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School official explains tax error, apologizes

Published/Last Modified on Sunday, Oct 28, 2007 - 05:11:15 am MST

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An open letter to the public:

On several occasions in the past few weeks, the Herald ran articles on the tax rate error. Included in several of those articles were references to my apology and, on occasion, direct quotes from that apology which was personally delivered to the Governing Board on Oct. 5. I would like to take this opportunity to provide my apology to the public.

I apologize to the public for two errors:

1. The clerical error that occurred in the Business Department a year ago which results in the 2006-07 year’s tax rates being set abnormally low. This caused the dramatic change in the tax rate when set accurately for the 2007-08 school year; and

2. The timeliness in which this manner was brought to the attention of the public and the Governing Board.

On or about March 9, Michelle Quiroz, the district’s business manager, met with me to explain the problem with the error in setting the 06-07 tax rates. She had talked to the county tax assessor and the Arizona Department of Education and there was nothing to be done at this point in time. However, we would need to ask ADE for an advance on our funding of the 07-08 school year, which we did at a previous Governing Board meeting, and closely monitor the budget for the remainder of the school year to be sure the district would not go into a deficit. Also, our tax rate for 07-08 would go back to the normal range. This was accomplished and the district’s budget did not go into a deficit.

Normally, this is something I would have discussed with Dr. (Superintendent Renae) Humburg to keep her informed, but I didn’t. As to why I didn’t, I can only speculate; but there was never any intentional effort on my part to keep this information from anyone, Dr. Humburg, the Governing Board or the public. We have always maintained an open door policy, provided any budget or financial information requested by the public and staff in our efforts to make district operations as transparent as possible. Michelle and I met with Dr. Humburg on Sept. 28 and reviewed in detail what had happened in this matter. Following this meeting, I notified the Governing Board via e-mail to include a detailed memorandum attached from Michelle.

At no time was there any intended deception or cover-up of the initial clerical error and the subsequent failure to inform Dr. Humburg, the Governing Board and the public of the impact of this error.

Michelle and I have discussed this scenario on numerous occasions in the last few weeks and have developed procedures to ensure that this type of error will never reoccur.

I sincerely offer my apology to the public for my lack of foresight in this matter and assure you that nothing remotely similar will happen again.

William L. Roach Jr., Ph.D.

Assistant superintendent

Sierra Vista school district

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Please! to Blame Game wrote on Nov 6, 2007 1:28 AM:

" You are so full of venom, you can't see that running an educational system is challenging. You obviously resent the taxes you pay to educate our future leaders. There are so many types of expenses, the largest of which is salaries for teachers. Should we cut there? There are large expenses for utilities, gasoline for buses, books and instructional materials, teacher's aides, special education, computers. There isn't enough money to do the job. Lobby in Phoenix to get more money for education! We are in the bottom 5 states in allocation per student. Get Real! "

Give me a Break! to Accepted wrote on Oct 29, 2007 6:02 PM:

" The person who made the mistake in the first place is not an educator, and Dr. Roach isn't an educator, just a tyrant. The Board didn't make the mistake or cover it up, and shouldn't be held responsible for the problem--there isn't much one can do after the horse is out of the gate. It's a mess of huge proportions. I am amazed that Dr. Humburg and the board were not advised of the situation immediately, because Dr. Roach's standard operating procedure is very severe reprimand and consequences, followed by fear and trembling. "

Still does not make sense wrote on Oct 29, 2007 4:49 PM:

" Apology excepted...But I still don't understand how this Board and this Superintendent say they were blindsided yet knew the district was borrowing money and never asked why? For Superintendent of the year and a board made up of educators and professionals they seem pretty lame and way to eager to pass the buck! "

Blame Game wrote on Oct 29, 2007 1:40 PM:

" The SVUSD has done nothing but blame NCLB and anything else they can think of for all the ills in the school system and use them as an excuse to get more money. Even when "mandates" are funded, it is never enough to implement them the way they want to. No amount of money is ever enough. Nothing is ever thier fault, there just wasn't enough money. They can't live within a budget, not condusive to empire building or leaving legacies. "

Teacher wrote on Oct 29, 2007 7:02 AM:

" "Accepted" you say this is what happens when we place educators in charge of public schools. Who do you suggest be in charge? I think I understand your point, however, the issue is policy makers with no understanding of the complexity of schooling are then allowed to lead districts and intiate policies. We can thank those same policy makers for No Child Left Behind. A good concept in theory, but one that has left many school districts in financial deficits and forced to cut programs to provide funding for the mandate. "

just me wrote on Oct 29, 2007 6:10 AM:

" Dr. Roach... Your loss is a great one to the SV school system. I am thankful for what you have done for our family in the past when no one else seemed to care. Mistakes happen. Too bad it happened in county of perfect people. "

Lost in the Apologies wrote on Oct 28, 2007 5:16 PM:

" Mr. Roach states in his letter "However, we would need to ask ADE for an advance on our funding of the 07-08 school year, which we did at a previous Governing Board meeting,". Did I miss something in previous apologies but is this saying again the board was told the district asked the state for advanced funding and not one board member asked why? The budget is the single most important aspect of a school district and this board didn't have a clue. Eyes Wide Shut. "

Believer wrote on Oct 28, 2007 8:18 AM:

" How many more lame apologies? "

Accepted wrote on Oct 28, 2007 6:32 AM:

" Apology accepted. Unfortunately the damages wrought shall not be remedied with words alone. This is what happens when we place educators in charge of public schools and the board < mostly educators themselves > abrogates its oversight responsiblites through complacency. The board is the voters connection point to the educational process. If the board were truly "sorry" they would show their remorse. Resignation would be a start. "