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TUSD audit points to $18M savings Dozens ask TUSD to spare 4 schools TUSD school closures are given the go-ahead Four TUSD elementary schools may be shuttered

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The TUSD Governing Board heard the results of an outside audit at its meeting Tuesday night. According to the auditors, the district can save almost $18 million over the next five years.

This would seem to be good news, at least on paper. The district is confronting a massive budget deficit and officials have been struggling to find ways to save.

But it appears there are problems with parts of the audit.

The biggest red flag is the discrepancy between estimates made by the auditing firm, MGT of America Inc., of how much closing schools would save versus estimates made by district officials.

The audit report states that closing 10 schools and programs could save TUSD $260,000, according to a story by the Star's George B. Sánchez.

Compare that with the $1 million per school TUSD officials said the district would save when Superindentent Roger Pfeuffer recommended closing four elementary schools.

That's a big disconnect.

Pfeuffer said Wednesday that the author of the "facilities use and management" chapter mislabeled and misconstrued data, and instead of calculating how much TUSD would save by closing 10 schools, calculated how much TUSD would save if those schools were enrolled to capacity.

TUSD asked for a correction before the release but MGT didn't comply, he said. After a meeting Wednesday morning the audit posted on the TUSD Web site (www.tusd.k12.az. us/news5.html) lists that chapter as "under review."

TUSD received the final report Monday afternoon. Select people were allowed to see it in advance to check for accuracy, on the condition they didn't talk about it, but the public wasn't able to read even a summary of the report.

The Governing Board's meeting agenda also didn't include a way for the public to comment on the audit Tuesday night.

It will take time to sift through the hundreds of pages of data and recommendations. Analysis must be careful, rational and thoughtful.

Then the board must hold at least one public hearing so those who are interested can ask questions, get answers and voice their opinions.