Buffalo School Board cancels Arizona conference trip amid concerns over spending

Three Buffalo School Board members scheduled to attend a conference this weekend will no longer attend after questions were raised about spending on travel while the district considers closing schools.School Board President Kathy Evans-Brown and board members Stephon Wright and Lewis Muki Hawkins had planned to attend the 2026 WOZ Immersion Conference, which starts this weekend at a four-star resort and spa in Arizona. STEM instructors from the district are still scheduled to go.On Thursday afternoon, Evans-Brown announced that no board members would attend because fiscal responsibility must come first.The original cost was $15,500. The decision for the board members to cancel saves the district about $3,500.The decision followed criticism from At-Large School Board Member Larry Scott, who questioned both the optics of the trip and whether it had been properly approved."To me it's quite troubling," Scott said. "It's not setting a good example and sending a good message to our stakehold