🔪 The Budget Guillotine Falls: TUSD Eliminates 64 Positions, Dissolves Equity Department

Board approves $4.1 million in cuts while claiming equity work will continue despite structural elimination

May 02, 2025

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

The Tucson school board had a big meeting where they talked about some serious problems. 👥 There are fewer kids being born in Tucson, which means fewer students in public schools. 👶📉 The schools are running out of money because the state government isn't giving them enough. 💸🏫 They decided to cut 64 jobs to save money. ✂️💼 They also voted to have school safety workers join the city's emergency center, but some people worried this might let police get information about students they shouldn't have. 🚨👮‍♂️❓ The meeting showed that school buildings need repairs - some have leaking roofs! 🏢💧 They also discussed that many students are struggling with reading and math. 📚➕➖ The school board members are trying to figure out how to help students even with less money. 🤔💡

📉 Fewer kids born in Tucson = 🏫 Empty classrooms
💰 State cuts education funding ➡️ 🧹 TUSD cuts 64 jobs
👮‍♀️ School safety joins police dispatch (3-2 vote) ➡️ 🔐 Privacy concerns
🏢 Schools waiting 6+ years for roof repairs ➡️ 🪣 Using buckets for leaks
📚 Only 27% proficient in reading, 21% in math ➡️ 📊 Below state average
🤝 Community donations helping arts programs survive cuts

🗝️ Takeaways

📉 TUSD faces a 25% enrollment decline since 2010, caused by plummeting birth rates (down 31% in Pima County) and expansion of charter schools and vouchers
🚨 The board narrowly approved (3-2) integrating TUSD dispatchers with city police communications, raising serious concerns about student privacy and increased law enforcement in schools
💸 The district approved eliminating 64.5 administrative positions to save $4.1 million, including effectively dissolving the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion department as a named entity
🏢 Multiple schools have been waiting years for roof repairs, withthe facilities director saying, "We buy a lot of buckets because of these leaks."
📚 Only 27% of TUSD students are proficient in English language arts and 21% in math, significantly below state averages
🎨 Fine Arts and Technology Services departments outlined how they would absorb 10% cuts to desegregation funding while trying to maintain essential services

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The Dismantling of Public Education: TUSD Board Meeting Reveals Budget Cuts, Surveillance Concerns, and Demographic Crisis

¡La lucha continua! The struggle continues as our district faces structural attacks from all sides – demographic shifts, state budget cuts, and the steady erosion of educational equity.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) Governing Board convened for what appeared to be a routine meeting but instead revealed a troubling constellation of challenges that threaten the very foundation of public education in our community. The nearly four-hour session exposed how state-level austerity, demographic shifts, and the steady privatization of education continue to strangle resources from our predominantly Brown and Black students.

As the meeting unfolded, it became increasingly clear that we're witnessing the slow-motion dismantling of one of our community's most vital institutions – a death by a thousand cuts orchestrated by conservative forces at the state level who have long sought to redirect public education funding toward private interests.

Board Members and Key Players: Who Holds Power

The full five-member governing board attended:

Jennifer Eckstrom (Board President) - Consistently demonstrated concern for student privacy and equity
Ravi Shah (briefly left the meeting from 6:37 p.m. to 7:23 p.m. to attend his children's opera performance) - Often frames issues in terms of financial constraints
Val Romero - Showed particular concern for dual language programs and grounds crews
Natalie Luna Rose - Highlighted her connections to the district as a parent and alumna
Sadie Shaw - Raised critical questions about police integration and student privacy

Key district officials and presenters included:

Dr. Gabriel Trujillo (Superintendent) - Orchestrated the meeting agenda and defended administrative decisions
Robert Ross (Legal Counsel) - Attempted to assure board members about privacy concerns
Rick Brammer (Center for Applied Economics) - Delivered troubling demographic data showing declining student population
Joe Hallams (Director of School Safety) - Advocated for merging district dispatchers with city emergency services
Mark King (Dispatch Supervisor) - Supported the integration with public safety communications
William Fitzgerald (City of Tucson Public Safety Communications Department Administrator) - Promised TUSD dispatchers would maintain operational independence
Greg Myers (Facilities Director) - Revealed concerning infrastructure issues with aging buildings and vehicles
Charlotte Carter (Bond Program Manager) - Presented bond-funded equipment replacements
Robbie Hamay (Executive Director for Technology Services) - Detailed technology system management and cybersecurity needs
John Fernandez (Chief Human Resources Officer) - Outlined plans to reduce recruitment and retention incentives
Dr. Ashcroft (Fine Arts Department) - Defended arts programs despite budget constraints
Ricky Hernandez (Finance Department) - Detailed administrative position freezes and cuts

Honoring Indigenous Land and Lost Educators

Before diving into the bureaucratic agenda, the meeting began with two essential moments of recognition that offered a momentary pause from the relentless budget-focused discourse.

