The Phoenix Union High School District said it self-reported allegations of improper payments and potential fraud to the Arizona Auditor General’s Office on October 25 after two separate audits revealed issues with the district’s hiring process.
PXU said there were concerns about the administration improperly hiring and promoting employees brought to the school board. One happened in July 2023, right after its former superintendent, Chad Gestson, resigned. More concerns came from the community after a survey in January 2024.
In a letter to the Arizona Auditor General’s Office, it said an audit found that some employees were moved up on the district’s salary scale without the governing board’s approval. Administrators were also appointed into positions without properly conducting the interview and selection process and the district’s personnel skipped the internal approval processes in the hiring or advancement process…