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Community and union urge independent review after auditors flag 2023 supplemental contracts; motion fails for lack of second
Summary
Speakers including union leaders and parents cited a May 8, 2026 State Auditor's Office management letter criticizing 2023 supplemental contracts and urged the board to commission an independent legal review; Director Wilson moved for such a review during board comments but the motion received no second and was not taken up.
Community members and union leaders used the public-comment period at the July 14 Evergreen Public Schools board meeting to press for accountability after the State Auditor's Office issued a management letter about supplemental contracts executed in September 2023.
Adam Aguilera of the Evergreen Education Association said the superintendent's earlier statement that the SAO had cleared those contracts was incorrect. "That was false," Aguilera said, summarizing SAO correspondence that confirmed the office had not analyzed the contracts before the superintendent's February statement and later issued a May 8 management letter recommending additional legal review.
Several commenters, including parent Camille Lohman and ELX representative Paul Henkles, said the SAO recommendation raised questions about whether repayment or other steps are required under state law. Margaret Hunter read a union resolution calling for the chief operations officer to return $13,980 paid under a supplemental contract and cited alleged governance and retaliation concerns.
During board comments, Director Wilson moved that the board "select an independent legal review of the supplemental contracts in question for the purpose of determining per the auditor's explicit recommendation if any further actions such as repayment are necessary or required by law." The chair asked for a second; hearing none, the motion could not be taken up and therefore was not acted on.
Board members acknowledged the SAO work and said they would look into recommendations. The meeting closed without commissioning an independent review; speakers urged the district to follow the auditor's recommendation and to pursue recovery if required.
What was alleged: Commenters cited the SAO's May 8, 2026 management letter, which noted that some supplemental contracts were executed after the work was performed and recommended additional legal review. Speakers asked the board to pursue independent counsel rather than rely solely on district counsel and to ensure neutral oversight of Title IX compliance and supplemental-contract processes.
What happens next: Board members said they would consider the SAO recommendation and follow up; the meeting record shows no independent review was authorized during the July 14 session.
