Cartwright School District Seeks Reimbursement from Officials

Categories: Arizona Breaking NewsArizona State News

Cartwright School District building amidst ongoing controversy.

News Summary

The Cartwright Elementary School District in Phoenix is demanding reimbursement from State Representative Anna Abeytia and board member Denice Garcia over allegations of misuse of a taxpayer-subsidized child care program. The two accessed the program despite questions about their eligibility, leading to calls for accountability. Both are also facing scrutiny over campaign funds, with investigations highlighting financial practices within the district. The situation raises significant ethical concerns amid ongoing tensions within the school board.

Phoenix, Arizona – The Cartwright Elementary School District is demanding financial reimbursement from State Representative Anna Abeytia and current board member Denice Garcia due to allegations of misuse involving a taxpayer-subsidized child care program. The pair accessed the program, which is available at a significantly reduced rate for eligible families, despite questions surrounding their eligibility following a board meeting in September 2023 where they voted to grant access to board members without prior public discussion.

Abeytia and Garcia are being held accountable for costs associated with the program, which were more than $2,000 a year per child, while the actual value of the care available can reach up to $17,000 annually. The district has issued letters through its attorney stating that the improper access to the subsidized program violates the state constitution’s Gift Clause. This clause prohibits public funds from being diverted for personal gain without a clear public purpose.

Amid the controversies, Abeytia is also confronted with pressures to repay up to $52,000 in public campaign funds that were allegedly used for services provided by her fiancé, Ricardo Serna. The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission is currently investigating Abeytia’s campaign expenditures, raising concerns regarding transparency and compliance with electoral regulations. The commission described the details submitted by Abeytia regarding fund usage as “woefully inadequate,” expressing the need for stricter accountability.

In addition to the monetary demands, Abeytia was instructed to disenroll her child from the child care program by June 30 as part of the district’s actions. Cartwright District officials are also in the process of calculating the total reimbursement needed from both Abeytia and Garcia, emphasizing the financial implications of this investigation.

The child care program has significant costs, estimated between $15,000 and $17,000 per child annually, and is now in the process of being phased out. Although Abeytia’s fiancé qualifies for the program due to his employment with the district as a landscaper since January 2023, Abeytia’s eligibility is under scrutiny since she could not legally access the program prior to his hiring.

This legal situation has led to tensions within the Cartwright school board, particularly noted between Abeytia and Board President Lydia Hernandez. Hernandez has criticized Abeytia regarding perceptions of nepotism, given the relationship between Abeytia and Serna. Garcia, for her part, voluntarily withdrew her grandchild from the child care program after receiving communication from the district’s attorney but has suggested that the demand for reimbursement could be politically motivated.

The ongoing disputes over program eligibility and governance reflect broader issues within the Cartwright school board, leading to questions about ethical practices in the administration. Both Abeytia and Garcia perceive the investigation and related demands as retaliatory efforts within the politically contentious atmosphere of the board.

Abeytia has previously critiqued nepotism allegations about her administration, specifically after discovering that Board President Hernandez’s daughter was elected to the board. She has maintained that ethical governance is essential for public service integrity.

In addition to these controversies, Abeytia’s campaign has faced challenges that include scrutiny over the management of campaign funds. Her former running mate, Jaramillo, has also come under investigation by the Clean Elections Commission for similar issues regarding campaign finance compliance. The commission’s efforts aim to ensure that candidates adhere to agreed transparency protocols concerning the utilization of taxpayer-funded campaign contributions.