MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake School District announced the hiring Ruby Perez as the new Business Manager for MLSD on May 23. Perez will officially start her new role on June 9, several weeks before the current Executive Director of Business and Operations, Mitch Thompson’s, contract expires.
According to a press release from MLSD, “Perez brings nearly 20 years of public-sector leadership experience in finance and operations, including key positions across multiple Washington state school districts and municipal government in San Antonio, Texas. Throughout her career, she has served as a chief financial officer and director of business and operations, where she led multi-million-dollar budget processes, bond and levy planning, financial forecasting, federal and state compliance, and internal audits.”
MLSD says, “Perez will oversee the district’s accounting and budget operations, coordinate enrollment and funding projections, ensure compliance with financial regulations, and support the development of long-range financial planning. She will also play a critical role in the preparation of audits, financial reports, and the continuous evaluation of the district’s fiscal systems.”
The MLSD press release did not include information about Perez’s experience. Her LinkedIn profile shows an extensive background in public sector finance, including several school Districts. Perez worked for Othello School District from 2007-2009 as an assistant fiscal coordinator. She has also served in Warden School District, Riverside School District, and Issaquah School District. Most recently, Perez worked as the senior director of finance for Providence Heights Organization.
The announcement of Perez’s hiring comes on the back end of some turmoil in the district’s fiscal department starting in January. Documents obtained by Columbia Basin News through public records requests show that Superintendent Carol Lewis gave Thompson a list of directives on January 10 in a meeting between her, Thompson, and MLSD Board President Kyrrn Johnson. Those directives from Lewis to Thomspon included:
- Remain at your office during the work day unless you are attending a meeting I know about or taking your lunch break; please follow established procedures for taking leave if you will not be at work during work hours.
- Share the details of your calendar with me; I see that you have already done this- thank you.
- Attend the January 23, 2025 School Board Meeting and do not offer comment or answer questions unless I direct you to do so; if someone asks you a question at this meeting, please refer the question to me.
- Prepare an accurate budget status report and finance presentation for the February 6, 2025 School Board Meeting no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, January 31, 2025.
- Do not attend the February 6, 2025 School Board Meeting.
- Do not say anything internally or to the public that may be construed as sabotaging or undermining the efforts or mission of the Moses Lake School District, nor are you to say anything demeaning in relation to the Moses Lake School District, the Moses Lake School Board or its individual members, employees of Moses Lake School District, or me while you are representing Moses Lake School District in your role of Executive Director of Finance and Operations.
- Do not contact Moses Lake School Board members about school district business unless I have directed you to do so; as a reminder, I have directed you to send weekly financial reports via blind copy to Board Members and expect you to continue this practice.
Thompson informed Lewis of his resignation, effective June 30, on February 21. The same day, Lewis informed the MLSD Board of Directors that she did not foresee hiring a new executive director to replace Thompson. “I do not want to replace the Director of Finance and Operations/COO position that was held by Jeremy and now Mitch. It has not been successful, and I think we would be better off with a simple business manager position paid at a rate comparable to what other districts pay for this position,” she told board members in an email message. Perez will occupy the new business manager position.
Thompson has not performed work for the MLSD since February 21. He is on administrative leave, according to Lewis. In a meeting with Columbia Basin News’ editor, Lewis explained that it was a standard procedure for a school district to place a person in Thompson’s position on leave after receiving a resignation notice. Columbia Basin News has not confirmed this practice with other school districts. Lewis assured our editor that there was no reason the MLSD community should be concerned about the ongoing financial health of the school district. She showed documents revealing current fund balances, cash flow, projections, and other information that demonstrated prudent fiscal management. The district has hired a demographer consultant to assist with enrollment projections for the upcoming school year, enabling them to make informed staffing decisions.
