TUSD could face $15 deficit next year

The projected deficit, which was recently shared with the TUSD Governing Board, includes a “worst case scenario” of a 2,200-

student loss and a variety of cuts in federal and state funding.

In addition to asking TUSD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez to come up with contingency plans in the event that the worst-case scenario becomes reality, the district will hire an outside expert to conduct a financial analysis to ensure that the projection, provided by Deputy Superintendent of Operations Yousef Awwad, is accurate.

“We appreciate the opportunity to see the worst-case scenario option because in this legislative environment we could very well be facing that scenario,” said TUSD Governing Board President Adelita Grijalva.

“As a board, our responsibility is to the children of this district, and that we take that obligation seriously.”

Awwad recently submitted his resignation, effective Oct. 1. He is leaving TUSD to become the chief financial officer of Portland Public Schools — a post he held in TUSD for two years before he was named deputy superintendent. Awwad has been credited with helping the district eliminate a deficit of more than $17 million in 2013.

In addition to planning for the possible deficit, the Governing Board will ask its legal counsel to write an amicus brief regarding money owed by the state to Arizona school districts.

“We want to assure the community that we are not relying on those funds to reduce any deficit,” Grijalva said. Rather, it is a matter of demanding that funds owed to Arizona children are paid immediately. Had that been the case in the past, TUSD would have received an additional $75 million over the last five years, Grijalva said.

Grijalva noted that the district would like to protect the small class-size initiative — one of several that have been implemented under Sanchez over the last year. Other initiatives that the district has committed to by using funds in a different way include the decision to not lay off teachers for the first time in years and compensating educators affected by a hiring practice that brought new teachers in at higher pay rates than those already in the district with the same amount of experience.

Sanchez said those efforts are not directly linked to the possible $15 million shortfall. Instead, he outlined funding cuts that Arizona public schools have had to endure over the last decade and the strain TUSD has been under to maintain aging facilities and assets.

The decision to make the possible deficit information public now is to allow the district ample time to plan rather than doing so at the “ninth hour” as has happened in the past, Sanchez said.

For Frances Banales, president of the Tucson Education Association, the early warning is appreciated, as it allows for all stakeholders to see if the decisions that have been made can be sustained.

With an election around the corner, Sanchez also encouraged voters to learn about the “Vote 4 Education” effort, which calls for making education a priority when going to the polls.