Cartwright board adopts minimum qualifications, appoints Steve Watson as acting superintendent

The Cartwright Elementary District Governing Board on Jan. 23 adopted minimum qualifications for an acting superintendent and voted to appoint Steve Watson as the district’s acting superintendent on a temporary, at‑will contract while the interim superintendent is on administrative leave with pay.

The board approved the qualifications and the appointment following an executive session called under Arizona law. Board President Lydia Hernandez moved both measures; Board Member Rosa Cantu seconded each motion. The motions passed by recorded roll call votes and the board announced the motions carried.

The adopted minimum qualifications were presented as drawn from existing district policy CBA and cited Arizona Revised Statutes provisions the board identified as governing executive‑session discussions of personnel and legal advice. Hernandez reviewed duties and qualifications taken from the district’s CBA policy, including that the superintendent is the district chief executive…