A sixth-grader from Gale Elementary, Humberto Curiel-Acosta, delivered a land acknowledgment that recognized the district operates on "the ancestral homeland of the Tohono O’odham Nation and the federally recognized tribal land of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe."

This ritual acknowledgment, while important, begs the question: What substantive steps is the district taking to support indigenous students beyond symbolic gestures?

The meeting also acknowledged the passing of two beloved TUSD employees:

Albert Rivera, a dedicated bus driver who served since 1989, was remembered for his "infectious smile, overwhelming laughter, and deep-rooted love for hunting, camping, and the Los Angeles Rams." Dr. Trujillo noted that Rivera's family asked for him to be remembered "not for how his life ended, but for the way he lived with purpose, generosity, and joy."

Daniel Mejia, a revered PE teacher and coach at Davis Bilingual, was honored for his decades of service teaching physical education and running summer basketball and mariachi camps. Board President Eckstrom shared a personal connection: "He taught my daughter how to put that basketball in between her legs and to do sick crossovers. He was even reffing up until this year." His death clearly struck an emotional chord with the Davis community.

The board held moments of silence for both individuals, a rare instance of human connection in a meeting otherwise dominated by spreadsheets and policy jargon.

Population Crisis: The Demographic Time Bomb

Perhaps the most revealing segment came from Rick Brammer of the Center for Applied Economics, who laid bare the harsh demographic reality facing TUSD and other Arizona school districts. His data painted a picture of a perfect storm undermining public education:

"We're essentially just taking the same size pie and cutting it into more pieces, which means everybody gets less," Brammer explained, referring to how charter schools and private school vouchers continue to fragment the student population despite overall stagnant growth.

The statistics were brutal:

Birth rates in Pima County have plummeted 31% since 2006 (from 14,000 to 9,700 births last year)
Every age group under 18 in Pima County saw population decline between 2010-2020
Arizona's under-18 population hasn't increased since 2010 and won't grow significantly until after 2030
TUSD has suffered a cumulative enrollment loss of about 25% since 2010 – the highest among established area districts

It's no coincidence that this demographic collapse began around 2006, when Arizona ramped up anti-immigration legislation and the Great Recession hit working families hardest. These policies have driven out exactly the young, working-class families that public schools depend on.

Brammer also highlighted how skyrocketing housing costs are pushing families to outlying areas: "A lot of that is about housing affordability right now. Salaries and so forth have not kept up with our cost of living."

The expansion of school choice options has further fragmented the student population. Over 14 years, charter schools gained 118,000 students statewide while district schools lost 91,000. The state's universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (voucher) program has accelerated this trend, though Brammer noted signs of "saturation" with slower growth in the program this year.

What Brammer diplomatically calls "choice" is really the systematic defunding of public education through privatization – a long-term conservative project to undermine the very concept of the commons.

Surveillance State: Police Integration Raises Red Flags

One of the most contentious items was the approval of an intergovernmental agreement to integrate TUSD dispatchers into the City of Tucson's Public Safety Communications Department. This move raises serious concerns about increased police presence in schools and student privacy in an era of heightened immigration enforcement.

The proposal narrowly passed by a 3-2 vote, with President Eckstrom and Board Member Shaw voting against it (thank you!) – a split revealing deep concerns about merging school safety with law enforcement functions.

Joe Hallams, Director of School Safety, framed the move as improving emergency response: "The worst thing that can happen is a breakdown of communication during a critical incident."

Mark King, Dispatch Supervisor, offered a scenario where students were nearly released. At the same time, a suspect remained active in a school area due to communication gaps: "With this integration, it would have prevented any type of miscommunication and updates on weapon status and the suspect's movement."

William Fitzgerald from the City of Tucson insisted TUSD dispatchers would maintain operational independence, claiming they would be "operating just like they were before" but with improved equipment and training.

But Board Members Eckstrom and Shaw weren't convinced. Shaw directly questioned the implications: "I worry that with this IGA, we would be inviting a higher presence of law enforcement on our campus."

Eckstrom raised pointed questions about immigration enforcement: "I'm concerned with ICE and everything going on with that. How would they or TPD be able to give out student information and that sort of thing? Right now, I'm not comfortable with this."

