Indio HS Principal Plans Retreat To San Diego Using Discretionary Funds

At a time when the Desert Sands Unified School District is cutting its budget to balance the budget, Indio High School Principal Rudy Ramirez wants to take his administrators and several teachers on a weekend retreat to San Diego.

With each room costing $100 not including taxes, the total from the weekend will be at least $10,560. Ramirez’s Assistant Principal John Fischer organized the booking of the rooms at the Marriott Residence Inn in San Diego.

Ramirez says, “We decided to leave the area so we could focus on things that needed to be addressed.” In the last year, Indio High School has been in the Nation’s top poor performing schools.

In a letter we received from a whistle blower, the person writes, “Teachers are losing jobs and rather than work on a plan to change the school internally, he decides to take the staff on a vacation to earn their good will because the school is struggling under his leadership. He has invited their spouses as well.” According to Ramirez spouses will be invited to attend the weekend. He goes on to say, “If you saw the agenda you’d see it is work and very little play if any.”

We spoke with the Desert Sand Unified School District. Officials say no official decisions have been made. Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Kathy Felci told us on Newsline 3, “In this case, here you have the option of two things, in these tough times the wise thing might be to stay local and have the professional development conference here in the Valley.”

Since our investigation, Principal Rudy Ramirez has decided to rethink the trip to San Diego. The District insist no plans or rooms have been booked.