Wenden Elementary trustees approve audit, financial report and multiple personnel hires

WENDEN, Ariz. — The Wenden Elementary School Board of Trustees approved a series of financial and personnel items at its regular meeting on Feb. 24, 2026.

Board member Siera Thornton moved to approve the FY24 audit; board member Kimberly Petrea seconded. A roll-call vote recorded Thornton, Cynthia Isaac and Petrea voting yes, and the audit was approved 3-0.

The board also approved the district's FY25 Annual Financial Report on a 3-0 vote after a motion by Thornton and a second from Isaac.

In personnel actions, trustees approved certified teacher contracts for Lupe Lard, William Lim, Donna Moleno, Kristina Chavez and Ronald Tillapaugh. Thornton moved to approve the contracts and Isaac seconded; the motion passed 3-0.

The board approved classified notices of appointment for Marsha Harold, Sandra Cruz, Jessica Youell, Jamie Cain, Maria Ruelas, Olivia Balderrama, Mia Brady, Greg Cruz and Brenda Palma by the same 3-0 vote (motion by Thornton; second by Isaac).

The meeting used consolidated motions where appropriate: the consent agenda, which included minutes from the Jan. 20 meeting, payroll and other expense vouchers, the year-to-date student activities revenue report, the teacherage (school housing) report and the cafeteria report, was approved earlier in the meeting by a 3-0 vote.

All formal votes recorded in the minutes showed a 3-0 outcome in favor of the motions specified above. The next regular board meeting was tentatively set for March 24, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

(See "Provenance" below for transcript segments supporting each action.)