majority.
Grijalva lost control of the Board as a result of the 2016 election of Rachael Sedgwick, who defeated Grijalva loyalist Board member Cam Juarez.
Among the many violations by Sanchez of the terms of his contract, are multiple instances in which he was required to get Board approval for specific actions and failed to do so.
According to sources and various documents, Sanchez misled the Board as to compensation in contracts, gave pay raises to senior administrators without Board approval, and gave separating employees additional months of health insurance after separation.
Sanchez’s contract says the Governing Board has exclusive authority to determine employee compensation.
Administrators Abel Morado, Stephanie Boe, and Michelle Tong received contracts with substantial raises unapproved by the Governing Board.
In 2013, administrators Damon Jackson and Steve Holmes signed contracts of employment with TUSD. The contracts include various benefits, financial and otherwise, but neither contract specifies the possibility of a bonus. In June 2014, just before the end of the fiscal year, each administrator received a $10,000 payment, coded as a “bonus.” It appears that none of the other benefits that were specified in the signed contracts could produce such a $10,000 payment.
Sanchez is alleged to have violated his contract when he reportedly directed principals not to follow the Board approved policy: Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Sanchez’s contract specifically requires him to follow Governing Board policies.
Sanchez allowed Pueblo High Principal Augie Romero to violate State law when Romero changed student’s grades without their teacher’s consent.
Sanchez, who is not a certified educator by the Arizona State Board of Education, is required under the terms of his contract to follow the laws and regulations of the State of Arizona.
Sanchez was contacted on at least two occasions by authorities for failing to report assaults on employees or police as required by Arizona law.