Deaf-Blind budget defended

The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind kept an $850,000 fund balance in a conservative budget strategy that would prevent the school from going in the red as it did in the early 1990s — not because of ill motives, the school's chief said Friday.

Superintendent Lee Robinson defended his actions before a State Board of Education committee, put in place, at lawmakers' behest, to determine whether Robinson should keep the job he's had for more than 10 years. The action follows an audit showing the chief let $850,000 sit unused instead of hiring needed teachers, among other issues.

Basically, the school would include the carryover in each following year's budget to make sure it followed state instruction and didn't overspend, Robinson said.

"These carryover funds are committed to staff, projects . . . the following year," said Robinson, who provided the board a 10-page response and a stack of other information, from parent satisfaction surveys to school accomplishments under his tenure.

"Given my experience, my background, I guess the only thing that bothers me is . . . I think some people have questioned my motives as to whether I was really interested in providing services to children. I assure you, that has always been my top priority."

But the school's teachers union says the fund balance signals a "disregard for the immediate needs of our children." Last April, some members suggested a vote of "no confidence" in the superintendent.

"Deaf, blind and deaf/blind children across the state have been seriously impacted by the administration's ongoing financial decisions," said Tammie Payette, president of the USDB Education Association. "The response to the audit and the recommended action plan have given the teachers hope — hope that the past misdirected priorities and decisions are gone and that the future holds the promise of improved services."

The state board committee began closed-door deliberations following a two-hour comment period, where it heard from the school's Institutional Council, legislative auditors, parents and professionals.

The committee will make its recommendation to the school board March 5.

In summer 2002, legislative budgeters found the USDB had a cash surplus of $1.75 million and recommended half be used to help cover the state's budget deficit.

Shortly afterward, USDB reported the budget cut left it with only restricted funds. So the school proceeded to leave nine positions unfilled, resulting in increased teacher workloads, higher class sizes and "difficulty providing effective instruction," the audit stated.