Winslow Unified School District’s annual audit found the district ended the 2024-25 fiscal year about 15% under its final amended budget, while also identifying several procedural issues the district will work to correct.
Business Manager Casey Hancock presented the audit to the Winslow Unified School District Governing Board during its May 13 meeting, saying the district came in about $2.6 million under budget. Hancock said auditors noted that the figure demonstrated conservative spending control, which he said helped put the district in a stronger position after uncertainty earlier in the year.
“I think we did a really good job being conservative in what we were spending,” Hancock said. “And with the uncertainty surrounding the beginning of this year, I think that was really important and put us in a good spot and hopefully we can continue doing that.”
Hancock said some of the larger projects completed during the audited year included new lights in the performing arts center, new security cameras throughout the district and the purchase of buses.
The audit also included about 18 to 20 findings in the Uniform System of Financial Records Compliance Questionnaire.
“They’re not large things, but they are things that we need to work on to tighten up either procedures or different controls,” Hancock said.
Some findings involved procurement. Hancock said a few purchases exceeded required thresholds without the proper sealed bid process, while others between $10,000 and $100,000 did not have all three required quotes or were not made through a cooperative purchasing agreement. He said some of those were tied to emergency situations where the district needed to make a purchase but did not follow the proper emergency procurement process.
Hancock said the district has already taken steps to address the issue by bringing in an outside trainer for a procurement session with principals and secretaries.
Other findings involved attendance and student reporting errors. Hancock said those are difficult to eliminate completely because students may arrive at school and need services before all paperwork is completed, or because enrollment and withdrawal dates may not match up perfectly in records.
“There’s always something that we’re looking at,” Hancock said. “So hopefully we can keep getting better there.”
The audit also found an issue with a bank account the district had used for years as a clearing account. Hancock said auditors determined the district was using the account incorrectly. He said the district has since opened a new bank account for electronic clearing and ACH payments, though the finding will likely appear again next year because the account had already been used throughout the current fiscal year.
Technology procedures were another area of concern. Hancock said the issue was not that the district lacked procedures, but that some processes were not written down. As an example, he said auditors wanted a written process showing how technology updates are authorized, rather than relying on informal communication. The technology issue became a single audit finding connected to grants, and the district submitted a corrective action plan to the Arizona Department of Education saying it would write down the needed procedures.
“They just want to make sure that not one person has all the power,” Hancock said. “So that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
A second single audit finding involved impact aid and construction-related spending. Hancock said the district completed smaller repair and maintenance projects, including replacing a door, but did not collect Davis-Bacon certified payroll documentation. He said he had understood the requirement to apply to larger construction projects, such as buildings, roads or parking lots, but learned it can also apply to repairs and maintenance paid for with federal funds.
Board members asked whether any findings were repeats from previous audits. Hancock said the bank account finding was repeated, and some procurement and written-procedure findings were similar to prior years. He said the district had reduced some findings but would continue working to correct the remaining issues.
Board President Debbie Martinez said she appreciated the conservative spending approach and said the district wants to provide what schools need while keeping money available for unexpected needs. “There’s always going to be dings here and there,” Martinez said. “But when you use that word conservative, I think that’s something that we’re all striving for.”
The board accepted the 2024-25 annual audit report.
The board also approved the proposed 2026-27 governing board meeting schedule, which will continue with meetings at 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month in the boardroom. The board approved moving into year three of the district’s Southwest Food Excellence agreement for 2026-27 after clarifying that the food service contract is a five-year agreement.
In other business, the board:
* Approved the following hires: Darrell Nez, Bonnie Brennan Elementary School fourth grade teacher; Lindsey Begaii, elementary physical education teacher; Tara Wilcox, teacher in training through the University of Arizona program, Bonnie Brennan Elementary School fourth grade; Bonita Claudel, Winslow High School special education high needs teacher; Edward Montano, custodian; Alma Quintana, custodian; and Alexa Gilbert, Winslow Junior High School paraprofessional.
* Approved the following resignations: Theresa Breeze-Del Mar, social worker; Warlito Sotomayor, WHS special education teacher; Brian Byrer, elementary physical education teacher; Octavia Warren, bus driver; KaeLynn Warwick, Bonnie Brennan Elementary School paraprofessional; Katrina Hernandez, cheer coach; and Jerilynn Chatter, bus driver.
* Approved the following transfers: Brian Sewell, from WHS construction teacher to substitute; Terri Milligan, from elementary school sixth grade teacher to WHS alternative education teacher; and Debra Hearell, from Bonnie Brennan Elementary School high needs paraprofessional to Bonnie Brennan Elementary School inclusion paraprofessional.
* Approved extra duty pay for Quentin Hayes for summer open gym and Kelbie Flake for teaching drama.
