Superintendent vows to fix school district's financial missteps

In a recent government meeting, the superintendent of Peach Springs School District addressed ongoing issues related to the implementation of recommendations from the auditor general. The superintendent acknowledged that several items had not been executed as expected during their medical leave, but emphasized that upon returning, they took direct oversight of the business services department to rectify these shortcomings.

The superintendent reported that while some progress had been made in areas of school improvement, the district's letter grade remained a \"D,\" just three points shy of a \"C.\" They expressed optimism that improvements could be achieved by October, marking a potential historic milestone for the district.

Key discussions included the handling of late payments and payroll processing, where human error was cited as a contributing factor to an overpayment issue. The superintendent confirmed that steps were being taken to recover the overpayment and that a new business services manager with strong fiscal expertise was expected to be approved by the board soon.

Transportation protocols were also scrutinized, particularly regarding random drug testing for bus drivers. The superintendent noted that while the sole bus driver had passed initial drug tests, the district had failed to establish a system for ongoing random testing, a requirement that would be addressed through a new contract with an outside agency.

The superintendent committed to implementing the auditor general's recommendations and indicated that a report on the progress would be submitted to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) and the Arizona auditor general by December 31. This proactive approach aims to ensure accountability and transparency in the district's operations moving forward.