Audit finds bad pattern at APS board member’s school

Receipts for cleaning and services written over to change who should be reimbursed with tax dollars. Books and Christmas programs and fences that can’t be found, paid for with public money. Funds intended for summer programs for young students used to buy year-round office items. Purchases made, and checks cut on weekends and holidays when the proper accountability review isn’t in place. Gross receipts tax paid when it shouldn’t have been.

The 27-page New Mexico Public Education Department audit of La Promesa Early Learning Center is disturbing, to say the least. La Promesa’s governing council placed executive director Analee Maestas, who founded the school, on paid administrative leave in July before the report even came out; she is still collecting her $82,000-a-year salary and still on the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education, which is in charge of a $1.3billion annual budget.

PED has forwarded its report to state Auditor Tim Keller, who could undertake a complete review of the school and has already forwarded his initial findings regarding a doctored receipt to the District Attorney’s Office. Maestas could face both misdemeanor and felony charges for that, punishable by up to 18 months in prison. PED is also investigating La Promesa’s now-ex-principal, Gloria Velasquez. School staff and Maestas’ attorney have not responded to phone calls seeking comment.

As it released the audit, PED took over La Promesa’s finances, leaving the public that pays for the school and the investigation into its finances wondering just how long this has been going on and just how long Maestas will hang on to positions of public trust.