Sonoita board adopts FY27 budget, delegates transaction reviews to president
July 07, 2026 | Sonoita Elementary District (4461), School Districts, Arizona
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The Sonoita Elementary School District Governing Board on July 7 unanimously approved the district’s FY27 expenditure budget and a series of routine policy and personnel items, and voted to delegate monthly review of specified superintendent transactions to the board president.
Board President Harry Dotson moved to approve the FY27 expenditure budget for Sonoita Elementary School District #25; Anthony Fennell seconded and the motion carried 5-0. The meeting took place at the Elgin School Conference Room and began at 5:01 p.m. The board also approved several companion items on the agenda, including stipend schedules, a substitute teacher pay update and an IT responsible-use and device self-insurance policy update effective with the FY27 start on July 27, 2026.
Superintendent Daniel Erickson presented administrative items and preliminary information, including a projected SY27 enrollment of 117 and preliminary AASA achievement data. Erickson told the board the district will not join the Arizona School Boards Association this year because billing changes added policy services the district does not currently use.
In a separate action responding to an auditor recommendation, the board voted to delegate authority to the board president to review and verify specified superintendent transactions that meet listed parameters — including reimbursements, purchasing-card charges, travel expenses, emergency purchases and other payments made directly to or on behalf of the superintendent, and transactions involving vendors with disclosed relationships. The motion specifies that the president’s monthly review will be presented to the full board on the consent agenda beginning with July 2026 transactions and on the August 2026 agenda. Harry Dotson moved the delegation; Nancy Webster seconded and the motion passed 5-0.
Other actions adopted by unanimous vote included: granting the superintendent discretionary approval of district and school fundraisers sponsored by sanctioned clubs, approving a succession order for superintendent authority (Callie Mattus, then Darrold Terrell Harper, then Kyndra Ortiz), appointing Kyndra Ortiz as the FY27 middle school student activities/student account advisor, approving a FY27 transportation intergovernmental agreement with Patagonia Union High School District #20, and authorizing disposal of specified FY20 district records.
The board approved Policy 4-302 and Procedure 4-302.G (leave and voluntary transfer of accrued sick leave) and approved naming Superintendent Daniel Erickson the qualified evaluator for certified and classified staff for FY27 under Policy 4-103 and A.R.S. §15-537. The board also adopted a substitute-teacher pay schedule effective July 27, 2026, and approved FY27 stipends as presented. The consent agenda, which included FY26 expense and payroll vouchers and FY27 payroll and expense vouchers, was approved by a 5-0 vote.
The board discussed schedule conflicts and changed the September meeting from Sept. 1 to Sept. 2, 2026 and the October meeting from Oct. 6 to Oct. 13, 2026. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
Votes at a glance: All recorded motions on the July 7 agenda passed by recorded votes of 5-0 (Harry Dotson, Nancy Webster, Anthony Fennell, Aaron Thomas, Anne Przybyla).
Board President Harry Dotson moved to approve the FY27 expenditure budget for Sonoita Elementary School District #25; Anthony Fennell seconded and the motion carried 5-0. The meeting took place at the Elgin School Conference Room and began at 5:01 p.m. The board also approved several companion items on the agenda, including stipend schedules, a substitute teacher pay update and an IT responsible-use and device self-insurance policy update effective with the FY27 start on July 27, 2026.
Superintendent Daniel Erickson presented administrative items and preliminary information, including a projected SY27 enrollment of 117 and preliminary AASA achievement data. Erickson told the board the district will not join the Arizona School Boards Association this year because billing changes added policy services the district does not currently use.
In a separate action responding to an auditor recommendation, the board voted to delegate authority to the board president to review and verify specified superintendent transactions that meet listed parameters — including reimbursements, purchasing-card charges, travel expenses, emergency purchases and other payments made directly to or on behalf of the superintendent, and transactions involving vendors with disclosed relationships. The motion specifies that the president’s monthly review will be presented to the full board on the consent agenda beginning with July 2026 transactions and on the August 2026 agenda. Harry Dotson moved the delegation; Nancy Webster seconded and the motion passed 5-0.
Other actions adopted by unanimous vote included: granting the superintendent discretionary approval of district and school fundraisers sponsored by sanctioned clubs, approving a succession order for superintendent authority (Callie Mattus, then Darrold Terrell Harper, then Kyndra Ortiz), appointing Kyndra Ortiz as the FY27 middle school student activities/student account advisor, approving a FY27 transportation intergovernmental agreement with Patagonia Union High School District #20, and authorizing disposal of specified FY20 district records.
The board approved Policy 4-302 and Procedure 4-302.G (leave and voluntary transfer of accrued sick leave) and approved naming Superintendent Daniel Erickson the qualified evaluator for certified and classified staff for FY27 under Policy 4-103 and A.R.S. §15-537. The board also adopted a substitute-teacher pay schedule effective July 27, 2026, and approved FY27 stipends as presented. The consent agenda, which included FY26 expense and payroll vouchers and FY27 payroll and expense vouchers, was approved by a 5-0 vote.
The board discussed schedule conflicts and changed the September meeting from Sept. 1 to Sept. 2, 2026 and the October meeting from Oct. 6 to Oct. 13, 2026. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
Votes at a glance: All recorded motions on the July 7 agenda passed by recorded votes of 5-0 (Harry Dotson, Nancy Webster, Anthony Fennell, Aaron Thomas, Anne Przybyla).
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