The Cartwright Elementary District governing board voted 3–2 Oct. 1 to adopt a statement of charges seeking termination of Deputy Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Victoria Farrar and authorized Acting Superintendent Steve Watson to serve notice that her employment may be terminated at the expiration of 10 days from service of that notice.

The charges follow an internal investigation into how the district handled $2.2 million in Internal Revenue Service fines and related payments that district staff paid in August 2024. The district's attorney, Aaron Brown, told the board the document presents allegations about whether Farrar accurately informed district leadership about the IRS payments and whether a subsequent notice of discipline issued to an executive was retaliatory. Brown described the claims as "allegations, supported by evidence that was uncovered during the investigation." He also said that if the board adopts the statement of charges, "the employee has the right to request a hearing within 10 days of receipt of the statement of charges."

According to Brown's summary to the board, the district paid approximately $2,200,000 after prior reporting errors by payroll staff and a late filing history dating to 2017. Brown said the payments were processed on Aug. 1, 2024, on purchase orders pushed through at the direction of the district's business office, and that vouchers related to the payments appeared on the board packet at the Sept. 12, 2024 meeting as cover pages that did not detail the purpose of the charges. The statement of charges alleges Farrar later told Acting Superintendent Watson at a Feb. 11, 2025 meeting that she did not know the IRS payment had been made; several witnesses told investigators they heard that statement. The charges also allege that a notice of intent to impose discipline issued Feb. 18, 2025, against the district's executive director of business services, Dr. Derek Etheridge, was retaliatory after he sought to ensure the governing board knew about the payments.

Board President Lydia Hernandez moved to adopt the statement of charges and to authorize the acting superintendent to serve notice; Vice Chair Rosa Cantu seconded. In a roll-call vote the board recorded: Rosa Cantu, yes; Cassandra Hernandez, yes; Jennifer Romero, no; Denise Garcia, no; Lydia Hernandez, yes. The motion passed 3'to' 2. Brown told the board that, if Farrar requests a hearing within 10 days, a hearing officer would weigh testimony and evidence and return a recommendation to the board.

The statement of charges cites district employment contract language and board policies including GBEA (staff ethics), GBP (prohibited personnel practices) and GCQF (certificated staff discipline). Brown also referenced Arizona open-meeting law procedures for personnel discussions and the statutory process that gives an employee the right to request a hearing.

Next steps: the acting superintendent was authorized to serve the notice of intent to dismiss; Farrar can request a hearing within 10 days, at which point a hearing officer or the board will consider evidence and make findings. The district declined to provide additional comment beyond the public meeting presentation.

(Reporting note: a formal statement of charges presented to the board lists the IRS payment amount as about $2.2 million; the payment date cited in the board presentation is Aug. 1, 2024; vouchers were presented in the Sept. 12, 2024 board packet, and a notice of intent to impose discipline to an executive was dated Feb. 18, 2025.)