Isaac Elementary staff to keep working Friday, hopeful for paychecks
Isaac Elementary School District educators opted Thursday night to continue working Friday, hopeful they would receive paychecks after not being paid so far this week amid the district's financial crisis that led to its takeover by the state. Their payday was scheduled for Tuesday.
"We were extremely hopeful that we would be paid today," said Marisol Garcia, an Isaac Elementary teacher and the president of the Arizona Education Association, a statewide educators' union.
On Wednesday night, the Tolleson Union High School District's Governing Board approved a deal with Isaac Elementary that would essentially allow the neighboring high school district to loan Isaac Elementary $25 million.
By Thursday afternoon, the transaction had taken place, and all requested documents had been sent to the Maricopa County Treasurer's Office, according to Tolleson Union spokesperson Joseph Ortiz.
But by 5 p.m. Thursday, Garcia said, Maricopa County Treasurer John Allen had not yet greenlit the payroll checks.
"Nobody understands why we're still waiting for him," she said. "There's money in there to spend. I'm not sure what the treasurer's waiting for."
The Maricopa County Treasurer's office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
More than 300 staff members deliberated Thursday evening, Garcia said, over whether they should return to work Friday. Garcia said they were "significantly traumatized."
"There was a lot of emotion, tears," she said.
The Arizona Education Association passed out $15,000 in gift cards Thursday — raised by donations from other state and local unions, along with individuals — to make sure staff could buy food and gas, Garcia said.
"The feeling is extremely tense on what may happen tomorrow if they are not paid," Garcia said. She added that several staff members were interviewing for other positions and "intend on leaving the district."
"These folks are living off $50 gift cards right now," she said. "It's pretty humiliating."
Still, they planned to return Friday and would be "monitoring the process of getting checks printed" and handed to employees, Garcia said.
Meanwhile, legislation that would advance $2.5 million to the district has stalled after passing the House Education Committee earlier this week. House Bill 2610, introduced by Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, would direct Allen to issue funds to cover one payroll for the school district. The money would be drawn from Isaac's basic state aid. Garcia said Thursday that she was disappointed that the bill had stalled.
Isaac Elementary, which serves approximately 4,800 students in Phoenix, was placed under receivership two weeks ago by the Arizona State Board of Education because it had overspent its budget by millions. Last week, the district's superintendent and chief financial officer resigned.
According to Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Thomas Galvin, the district owes the county $28.5 million. The county has said it would not provide any more funding for the district's expenses until the district could demonstrate the ability to pay back its debt, leaving the district without cash to fund operations. The U.S. Department of Education agreed to return $6 million in pandemic relief funds that the district had inadvertently forfeited, and the Treasurer's Office said that money would go toward Isaac Elementary's debt.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has launched an investigation into the financial mismanagement at Isaac Elementary.
Getting help: Tolleson Union will transfer $25 million to ailing Isaac Elementary
Reach the reporter at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Isaac Elementary staff to keep working Friday, hopeful for paychecks
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