Eckstrom may remember almost exactly 16 years ago, in May 2009, when Pima County Sheriff Dupnik was talking crazy and trying to go to Sunnyside High School to enforce immigration laws.

This isn't just about dispatch efficiency – it's about the gradual militarization of our schools and the potential for increased surveillance of immigrant students and families. At a time when ICE raids are terrorizing communities, bringing school operations closer to law enforcement raises legitimate fears.

Legal Counsel Ross attempted to address these concerns by pointing to Section 5 of the agreement, claiming student privacy would be protected. However, when pressed about whether student data would be accessible to law enforcement, the answers became notably vague: "No more access than they would have today," Hallams responded – hardly a reassuring guarantee.

Budget Guillotine: Administrative Cuts and Department Eliminations

The board unanimously approved a hiring freeze for the remainder of FY2025 and permanent position cuts for FY2026, eliminating approximately 64.5 positions and saving over $4.1 million – a decision forced by state-level funding constraints.

Ricky Hernandez from Finance explained: "The goal of the hiring freeze and the reductions was really to achieve a $5.3 million salary and benefit savings across the institution."

Dr. Trujillo acknowledged the inevitable impact: "Even though these positions are vacant, their absence will still affect schools in some way in terms of a reduced capacity to serve in the particular area."

While the board removed the Internal Auditor position from the list of permanent cuts after concerns were raised during public comment, dozens of other positions will be eliminated, including several in the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) department.

Perhaps most troubling was the revelation that "the EDI department will not exist in name"—with its functions supposedly distributed among student services departments. When Board Member Shaw asked if EDI would still exist as a department, Hernandez responded: "At this point, I mean, it will be absorbed by the three Deseg-funded student services departments."

Let's be clear: eliminating EDI as a specific, named department during a time of rising bigotry and attacks on diversity initiatives is not a neutral budgetary decision – it's a capitulation to right-wing pressure, regardless of claims that the work will continue elsewhere.

Dr. Trujillo insisted, "We are not shying away or moving away from any of that work," but the department's structural elimination raises serious questions about institutional commitment to equity work amid hostile political headwinds.

Crumbling Infrastructure: Aging Buildings and Vehicles

The board approved the procurement of goods and services for Quarter 4 bond projects, including kitchen equipment replacements and nine new white fleet vehicles for the facilities management department, highlighting years of deferred maintenance.

Greg Myers revealed that some school roofs have been awaiting repairs from the state facilities board for years: "Craig has been with the school facilities department for six years for replacement. And it still hasn't been done. It's an asphalt roof. I frankly don't get it."

He added that schools like Robison Elementary face similar issues, noting: "I know who we're buying the buckets from. And I think I should have stock in that company because we buy a lot of buckets because of these leaks."

The discussion also revealed that some district vehicles are so antiquated—one dating back to 1991—that parts can no longer be found for repairs. Myers described trucks with worn-off paint and mechanical issues that can't be addressed due to unavailable parts.

These aren't just minor inconveniences – they're tangible examples of how systematic disinvestment in public education manifests in leaking roofs over our children's heads and unsafe vehicles transporting maintenance workers between schools.

Arts Under Siege: Fine Arts Department Fights for Survival

Dr. Ashcroft presented the Fine Arts Department's response to a 10% cut in desegregation funding – a cut that will reduce instrument maintenance, supplies like clay and paint, and potentially impact staffing.

Despite these constraints, Dr. Ashcroft emphasized the department's commitment: "We are so committed to the arts for kids. It doesn't matter what art form, but we are committed to it. No matter what the budget is, we intend to continue these life-changing, empowering experiences for our children."

The presentation included a powerful video showcasing how music and movement impact learning for special education students. This video demonstrated that arts education isn't a luxury but an essential component of comprehensive learning, especially for students with diverse learning needs.

Ashcroft noted that community donors have stepped up to fill some gaps: "The thing that's amazing to me is the support of the community. It blows my mind really, particularly in the last few years with the donation of instruments and the funding that we have gotten for things we couldn't do."

While community support is admirable, it masks state funders' structural abandonment of arts education. Should our children's access to music, visual arts, and dance depend on the generosity of private donors? This is the privatization of basic educational needs by another name.

Public Voices: Underpaid Staff and Struggling Students

During the call to the audience, community members raised critical issues that further exposed the district's challenges:

Michael Conrad advocated for school administrators who are "underpaid an average of $10,000 a year compared to other nearby districts," noting administrators rarely advocate for themselves despite their vital role: "Our entire focus as administrators is the support of others and sometimes just trying to speak up on our own behalf becomes unimaginable."

