Other articles by George Sánchez:

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Tucson's largest school district is about to experience two significant administrative changes: Finance Director Pat Beatty is retiring and a new chief executive officer is being brought in from the Chicago Public Schools system.

Beatty's departure means a loss of 16 years' experience in the Tucson Unified School District and leaves a key leadership position vacant until 2008.

Meanwhile, TUSD's administration will get a little new blood with the arrival of Beatriz Rendon, who helped oversee the ambitious and controversial restructuring of Chicago's public education system.

Beatty announced her retirement in August. Friday marks her last day at TUSD.

"I thought with two months' notice, they might have an opportunity to replace me and move forward," she said.

She doesn't think her departure will impede TUSD's attempts to balance its budget in the wake of what administrators say is a $9.5 million shortfall brought on by higher-than-anticipated employee raises and state-mandated changes in special education and transportation.

Superintendent Roger Pfeuffer and Governing Board President Joel Ireland agreed, though they said her absence will nonetheless be felt.

"We will not be impacted by her departure, but when you lose someone with her experience, there is always a little loss," Pfeuffer said.

"She represents a lot of institutional knowledge," Ireland said. "I hate to lose Pat during this critical period, but I think the transition will be seamless."

In the meantime, Marisa Mandal, assistant director for budget, will become the interim finance director. TUSD won't begin to advertise for a new finance director until November because of a hiring freeze on administrative positions, Pfeuffer said, and the earliest a new director might be installed would be January.

Beatty said she's retiring to spend more time with her family. She said the move is not related to disciplinary actions taken against her as a result of a $700,000 accounting error.

Beatty and Sue Wybraniec, head of human resources, were suspended without pay for five days in the wake of the error, which occurred when the district failed to collect enough in health-insurance premiums from employees. Benefits Manager Mona Gibson received a formal letter of reprimand.

Ireland said that, to Beatty's credit, the Finance Department discovered the error and alerted Pfeuffer.

Rendon will begin her tenure with TUSD on Nov. 5. Bobby Johnson, TUSD's previous CEO, left in May. Rendon said she is aware of Beatty's departure.

"I am absolutely excited about going back to a community that I consider myself a part of," Rendon said.

A graduate of the University of Arizona, Rendon was a classmate of governing board member Alex Rodriguez, who recommended her to Pfeuffer.

With 12 years' experience in Chicago Public Schools, Rendon was a high-ranking administrator in the Renaissance 2010 program, a controversial remake of public education that has seen more than 80 new schools opened, run either by charter schools, independent non-profit organizations or the district.

Pfeuffer said Rendon came highly recommended and beat out 17 applicants.

"I'm a huge fan of Beatriz," said Arne Duncan, chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools. "Our loss is your gain."