Top SFPS finance official resigns
Carl Gruenler, who worked as Santa Fe Public Schools’ chief financial officer for several years, resigned Monday from his position as deputy superintendent of business operations, said Superintendent Veronica García, citing an undisclosed personnel issue.
García said Gruenler, who joined the district in March 2008, will remain on paid administrative leave through June. She declined to specify the reason for his departure.
His resignation comes amid the school board’s efforts to draft a balanced operating budget for the next school year — an unusual move for a key financial player who has led the district through fiscal challenges for years. The school board is scheduled to approve the 2018-19 budget May 15.
Gruenler could not be reached for comment on his resignation.
Richard Halford, the district’s executive director of finance and administration, will serve as interim deputy superintendent of business operations through at least June, García said.
Gruenler, who was born in Philadelphia in 1953, earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at Oral Roberts University and his master’s degree in finance at the University of Nebraska.
Shortly after, he received a reserve commission from the naval officer commander school. He served in an array
of positions with the U.S. Navy for 30 years and retired in 2005. During his Navy service, he also taught college-level courses such as naval engineering.
After moving to Santa Fe, he applied for a job with Santa Fe Public Schools in 2007 and was hired the following year. He served as director of budget and finance, chief financial officer and chief business officer before recently being named deputy superintendent of business operations.
Former Superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez, who now heads Española Public Schools, hired Gruenler to work in the Santa Fe district’s finance department in 2008. She worked with him as her chief financial officer for less than a year but said, “He seemed to do a good job.”
Gruenler embodied a to-thepoint, no-nonsense style when it came to explaining to board members and the public budgetary problems facing the district.
The Santa Fe district, like others throughout the state, has grappled with yearly budget gaps of at least $1 million for years. This year, for example, the district is wrestling with a shortfall of just over $1 million that is forcing cuts and compromises.
Gruenler also was a strong proponent of improving the technological infrastructure in schools and expanding use of computers. He helped the district identify various financial sources to move its technology plan forward, such as voterapproved general obligation bonds and a special digital education property tax. The money has covered the costs of technology upgrades on campuses and computers for students to use both in the classroom and at home.