The Winslow Unified School District (WUSD) Governing Board met Monday morning, Oct. 13, for a special meeting to approve the district’s annual financial report for fiscal year 2025, which ended at the start of July.
Business Manager Casey Hancock presented the report, which summarizes all district spending and revenue for the year ending June 30. According to the report filed with the Arizona Department of Education, WUSD recorded $14.4 million in Maintenance & Operation (M&O) expenditures, $1.98 million in Classroom Site Fund spending and $306,934 in Unrestricted Capital Outlay.
The district finished the year with an M&O carry-forward balance of roughly $3.49 million, $3.32 million remaining in the Classroom Site Fund, and $5.62 million in capital funds.
Hancock noted the district’s state-funded enrollment, or average daily membership, declined from 1,770 students in FY 2024 to 1,724 in FY 2025—a drop of 46 students that will reduce per-pupil revenue next year. “When that goes down, that’s no good,” he said.
Despite the enrollment decline and the expiration of pandemic-era ESSER funds last fall, Hancock said the district remained financially stable. Projects such as new lighting were completed using the final COVID relief dollars rather than tapping local funds.
Hancock highlighted continued spending from the Classroom Site Fund, often called the 301 Fund, which pays teacher performance and retention stipends. Teachers have urged the district to spend the funds annually rather than carry over balances. “Those monies are for teachers,” Hancock said. “If we don’t spend it on them, we’re not going to spend it.”
Looking ahead, Hancock said Arizona’s minimum wage will rise to $15.15 in January, up from $14.70, posing challenges for maintaining fair pay scales. “You’ll have someone getting a 3% or 4% raise because of the law, but we can’t necessarily give everyone else that same increase,” he told the board.
He added that the district’s $3.4 million M&O balance is healthy but could erode if costs outpace the 25% cost-of-living adjustment provided by the state. “Nothing really is keeping up,” he said.
Board members agreed WUSD’s finances are stable but noted competition for students from education savings accounts, neighboring districts and a new private K-12 school in Winslow. Hancock said maintaining strong programs and extracurricular offerings remains key to attracting families.
After discussion, the board voted unanimously to approve the 2025 Annual Financial Report, signed by Superintendent Dr. Amber Martinez and Hancock. During the meeting members also approved the hiring of two custodians, Abigail Gosmeyer and Desiree Nashingoetewa.
