Cartwright board adopts hearing officer's recommendation, terminates deputy superintendent
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Summary
After an executive session, the Cartwright School District board voted to adopt a hearing officer's findings and terminate the deputy superintendent of human resources and educational programs effective Jan. 14, 2026; one board member publicly opposed the action and recorded process concerns.
The Cartwright Elementary Governing Board voted on Jan. 14 to adopt a hearing officer's findings of fact and to terminate the deputy superintendent of human resources and educational programs, Dr. Giovanna Grijalva, effective immediately.
Board President Lydia Hernandez moved to approve the hearing officer's recommended decision after the board met in executive session and received legal advice. The motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote. Board Member Rosa Cantu voted "aye," Board Member Cassandra Hernandez voted "aye," Board Member Jennifer Romero recorded an abstention, Board Member Denise Garcia voted "nay" and placed an extended statement opposing the termination on the public record, and President Hernandez voted "aye." The chair concluded the motion carried.
Board Member Denise Garcia explained her "nay" vote on the record before the roll call. Garcia stated several procedural objections, including that the hearing officer was compensated by the district (which she said undermined impartiality), that the employee had not been afforded adequate counseling and time to respond, and that the district did not offer resignation in lieu of termination as it had in past practice. "A process cannot reasonably be presumed to be fair or impartial when the hearing officer is compensated by the District itself," Garcia said.
The board had announced an intent to go into executive session earlier in the meeting citing Arizona statutes governing confidential personnel and legal consultations. After the executive session, board leadership returned to open session, moved the hearing officer adoption and recorded the roll-call votes.
Board documents and the hearing officer's written decision were referenced on the record. The board directed human resources to implement the decision consistent with district policy and the statutory citations read during the executive session.
The board also recorded public requests for additional procurement and consultant documentation earlier in the meeting; one board member asked that those records be supplied to members before the next meeting. The board set its next regular meeting for Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in the district boardroom.