safety
EPISD finance leaders knew of budget risks for months but did not alert trustees, audit says
By Robert Moore at El Paso Matters
· June 24, 2026
· 6 min read
El Paso Independent School District’s former chief financial officer and her team were aware of the system’s worsening financial condition but failed for months to communicate the risks to the superintendent and board, EPISD’s chief internal auditor said Tuesday.
“The conclusions reached durin...
Key takeaway Trustee Mindy Sutton said the audit findings exposed “severe incompetence” in prior leaders, apparently referring to Martha Aguirre, who served as CFO for several years and as interim superintendent from June to December 2025.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The breakdown in financial risk management and budgetary control processes at EPISD has significant implications for the district's ability to provide quality education to its students. The fact that finance leaders knew of budget risks for months but failed to alert trustees raises concerns about the district's accountability and transparency. As the district moves forward with implementing the 18 recommendations outlined in the audit report, it will be crucial to build a culture that encourages employees to speak up when they identify significant problems. This is particularly important in a district like EPISD, where budget decisions can have a direct impact on classroom resources and student outcomes. The district's ability to strengthen its governance, financial oversight, and budgetary controls will be closely watched by the community, and the implementation of these reforms will be a key factor in restoring trust in the district's leadership.
About this story
Original reporting by El Paso Matters . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit El Paso Matters . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: El Paso Matters ·
Reading time: 6 min
Get more The El Paso stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering safety and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? El Paso Independent School District’s former chief financial officer and her team were aware of the system’s worsening financial condition but failed for months to communicate the risks to the superintendent and board, EPISD’s chief internal auditor said Tuesday.
“The conclusions reached durin...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by El Paso Matters and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Robert Moore at El Paso Matters. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More safety →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter