Questions Over Saisd’s Previous Bond Have Intensified as a Forensic Review Moves Forward and Another $600 Million Goes Before Voters
Questions surrounding San Antonio ISD’s 2020 bond program have intensified as the district seeks a forensic review of how money from the $1.3 billion package has been spent and two senior administrators remain on paid administrative leave.
SAISD voters approved a total of $1.3 billion in Bond 2020 funding on Nov. 3, 2020. It was split into two propositions:
- Proposition A: $1.21 billion — major renovations at 36 campuses, HVAC replacements and security upgrades.
- Proposition B: $90 million — districtwide technology upgrade
Deputy Superintendent Patti Salzmann and Chief of Staff Toni Thompson, two longtime senior district officials, were placed on paid administrative leave Sept. 4. The district has not publicly accused either administrator of wrongdoing or announced findings connecting them to improper spending.
The timing has drawn additional attention because SAISD requested proposals Aug. 19 for an independent accounting firm to conduct what the district described as a targeted forensic examination of its 2020 Bond Program. The deadline for firms to submit proposals was Sept. 3, one day before Salzmann and Thompson were placed on leave.
SAISD has declined to publicly discuss the reasons for the personnel actions, citing its policy of not discussing details of personnel matters. Although this is tax payers money ‘personal matters’ are being used as the reason for no comment.
Questions Grow Over Bond Allocations
The development comes as SAISD continues to face questions over hundreds of millions of dollars remaining from the bond voters approved in 2020.
Last week, SAISD trustees delayed approving additional expenditures from the 2020 bond for renovations involving Martin Luther King Academy and S.J. Davis Middle School amid concerns about how remaining funds were being allocated and accounted for.
Approximately $420 million from the $1.3 billion bond remains unspent, according to information provided by the district.
The 2020 bond was approved to fund major campus renovations, technology, security improvements, HVAC replacements and other capital projects throughout SAISD. Construction costs and inflation have increased substantially since voters approved the package nearly six years ago, complicating several projects and their original budgets.
East Side Projects Remain in Focus
The issue has particular significance for East Side families because Martin Luther King Academy and S.J. Davis Middle School were both included in plans for Bond 2020 investments.
MLK Academy was slated for extensive redevelopment, including new classrooms, laboratories, a library, fine arts spaces, a gymnasium, dining facilities and security improvements. Davis was also among campuses designated to receive bond-funded improvements.
Both campuses have since become part of broader district discussions surrounding enrollment, facilities and the future use of SAISD properties.
The San Antonio Observer previously reported on approximately $420 million in remaining 2020 bond funds and concerns from East Side residents about projects that have yet to be completed. Those questions have become more pressing as the district considers the future of campuses while simultaneously moving forward with another bond election.
Another $600 Million Goes Before Voters
The scrutiny comes at a critical time for SAISD. On Nov. 3, voters will consider a new $600 million bond package divided into three propositions.
The largest portion, $492 million, would go toward school modernization, major building-system replacements and safety and security improvements. Another $102 million would fund technology improvements, while $6 million would go toward improvements at Alamo Stadium and the Convocation Center.
Separate from the bond propositions, voters will also consider a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election that would raise SAISD’s Maintenance and Operations tax rate by 3.17 cents.
For some residents, the unresolved questions surrounding the previous bond are affecting how they view the new request.
This is a bad time for this to happen. Why would we vote to approve more bond funding now with the understanding that the previous bond we voted for may have been mismanaged? It’s a no for me.
Lena Lopez
Superintendent Dr. Adrian Bustillos recently took over leadership of the district as SAISD works through decisions involving its facilities, finances, declining enrollment and long-term plans.
What a Forensic Review Could Examine
A forensic review goes beyond a routine financial audit by taking a more detailed look at transactions, spending decisions, documentation and financial records. The scope of SAISD’s review will ultimately determine exactly which areas of the 2020 bond program receive additional scrutiny.
The review itself does not establish that wrongdoing occurred. Its findings, once completed, could provide trustees and taxpayers with a clearer accounting of how bond dollars were allocated, transferred and spent and how much remains available for unfinished projects.
For taxpayers, the review adds another layer to a question already surrounding the upcoming election: how the district has managed the bond money voters previously approved while asking the community to authorize hundreds of millions more.
