Piñon school district finds $115,000 in missing cash, $2 million in undeposited checks
WINDOW ROCK
An internal investigation at Piñon Unified School District No. 4 found $115,365.85 in cash that was never deposited over three school years and more than $2 million in undeposited checks and money orders recovered from one business office, district officials told the governing board during a public meeting.
The findings, presented by Federal Programs Director Camilla Hosteen, cover July 2023 through Sept. 17, 2025, when business office staff first reported missing money. Superintendent Chris Ostgaard told the board the case has been referred to the Arizona Auditor General’s Office, which is conducting a separate investigation.
Ostgaard said the district’s internal review and the state investigation are separate, and Piñon staff will not determine whether criminal conduct occurred.
“They report it, they investigate it. It’s on their timeline,” Ostgaard said.
To read the full article, please see the May 21, 2026, edition of the Navajo Times.
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I-40, WB @ Winslow