The San Antonio Independent School District is seeking a forensic review of how money from a $1.3 billion bond was spent. Last week, SAISD trustees delayed approving the use of bond money for school renovations because of concerns about how funds were being allocated and accounted for.
Alma E. Hernandez/For the San Antonio Express-News
Toni Thompson, a 46-year veteran of the San Antonio Independent School District, is currently the district’s chief of staff. She and another top SAID administrative were placed on paid leave over concerns about bond spending, sources said.
San Antonio Independent School District
Patti Salzmann, a deputy superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District, was placed on paid leave over concerns about bond spending, sources said.
San Antonio Independent School District
Two senior San Antonio Independent School District administrators — including the most recent interim superintendent — are on leave over concerns about how $1.3 billion in 2020 bond funds have been spent, according to four people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Deputy Superintendent Patti Salzmann and Toni Thompson, the district’s chief of staff, have been on paid administrative leave since Friday, Sept. 4, according to sources who asked not to be identified to discuss sensitive district matters.
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The decision sidelines two of SAISD’s most senior administrators as the district prepares to ask voters to approve another bond issue and as a new superintendent, Adrian Bustillos, starts his tenure.
Just weeks ago, the district sought proposals for a forensic review of the $1.3 billion 2020 bond program, raising questions about financial oversight. A new $600 million bond to modernize campuses, upgrade technology and renovate athletic facilities is on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
The district and SAISD Board President Alicia Sebastian declined to comment on why Salzmann and Thompson were placed on leave, saying it is not SAISD policy “to discuss the details of personnel matters.”
Sources said neither Salzmann nor Thompson directly oversaw bond funds on a daily basis. They said Salzmann had raised concerns about the bond program months earlier and had called for a probe into how bond money was being spent and accounted for.
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Last week, automated replies from both administrators’ emails said they were “out of office.” After the San Antonio Express-News inquired about their employment status on Tuesday, those automatic responses were shut down.
Scrutiny over bond dollars
On Aug. 19, SAISD asked for proposals for an independent accounting firm to “perform a targeted forensic examination of the District’s 2020 Bond Program.”
“Findings will be reported to the Board of Trustees through the Audit Committee,” the posting stated. The deadline for firms to apply was Sept. 3 — the day before the two senior staffers were placed on leave.
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Jay Brim, an attorney representing Salzmann, said the deputy superintendent initiated the probe into the bond program, adding, “Nothing I have seen indicates she has been involved in distribution of those funds.”
“She previously began an investigation into Bond 2020, which is under her purview,” Brim said in a statement. “It appears that the investigation has been broadened.”
Efforts to reach an attorney representing Thompson were unsuccessful.
Sources said Thompson, whose job includes overseeing the district’s central office staff and external affairs, was placed on leave because the district’s new administration had questions about her hiring of an outside contractor to investigate Salzmann’s concerns.
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The 2020 bond package ran into problems after voters approved it by a 2-1 margin in November of that year. Construction and labor costs have soared, and eight campuses are still waiting for planned renovations to begin.
Last week, SAISD trustees delayed approving the expenditure of 2020 bond money for renovations to the gymnasium at Davis Middle School and reconstruction of Martin Luther King Academy. They cited concerns about the administration’s accounting for bond funds. About $420 million from the 2020 bond remains unspent, district spokeswoman Laura Short said in an email after the board meeting.
“I, as a trustee, cannot say with confidence that I know how much we have left to spend for this campus and all the other campuses,” trustee Ed Garza said.
Who are Salzmann and Thompson?
Together, Salzmann and Thompson have more than 80 years experience in San Antonio school districts.
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Thompson, an alumna of SAISD, has spent 46 years with the district. After several years in the classroom, she joined the SAISD human resources department in 1985 and led it for decades before becoming the district’s chief of staff. SAISD has an award for educators named in her honor.
After Superintendent Jaime Aquino retired earlier this year, Thompson briefly served as interim superintendent before Bustillos was hired.
Salzmann joined SAISD in 2018 under then-Superintendent Pedro Martinez as assistant superintendent for teaching and organizational learning. A year later, she became chief academic officer.
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She has spent the past six years as deputy superintendent and has overseen district operations for the last two. She also led SAISD’s effort to address dwindling enrollment, which led to the closure of 15 schools before the 2024-25 school year.
Before arriving at SAISD, Salzmann spent 31 years in public education, including nearly 17 years overseeing curriculum at North East ISD.