TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) -- Yet another shakeup in Tucson's largest school district. KGUN9 was the first to report the controversy surrounding TUSD's Audit committee and the resignations of two members, Bill Tong and Todd Anderson.
TUSD'S legal counsel is now working on the changes to the charter, which includes stripping two members of their voting power -- the Governing Board member and CFO.
An 8 month old charter changed to include on the committee -- a Governing Board member and the district's Chief Financial Officer -- and remove those who didn't live in the district.
What didn't change was who can serve on the independent committee. Bill Tong, Todd Anderson and Ricky Hernandez have spouses who work for the district -- an apparent violation of the charter.
Governing Board member Mark Stegeman said during a call to the audience, "Two persons in my view have honorably resigned, but this issue is not fully addressed."
TUSD legal counsel, Julie Tolleson, called the adopted charter language "sloppy." "My advice is rather than debate the crappy language. Let's figure out the good language and move forward," said Tolleson.
Committee chair Charles Andrade followed with a clean-up. A recommended change in the charter to only include immediate family members who have leadership roles "because that type of leadership has influence in the organization," said Andrade.
Both wives of Tong and Anderson fit the bill, so they would have had to step down under the proposed charter.
Which then leaves Ricky Hernandez, who argued in favor of Andrade's charter definition and seconded the motion to change the charter. Hernandez would not disclose to KGUN 9 his spouse's position so it's likely he'll remain on the committee.
Stegeman told KGUN9, "At today's audit committee meeting, a member who reportedly has both a wife and sibling employed by TUSD participated without apology, even though the committee's charter language prohibits both relationships. Speaking to the committee, TUSD's general counsel did not even attempt to claim that his participation was allowed. Not only did the prohibited member participate in the meeting, he moved and voted on a proposal to legalize his participation. Nothing could confirm more clearly the travesty that this committee has become, and the complete disregard that TUSD's leadership has for policy and process."
Andrade also recommended that the Governing Board member and the CFO be stripped of their voting power by adding they would "serve as a non-voting member."
The change seemed to take Grijalva, Soto and Hernandez by surprise. Hernandez said, "Two individuals that have basically lost their vote. Is that what's happening?"
Grijalva said she had recently thought about a similar change although the charter was adopted under her leadership on the board. Hernandez and Soto argued there simply wouldn't be enough members on the committee to hold a vote on agenda items.
The Audit committee members then voted in favor of Andrade's proposed changes in the charter, which now has to be approved by the Governing Board.
