In a stunning example of misplaced priorities, a San Francisco Bay Area school district has come under fire for spending a staggering $315,000 on a so-called “energy and chakra clearer” while parents and teachers struggle to secure basic classroom resources. The Mountain View Whisman School District’s extravagant spending has sparked outrage among frustrated parents who expected their tax dollars to benefit their children’s education, not fund New Age wellness sessions for administrators.
The district’s secret was uncovered by a concerned parent group who dug into the budget after learning that middle school programs were on the chopping block. To their shock, they discovered that the district had been paying “Master Energy Healer & Intuitive Guide” Alycia Diggs-Chavis to lead 160 guided meditation sessions for district leadership. Over the course of a three-year contract, Diggs-Chavis has pocketed $315,000—money that parents assumed was earmarked for classrooms.
“We assumed the board was doing their job,” said one outraged parent, who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity. It’s clear now that the board was doing anything but.
Diggs-Chavis, the founder of Blue Violet Energy Healing, offers services that are more suited to a wellness retreat than a school district. According to her website, she claims to facilitate “spiritual development and awakening” and provides “self-care and mindfulness tools.” While such practices may have their place, many parents are questioning why these services are being prioritized over the actual needs of students and teachers.
The district, led by Superintendent Ayindé Rudolph, didn’t stop at just hiring a chakra healer. It also spent taxpayer money on leadership coaching and public relations, including hiring an in-house public information officer with an eye-popping salary of over $264,000. Parents are rightfully asking why these funds weren’t directed toward improving classroom conditions, especially as teachers report being forced to clean up cockroach infestations and act as substitutes when the district failed to pay for proper coverage.
When confronted, Superintendent Rudolph defended the spending, claiming it was “backed by scientific research.” He insisted that the wellness of district employees is “worth every dollar,” even as teachers and students continue to face deteriorating conditions in schools. It’s a hard sell when classrooms are in disrepair and academic programs are at risk of being slashed.
In response to the growing backlash, Rudolph announced that the district would pause or reduce sessions with both Diggs-Chavis and the executive coach Peter Gorman, citing “shifting economic conditions.” But for many parents and former teachers, this belated action is too little, too late.
The misuse of funds in the Mountain View Whisman School District is a glaring example of how out-of-touch leadership can become when disconnected from the needs of the community they serve. As parents continue to demand accountability, one can only hope that this serves as a wake-up call to school districts everywhere: prioritize education, not expensive fads. The children’s future depends on it.
