TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A southern Arizona school district on the state’s high-risk list is revealing what that warning means.
For the first time, a superintendent is describing the tipping point that can lead to school closures.
Sierra Vista superintendent Terri Romo has been in the role for less than a year, taking over a district already under financial strain.
Years of decline
“We were heading towards a cliff,” Romo said.
A cliff that didn’t appear overnight. The warning signs had been building for years — rising costs and declining enrollment.
“Our trajectory for 10 years has been going down. We’ve known we needed to keep an eye on it,” Romo said.
The district had already lost around 2,000 students. Then COVID hit, followed by relief funds. Romo said that helped prop up day-to-day operations but masked the problem.
As that funding faded, state auditors found the district turned to capital funds — money meant for long-term needs — to keep up with daily costs.
“Once you start doing that, that is a sign that you are financially at risk and that you’re having to basically borrow money for what should be used to take care of the facilities and pay your people,” Romo said.
“What did that delay do?” 13 News asked.
“It kind of kicked the can down to being at the edge of a cliff,” Romo said.
Accelerating losses
In just one year, those reserves dropped by about a third — roughly $2 million.
Enrollment losses accelerated as school choice expanded — from about 200 students a year to 300, and now another 350.
“To lose the $3 million last year. Now we’re heading into $5 million — and if we have even fewer students, it could be even more,” Romo said. “Every single one of our schools is under 50% utilization.”
The system can no longer absorb the loss, she said.
“When your budget is made up of people — the majority of it is people — there’s very few places to cut other than people,” Romo said.
School closures
The district moved to close Bella Vista Elementary School — its newest building but smallest campus. Its last bell rings at the end of this school year.
Joyce Clark Middle School is now being considered for closure.
“So when did the district come to that decision where this is the tipping point and this has to be considered?” 13 News asked.
“So the true tipping point that caused action would have been just last year. When should the tipping point have been, in my opinion, it should have been either right before COVID or right after COVID,” Romo said.
It didn’t take long for the district to be flagged. It was placed on the Auditor General’s Highest Financial Risk list last school year. This school year, the number of risk indicators doubled — from three to six.
“I had no idea,” Romo said.
“So this was shocking to you?” 13 News asked.
“I didn’t know. I yeah, I did not know. As soon as I knew that we were on the auditor’s list, I did a presentation for the governing board the next week,” Romo said.
Now, she’s trying to right-size the district and get off the Auditor General’s list.
“I told the legislature, I don’t want to be back here again for being financially at risk,” Romo said. “It took years to get in this situation. I am just now in charge and I’m not foolish to think that I can fix it overnight.”
Romo said she understands staff and families fears and frustrations.
“I have a touchpoint to every one of these schools. These are our hometown schools. It’s difficult on my heart, but my head understands,” Romo said. “Everybody wants what’s best for the district and no, it’s time. The reality is here.”
Romo said the board is expected to weigh her recommendation this week — whether to move forward with closing the middle school or take a different path.
You can watch previous coverage below.
LAST BELL: More school closures likely as districts face enrollment crisis in southern Arizona
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