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Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Citizen Report Says APS Wastes Money

By Russell Contreras
Journal Staff Writer
    Albuquerque Public Schools has wasted money on building projects and deceived voters on how tax money has been spent, according to a citizen review committee report.
    APS officials say the report, discussed Tuesday by an APS board panel, has their attention and they promise changes.
    The 12-page report, submitted by the Community Oversight Committee last month, says APS has been spending 20 percent to 50 percent more per square foot to design and build schools than other districts comparable in size.
    It also said APS gave voters information during the 2003 bond and tax levy election that "was incomplete at best and blatantly misleading at worst."
    In February 2003, voters approved $70 million in general obligation bonds and a $74.8 million tax levy for capital projects.
    The report said APS has suffered from overcrowding because it takes too long to build a new school. Part of the reason is that APS allows too much time for architectural and engineering design work, it said.
    The report also faulted APS for continuously awarding scoping/consulting contracts to Architectural Research Consultants since 1989 without competition.
    News of the harsh report comes three weeks before voters will be asked to continue a property tax for new construction projects, including a West Side high school.
    APS officials said the timing of the report was unfortunate, but they hoped it would not dissuade voters from approving the 2005 tax question.
    Brad Winter, director of the district's Capital Master Plan, said he generally agrees with the report's findings and that APS will make changes, such as making sure projects get through the system more quickly. "We're going to do everything we can to comply with the committee."
    Superintendent Elizabeth Everitt concurred, saying APS would make changes to correct the problems.
    The volunteer committee was formed after the 2003 election to monitor how APS spends money on capital projects. The six-member committee was chaired by businessman Lars J. Sego.
    Concerning that election, the report said voters were "not provided accurate or complete information" on the $14 million to $20 million for technology upgrades. The upgrades were mainly for administrative purposes, although APS had implied that students at each school would directly benefit, the report said.
    "APS must be forthright and honest with the public and must not spin the justification on administrative projects to suggest they are providing direct in-classroom or student benefit," the report said.
    It also said APS spent $1 million more than was approved by voters to build Manzano Mesa Elementary. Voters were told the school would cost $3.5 million, but APS spent $4.5 million, the report said.
    Winter said he took issue with that finding, although he didn't know the exact figure APS spent.
    "I'm not going to go through the report point by point, but there's a lot of misinformation out there," Winter said.
    In general, the report said, design and architectural fees paid by APS "range from moderately to considerably above state and national guidelines." APS has "given the architectural community too much leeway and is too liberal in its specifications for new design and construction."
    Zane Meyers, a committee member, said the report's purpose was "not to submarine" the upcoming tax proposal, but to solve problems within APS.
    Meyers said board members seem receptive to the committee's information, and he hopes they take action on it.
    However, Meyers said, APS must reform its "culture of arrogance" in order to make systemic changes.
    "Board members are arrogant, and they don't ask questions," said Meyers. "There are systemic problems within the highest levels of APS management, including the board and superintendent."
    For example, Meyers said he was disturbed that the APS radio station, KANW, received $216,000 in repairs from the 2003 bond. That's more than what was given to 40 schools combined, Meyers said.
    APS is in the midst of its campaign to seek voter approval for its $218.6 million tax levy on Feb. 1. That amount would allow APS to build three new schools and repair aging buildings. Approval would not raise property taxes.
    Winter said the 2005 tax question is different than the 2003 election criticized in the report because APS has taken unprecedented steps to provide the public with information and get comment. APS held more than 20 forums on the Capital Master Plan last year.
    Winter has been head of the Capital Master Plan for six months and in charge of APS facilities since last month, after facilities support director Bill Koelm retired and facilities planning director Pat McMurray resigned.
    APS says if the tax fails, school boundaries could be redrawn and schools could be forced to year-round schedules to address overcrowding.
    A poll conducted by Research and Polling Inc. for APS in November found that 69 percent of voters were very likely or somewhat likely to vote for the tax levy.
    Brian Sanderoff, president of the company, said those numbers would remain steady if APS stayed out of controversy.
    The last time APS lost an election was in 2002 when voters shot down a $74.8 million tax levy and $117.6 million in general obligation bonds for construction and technology. That proposal called for a tax increase.