The Isaac School District has been under fire since last month when it was placed under state receivership for overspending its budget by millions of dollars.
Now the district is outsourcing some positions to save money.
Earlier this week, the city of Phoenix agreed to buy some property from the district that will be turned into affordable housing. Late last month, the Tolleson Union High School District agreed to buy one of Isaac’s middle schools to help alleviate the debt.
On Thursday night, Isaac’s governing board voted to outsource custodial, cafeteria and landscaping positions in order to save money. Before the vote, board president Patricia Jimenez acknowledged that the district’s financial crisis has created uncertainty for students and staff.
"We are currently actively working with the receiver to navigate our debt and find solutions to our financial crisis," Jimenez said. "Our focus remains ensuring that our students receive the education they deserve while we work diligently to restore stability to the district."
Chief Financial Officer James Serbin said schools will retain one daytime custodian, but all other jobs in those three categories will be contracted out.
“We felt it was important for the principals to be able to have someone at their school that they were familiar with," Serbin said.
Serbin said employees who lose their jobs due to outsourcing will have the option to work for the new contractors. The changes will take effect March 1.
The district expects to save $62,744 from March to June of this year by outsourcing landscaping positions and $188,231 in 2026.
By outsourcing cafeteria workers the district expects to save $123,947 for the rest of this year and $413,158 in 2026.
By outsourcing custodial workers the district expects to save $148,869 for the rest of this year and $373,641 in 2026.
-
This message is only a minute and 43 seconds long — but it means a lot to Indigenous Parent Committee co-president Monique John, who is Navajo and Jemez. She was among a few dozen citizens backing the proposal amid the Wednesday night public comment window — just moments before the roll call. -
The University of Arizona’s San Xavier research mine in Sahuarita has been the site of a lot of activity. Both the mining industry and federal government see it as an asset for studying new technologies amid a surge in demand for U.S. critical mineral production. -
The Arizona Board of Education is in the process of making changes to the state’s A-F letter grade system for public schools. -
The Scottsdale Unified School District is considering school closures as it faces declining enrollment. At a governing board meeting on Tuesday, the district presented seven options for potential closures. -
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced that a former Tucson charter school director and others were indicted for allegedly stealing education dollars to pay for jewelry, trips to casinos and other extravagances.
