Public commenter urges transparency over police overtime; internal audit work on police overtime included in plan

A public commenter at Tuesday’s United ISD workshop raised concerns about overtime payments to district police officers and asked for documentation and transparency.

For the record, Letty Juarez said she was a former district employee and described a perceived double standard between teachers and some classified staff who do not receive overtime and three police employees who she said collectively received roughly $30,000 in overtime over a four-month span. She asked the district to provide records showing who approved the overtime and urged higher transparency and accountability.

During the internal-audit presentation later in the meeting, internal auditor Michelle Stoll told trustees the 2025–26 internal audit plan — prepared using a risk-based analysis and input from administration and the board — includes an audit of police department overtime. Stoll said the plan is flexible and could be reprioritized if other matters arise, and that the department reports administratively to the superintendent and functionally to the board in accordance with Texas Education Code 11.17.

Trustees asked for the planned audit to proceed and noted the board’s interest in ensuring consistent application of personnel and compensation policies. No formal action was recorded; the audit plan will proceed per the internal-audit schedule and findings, if any, will be reported to the board.