Denise Birdwell
A former superintendent of the Scottsdale and Higley unified school districts has been indicted as part of an investigation of possible misuse of public money tied to school construction.
A report by the Arizona Auditor General found that Denise Birdwell may have conspired with three other individuals employed by Higley district vendors to violate state procurement laws when the district awarded the nearly $2.6 million contract to Educational Facilities Development Services (EFDS).
The report states that Gary Aller and Steven Nielsen with EFDS, and Birdwell may have also violated a State law related to fraudulent schemes when they seemingly concealed their wrongdoing by certifying false information on Higley records, making what appear to be false attestations regarding following School District Procurement Rules for the (schools construction project).
An investigation by the Arizona Auditor General’s Office has found former Higley superintendent Dr. Angela Denise Birdwell, her close associate, Kay Hartwell Hunnicutt, and two Higley vendors, Gary Aller and Steven Nielsen may have violated State procurement laws.
The investigation requested by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office found that the violations stem from a $2,557,125 Project development services contract.
The Auditor General Office submitted its report to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, which on July 13, 2021, presented evidence to the State Grand Jury. The action resulted in the indictment of:
• Birdwell on 18 felony counts related to procurement fraud, fraudulent schemes and practices, fraudulent schemes and artifices, misuse of public monies, conflict of interest, filing a false return, and conspiracy.