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Board approves expanded contracting authority amid calls for tighter fiscal oversight
Summary
The San Ysidro School District board approved annual resolutions delegating contracting and expenditure authority to senior administrators for FY 2026–27 after debate about oversight and public concern about spending. A proposed amendment to lower thresholds temporarily failed for lack of a second.
The San Ysidro School District governing board on May 14 approved a package of annual resolutions that delegate day-to-day contracting and purchase-order authority to the superintendent and chief business official for fiscal year 2026–27, after more than an hour of public comment and board debate.
Board member Kenya Parasa proposed an alternative that would have temporarily cut delegated spending limits by 50% and required board approval for expenditures above a lower threshold, citing the district's recent FMAT report warning of weak internal controls and a prolonged fiscal decline. Parasa framed the change as a temporary safeguard while the district works through deficit and oversight concerns; her motion received no second.
Chief Business Official Marilyn Adriansen and the district's fiscal advisor, Dr. Glover, responded that the proposed delegation levels are common for districts this size, that monthly purchase-order and expenditure reports are posted on the board agenda and audited by the San Diego County Office of Education, and that many transactions are processed through PeopleSoft and subject to county review. Adriansen also urged the public that detailed invoices and funding-source breakdowns can be provided on request.
Supporters of the resolution said the administrative delegation enables day-to-day operations, payroll continuity and timely vendor payments. Opponents, including public commenters, urged stricter pre-approval for large expenditures, more frequent reporting, and narrower thresholds to restore public trust.
Votes at a glance: the delegation resolution (annual resolutions designating authorized agents for FY 2026–27) passed on a 3-0 vote; an earlier related resolution to establish CFD special-tax rates failed (see separate story). The board also approved other routine annual items on the consent calendar.
The board president said staff will continue to report purchase orders and expenditures monthly and that the board can request additional detail. The board's resolutions take effect for the coming fiscal year, and members noted they will monitor implementation through the regular reporting schedule.
