That would have made for a headline-grabbing slogan if TUSD Board member Michael Hicks used it during the 2014 campaign. “If elected, I promise to cut $64 million from the TUSD budget.” I’m guessing he knew it would have hurt his election chances, which is probably why he saved it for later.

SB1371, discussed by the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday, would phase out school district desegregation funding from a number of districts in Arizona including TUSD. Superintendent H.T. Sanchez spoke at the hearing, stating that TUSD needs the funding to comply with the court-ordered deseg plan, and Debbie Lesko, the bill’s sponsor, may add an amendment that exempts the district so long as it is under court order.

Meanwhile, Hicks sent a statement to the committee supporting the bill regardless of whether it is amended.

“I urge the Finance Committee to consider passing Senate Bill 1371 based on what the plaintiff representatives’ belief that it is the money that caused TUSD to not actively secure Unitary Status. Michael Hicks TUSD Board Member.”

Usually, written comments aren’t read during committee meetings, but according to Senator Steve Farley, who sits on the committee, “Chair Lesko, in a highly unusual move, read [Hicks’] written comments from the RTS [Request to Speak] system anyway, not once, but twice, because they backed her position and undercut TUSD’s credibility for those who did not know him.”

In a Facebook post, Farley wrote, 

“This move on Hicks’ part amounts to a direct attack on his own superintendent, 49,000 TUSD students, 3,000 teachers, and our entire community and economy. It amounts to dereliction of duty. He must be held accountable for his destructive actions.”

Farley hopes to speak out about Hicks’ action during the Call to the Audience at a TUSD Board meeting if his legislative schedule allows it. Of course, anyone who objects to Hicks’ position can speak out during the Call to the Audience.

This article appears in Feb 12-18, 2015.

8 replies on “Board Member Michael Hicks Wants to Cut TUSD Funding by $64 Million”

  2. Money has nothing to do with amounts of available education. That’s the one thing nobody WANTS to understand.

  4. What is causing me such deep disgust over this is that Hicks has violated every proper procedure for a board member. The board and superintendent discussed his testimony Tuesday night. Hicks was silent. No courtesy at all towards his chief employee. Then he did not indicate he was making this recommendation as a private citizen exercising his freedom of speech. He did not indicate he was offering a minority view on the board. He identified himself as a board member, thereby creating a false position. During the campaign, he never at any forum described his wish to gut deseg funds, thereby fooling the voters. He has refused to accept direction from the chair as to proper decorum, thereby violating Robert’s Rules and Board Conduct Rule. I quote, “I dare you to try to stop me” after being ruled out of order. Mr. Hicks is behaving as a Lone Cowboy rather than a serious board member and should be censured by the Board.

  5. Tucson Unified’s FY 2015 budget projects that Special Education services will cost just over $48 million for the year. Take away ALL special education funding + all school transportation ($13 million/year), and you’d still have to find another $4 million to cut if Mr. Hicks has his way.

  6. Not an admirer of Hicks, but after 40 years, it’s time to cut the deseg slush fund. TUSD will NEVER come into compliance as long as they get $63 million every year for staying out of compliance.

  8. Tusd has been doing this with deseg money long enough . You can try and criminalize Hicks , but he’s right . How can you say things like this about Hicks and ignore the way other board members have acted ( like violating open meeting laws ) . Take the money away and TUSD will have to fix the problem. Take the money away and watch how quickly the superintend and other board members run.

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