Four top administrators in the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District are under scrutiny for alleged personal spending on district credit cards just as local voters refused to hand the district another $205 million.
According to the New York Post, an investigative report by Cal Coast News found that between July 2023 and June 2026, cards issued to the superintendent and three assistant superintendents were used for personal purchases totaling roughly $70,000. The four cards are only a fraction of about 25 district cards in circulation.
Assistant Superintendent of Education Services Erin Haley carried the largest tab, charging $110,433 overall. That included nearly $39,600 for technology and subscriptions that district policy says should go through purchase orders, more than $10,000 in dining and catering, almost $3,000 at a local brewery, and nearly $7,700 for promotional T-shirts and similar merchandise.
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Shauna Ames charged just under $37,000, with much of it tied to winery events, awards, entertainment and meals. A San Antonio Winery event alone topped $7,700, while gifts and awards ran more than $5,100, Cal Coast News reported.
Chief Business Officer and Assistant Superintendent Brad Pawlowski logged smaller discretionary hits, including $90 at See's Candy plus restaurant, golf club and coffee charges locally. He also recorded 23 meal and drink charges in Bakersfield near the state-funded Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, where he consults on the side.
Since 2023 Pawlowski has earned about $90,000 consulting on top of roughly $316,000 a year in district salary and benefits. Superintendent Jennifer Loftus had only a couple thousand dollars of her $23,451 in card charges flagged as questionable.
District policy bars public funds for gifts, flowers, gift cards and personal expenses. Meals and drinks are allowed only for meetings with attendance sheets and agendas attached to the paperwork.
On November 3, voters rejected Measure G-26, which would have let the district borrow $205 million for classroom renovations, aging infrastructure and new facilities. Ballotpedia listed the result at 54.01 percent no to 45.99 percent yes a clear signal residents are unwilling to expand the district's borrowing power while leaders face questions over their own cards.
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