STPPS Special Board Meeting – 10/5/26

At the STPPS special school board meeting on October 5, 2026, the board considered appointing an interim superintendent following the superintendent’s retirement. The associate superintendent said the vacancy had halted vendor and employee payments since September 30, and was preventing operating contracts from being processed; the district typically reviews 10–15 operating contracts daily and processes vendor payments weekly. He also cited pending payroll, grant certifications and reimbursements, and decisions involving bond-funded construction projects as reasons to appoint an interim promptly. The board discussed the district’s financial outlook, including a reported $4.22 million deficit for fiscal year 2025–26, a projected deficit of $25 million or more for 2026–27, and an estimated $18.2 million funding impact associated with declining enrollment. A $257,000 budgeted superintendent salary was referenced during compensation discussion, but the transcript does not establish a final compensation decision.

After public comment and discussion of concerns about district accountability and student safety, the board amended the agenda item to select Steve Alfonso as interim superintendent for the remainder of the 2026–27 school year. The motion passed 10–2. Board members also discussed a possible independent review of communications and reporting practices, with efforts to explore assistance from other government agencies to reduce taxpayer cost; no procurement approval, contract award, or investigation expenditure was reported. The board indicated that a broader search for a permanent superintendent would follow.