Cartwright board adopts amended termination charges for deputy superintendent/CFO Victoria Farrar

At a special public meeting, the Cartwright Elementary District governing board adopted an amended statement of charges seeking to terminate Deputy Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Victoria Farrar, the board president said when she moved the item.

Outside counsel Nick Buzan of Cantelme Brown PLC read the amended statement of charges, saying the allegations center on dishonesty and violations of district policy and Farrar—s employment contract. Buzan told the board the case focuses on an alleged false statement Farrar made to Acting Superintendent Steve Watson when asked whether she knew that a payment to the Internal Revenue Service had been made: "She did not know that the payment to the IRS had been made," Buzan said was the statement the board alleges was false. He also said Farrar directed the payment process for fines and penalties and later initiated a notice of intent to discipline a business-services director who disclosed the payment.

Buzan reviewed specific factual claims in the amended filing, including that the district had not properly reported wages on IRS Form 941 in the first two quarters of fiscal 2023-24; that the district incurred fines and penalties of approximately $2,200,000; that a payment was pushed through at Farrar—s direction in late July 2024 and paid Aug. 1, 2024; and that vouchers related to that payment were presented to the governing board on Sept. 12, 2024 with only a cover page visible to board members. Counsel also described a separate charge that Farrar enabled digital access for the superintendent placed on administrative leave and concealed that access from the acting superintendent and the board.

The amended statement cites multiple district policies and contract provisions, including staff ethics (GBEA), prohibited personnel practices (GBP), certificated personnel disciplinary policies (GCQF/GDQD), and superintendent duties (CBA), and relies on contract language requiring administrators to "act in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, district policies, administrative regulations, and procedures." Counsel said documentary evidence exists for quoted communications (emails and Microsoft Teams messages) dated Feb. 11, Feb. 19 and Feb. 20, 2025.

Board members questioned timing and scope. Several asked when Farrar learned of the IRS payment and whether supervisory coaching or discipline had occurred before the filing. Counsel said the amended statement is focused on the alleged false statement to the acting superintendent and on the access provided to an administrator on leave and that the quoted material and witnesses support those allegations. Counsel also said the former superintendent, who was placed on administrative leave Jan. 15, 2025, had digital access for a period in February 2025 and that acting superintendent Steve Watson first learned a later incident of access on April 7, 2025.

After a closed executive session to receive legal advice, the board returned to public session and moved to adopt the amended statement of charges and to serve notice of the board—s intent to dismiss Farrar at the expiration of 10 days from the date of service of the notice. The board also moved to adopt a separate statement of charges against the district—s deputy superintendent of human resources and to serve a 10-day notice for dismissal on that employee. The motions were made and seconded in public; the transcript records the actions and the board proceeded to schedule future meetings and adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt amended statement of charges for termination of employment against Victoria Farrar (Deputy Superintendent/Chief Financial Officer); motion moved by Lydia Hernandez and seconded by Rosa Cantu; transcript records the motion and second and the board proceeded with the item. Vote details (roll-call tallies) on the final adoption are not specified in the public transcript.

- Adopt statement of charges for termination of employment against the deputy superintendent of human resources; motion moved by Lydia Hernandez and seconded by Rosa Cantu; transcript records the motion and second and the board proceeded. Vote details not specified in the public transcript.

What the board said and asked

Counsel: "She immediately requested that this be pulled into open session," referring to the employee—s request that the proceedings be public rather than in executive session. Counsel also said, "that statement to the acting superintendent and the executive leadership team was false," summarizing the dishonesty allegation.

Board president Lydia Hernandez moved the motions in public session and presided over roll calls for earlier procedural votes. The board voted publicly to go into executive session earlier in the meeting to receive legal advice under ARS 38-431.03(A)(3) and to consider termination proceedings under ARS 15-5-39.

Context and next steps

The amended statement and supporting documents (cited emails, Teams messages and voucher documents) are part of the district—s personnel process; counsel cited Arizona statutes and district policies as the legal and contractual basis for the proposed dismissals. The board set its next regular meeting for Nov. 5, 2025, and a special study session for Oct. 28, 2025. The motions reported in the public record seek to serve 10-day notices of intent to dismiss; those notices trigger the statutory process and any rights provided by contract or state law for hearings or appeals.

(Reporting note: quotes and attributions in this story come from the public meeting record. Names and exact policy citations are taken from the amended statement of charges as read aloud.)