No Cap: Creation of a Travel Policy
An exclusive look at how West Valley school boards create and govern travel policies using your tax dollars.
It’s been almost a year since we started looking into how your tax dollars are used to send school administrative staff and governing board members on trips throughout the U.S.
The beat goes on.
This month, Tolleson Union High School District came under investigation by the Goldwater Institute. It reported, “school administrators and school board members treated themselves to multi-day summer “retreats” at four-star resorts in Sedona and Tucson, all on the taxpayers’ dime.” The district issued a response to the independent Goldwater Investigation and you can find it on our website.
Further west last night, September 4th, board members in the Agua Fria Union High School District [AFUHSD] voted to give themselves travel permissions.
*Note included text: Elected officials unanimously agreed to a policy that states, “Governing Board is also aware of its duty to be fiscally responsible with the financial resources available to the District.”
But when it came down to it, they did not want a travel spending cap.
Here’s how they came to that decision at its August 7th meeting…
Board President DeCoste offered to have the conversation… Please view the meeting in its entirety. Travel discussion begins at the 59:00 mark.
By virtue of being a member of the governing board, officials are approved to attend up to 3 in-state ‘conferences, conventions, workshops, or competitions’ without needing further prior approval.
In the name of continued transparency, the board was adamant about having out-of-state travel come before the board for approval.
Click links to view the entire policy and videos. Here is a direct link to start your research for your convenience.
As for staff? All employees in the Agua Fria Union High School District must get prior board approval, too, for out-of-state travel. And it’s adding up.
STAFF TRAVEL APPROVAL TIPPING $100K THIS YEAR?
Our calculations show a total of 62 travelers, (some are repeat travelers), and 266 days of travel have been approved for this school year in AFUHSD.
Board President DeCoste stated in this February 2024 retreat she believes travel to see how academies operate in other states is warranted as the district is working to build its own program. In this same retreat, board member Trey Terry explained to me that not everyone who is approved to travel actually travels. He said the superintendent chooses who gets attend conferences. I am awaiting a records request to learn more.
Last night, AFUHSD approved an additional $37,722 in staff travel. This brings the total for approved travel in this new 2024-25 School Year to $93,422.45.
My calculations - dating back to approvals for *this* school year since January 2024 - show the total number is low due to missing figures in the requests.
Here’s the out-of-state travel attachment in the consent agenda for the September 4, 2024 meeting.
28 staff in the Agua Fria Union High School District sought approval for conferences in Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, and San Antonio.
The request to Chicago, Illinois starts at the base cost to the taxpayers for $22,530. The request for 9 to go to San Antonio is $8,100… but it’s missing the registration fees for all 9 travelers and the total of substitute teachers needed to fill absent staff classrooms.
WHAT ARE NEIGHBORING DISTRICT TRAVEL POLICIES?
This summer, I filed records requests with West Valley school districts to see travel policies for governing boards in neighboring areas.
The total FY 2023-24 staff travel tally in the Buckeye Union High School District is $5,667.87. The BUHSD governing board travel tally is $0.
Buckeye Union High School District governing board member Nathan Madden has been very clear about his position on board member travel - as confirmed in district records.
The Liberty Elementary School District also has a fiscally conservative policy on out-of-state travel.
I am awaiting records requests to be fulfilled by several West Valley districts - including the Agua Fria Union High School District - to compare all SY2023-24 travel expense tallies.
RECORDS STRUGGLES WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT?
As for records, Agua Fria Union High School District governing board member Mr. Eric Cultum called out Superintendent Mark Yslas last night for not providing academic numbers he says asked for three months ago.
“We as a governing board are supposed to make sure that academics is number one in our district,” expresses Mr. Cultum.
Coincidentally, I believe I have some of the numbers Mr. Cultum is seeking.
These are the Spring 2024 scores I obtained through a records request over the summer. (I am not the community member Mr. Cultum refers to in the meeting who also requested these numbers.)
West Valley Families started looking at academic scores for all West Valley districts in August after board members in the Liberty ESD exposed dismal proficiency. View all of the videos here.
As I get all of the academic proficiency scores, I’ll post them here. I do know Peoria Unified is working on the request and will have it to me shortly.
JEN’S TWO CENTS
It’s easy to do your own research.
Check out the Arizona Department of Education’s website to research proficiency scores and graduation rates for West Valley schools. Find AZ School Report Cards here.
The beginning of the school year is the time to get involved in your local school board.
Maricopa County is slated to cancel these 81 school board races because not enough candidates are running for office.
This means candidates running for office with no opponents will be automatically seated. And remaining open seats will be appointed.
SEPTEMBER 2024 SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
