by The National Desk | Friday, June 3rd 2022

WASHINGTON (TND) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cell phones and a big bonus for one educator — all of these topics were discussed during The National Desk's "Waste of the Week" segment with Open the Books' Adam Andrzejewski.

Andrzejewski said his organization discovered in Maricopa County, Arizona, the superintendent of Buckeye Elementary School District has a base salary of $189,000. Andrzejewski said some parents and teachers were upset when Kristi Wilson was given a $1.7 million bonus between 2017 and 2021. The problem is the bonuses weren't disclosed to taxpayers, Andrzejewski said.

"It wasn't even disclosed to district employees," according to Andrzejewski.

So, where did the $1.7 million come from? The Arizona state auditor reportedly just audited her compensation over the last five fiscal years and Andrzejewski said Wilson made $3.3 million. 

"They determined that it was about twice as much money as superintendents in comparable school districts and in neighboring school districts," Andrzejewski said. "... all of this money came from local taxpayers at the state level, the federal level, mostly at the local level. It's taxpayer money that went on an undisclosed basis into the pockets of the superintendent and a first-grade teacher."

For Andrzejewski's full interview with The National Desk's Jan Jeffcoat, watch the video.