Feroz Azizi and Jim Byrne from the teacher's union highlighted stalled negotiations with substitute teachers. Azizi pointed out the district's failure to honor its commitments: "The district hasn't kept their end of the deal and it's been disappointing." They advocated for a $600 year-end stipend for substitutes, similar to what other staff received.

Lillian Fox presented damning data showing TUSD's academic performance compared to state averages: only 27% of students are proficient in English language arts and 21% in math. She criticized the inadequate response:

"We have only 12 math recovery teachers total. That's it for the whole district and 30 reading recovery teachers. That is ridiculous."

Fox added that the superintendent has a generous budget while students struggle: "Our kids have $0.10 a student for library books and media. On the other hand, our superintendent, the guy who makes like $230,000 a year, has budgeted $1,000 to buy his books and media."

The contrast between administrative salaries and classroom resources couldn't be more apparent. When librarians must stretch dimes per student while senior administrators have personal book budgets, we're witnessing a profound disconnect between stated values and resource allocation.

Several letters from community members raised concerns about leadership at Manzo Elementary School, claiming the principal has created a hostile environment: "Many parents no longer feel welcomed or valued, and as a result, several have chosen to withdraw their children from Manzo and enroll them elsewhere."

Another student-submitted letter requested a review of graduation dress code policies to allow students to wear cultural items such as stoles representing the Mexican flag – a request that highlights ongoing tensions around cultural expression and identity.

Votes That Matter: Critical Decisions and Their Impact

The Numbers Don't Lie: Academic Crisis and Demographic Collapse

The data presented at this meeting reveals a district in crisis:

Student Academic Proficiency (2025)

TUSD: 27% English Language Arts, 21% Math
Arizona Average: Significantly higher in both areas

Demographic Pressure Points:

Pima County birth rates: Down 31% since 2006
TUSD enrollment: 25% reduction since 2010
Budget cuts: $4.1 million in administrative positions
Infrastructure: Buildings with 6+ year repair delays

This isn't just about numbers – it's about a systematic attack on public education. Board Member Shah acknowledged the state's role in this crisis, noting that the district's budget challenges are directly tied to "severe budget cuts" pushed onto public education by the Republican-controlled state legislature.

The state legislature has systematically starved public education while expanding charter schools and private school vouchers, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy: cut funding, watch performance decline, cite poor performance to justify further privatization. It's a deliberate strategy to dismantle public education, not an accident.

What This Means For Our Children and Community

These decisions will have real, lasting consequences for TUSD students, particularly those from marginalized communities who depend most heavily on robust public services:

School Safety: The integration of dispatchers with city emergency services creates new pathways for law enforcement involvement in school discipline issues, potentially feeding the school-to-prison pipeline
Staffing Reductions: The elimination of dozens of positions will reduce the capacity to serve students' needs across multiple departments
EDI Department Elimination: The structural dismantling of dedicated equity work happens amid rising attacks on diversity initiatives nationwide
Infrastructure Decay: Continued delays in facility repairs create unequal learning environments, with some schools forced to place buckets to catch water from leaking roofs

While some positive moments emerged – like the recognition of Carrillo K-5 Magnet School as a National ESEA Distinguished School and Blenman Elementary as a model Professional Learning Community – the overwhelming picture is one of a district struggling to maintain basic services. At the same time, state-level policy continues to undermine public education.

The Path Forward: Collective Action and Community Power

Despite these challenges, our community has the power to fight back. The decisions that affect our children aren't made in a vacuum – they respond to political pressure and community organizing.

If you're concerned about the direction of TUSD and public education in Arizona, here are ways to get involved:

Attend board meetings - Show up, speak during the call to the audience, and hold elected officials accountable
Contact your state legislators - Demand adequate funding for public education and an end to the privatization agenda
Join organized resistance - Connect with education advocacy groups fighting voucher expansion and pushing for equitable funding
Support local candidates - Help elect school board members and state legislators who prioritize public education
Subscribe to Three Sonorans - Independent journalism is essential for keeping our community informed about the forces shaping public education. Your subscription helps us continue providing in-depth coverage of TUSD and other local institutions.

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We cannot allow public education – the cornerstone of democracy and social mobility – to be dismantled through neglect and deliberate underfunding. The challenges revealed in this meeting are serious, but they are not inevitable. Together, we can demand the resources our children deserve.

What do you think about integrating school safety dispatchers with city emergency services? Would this improve student safety or raise concerns about privacy and increased policing of our children?

How should our community respond to the demographic challenges facing TUSD? Can we reverse the enrollment decline through targeted investments and programs?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below – your perspective matters in this ongoing conversation about the future of public education in Tucson.