STOCKTON, Calif — Stockton Unified School District is addressing concerns and highlighting progress in their first 100 days with a new superintendent.
It comes a week after the Department of Education designated the district as high risk after auditing their finances. New superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez outlined her priorities for the district.
“People can hold me accountable, as we move forward this year,” said Dr. Rodriguez.
The district addressed the high-risk status from the Department of Education after an audit revealed fraud, misappropriation of funds and illegal practices. The FBI is still investigating.
“We have implemented over half the findings,” said Dr. Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said the finances called into question were from 2021-2022 and the most recent budget before her arrival. The biggest requirement of implementing new budget software is underway.
“Some of the checks and balances that should have occurred in the past couldn’t occur because we didn’t have such a system,” said Dr. Rodriguez.
While balancing the books, the board said they are still investing in student safety.
Board President AngelAnn Flores said two schools are currently piloting the new security that will go district wide.
“Ring the doorbell and it’s got a video camera before you get in, so that’s one step to covering the school sites before you can get in. The next one is a sign-in, before it was just a sign-in book. Now, it is going to be electronic...,” said Flores.
There is also an academic deficit.
According to the state I-Ready test, 87% of high school students are three grade levels below where they should be in math and 62% in English. Across the district, 40% of secondary students have a “D” or “F” in math.
“We saw women in construction. If you look at that 'D' and 'F' rate is almost nil. We need to provide children with what they care about and link it up to a state requirement,” said Dr. Rodriguez.
She plans to launch an equity task force in January to look at each school to find out how to address this issue.
The district is also working to address a drop in enrollment and chronic absences.
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