Alamo School Board restructures with new committees

The Alamo Navajo School Board, Inc. (ANSBI) approved a new committee structure on Nov. 24, following an anonymous ethics complaint filed with the Navajo Nation.

“As a board member, we want the community to know that we are holding each other accountable, every single one of us, for what’s best for our community,” School Board Vice President Raymond Apachito Jr. said. “That’s why we are taking these corrective measures like the restructuring.”

According to a news release from Nov. 20, ANSBI said it was taking decisive steps, including an independent investigation and forensic audit, to address concerns raised in an ethics complaint filed against board members for alleged violations of the Navajo Nation Ethics in Government Law.

“Hearings for individual board members have been continued and motions for dismissal have been submitted. However, ANSBI is taking proactive measures to safeguard its programs, community, and ensure accountability and transparency,” April Hale, ANSBI’s Public Relations Representative said in an email.

She said due to it being an ongoing investigation, she expects the details of the complaints and findings to be shared in early next year.

Apachito said the restructuring includes three board committees: the Health Service Committee (overseeing the Health Service Division), the Education Committee (overseeing the Education Division), and the General Service Committee (overseeing non-educational, non-health programs like administration, facilities, water, and roads).

The restructuring is meant to strengthen internal control, accountability, communication and efficiency within the organization, said Apachito.

“We want Alamo Navajo community to feel assured that their assets are secured and are working to provide that for them,” Apachito said.

The final report on the investigation is expected by the end of the year, with the audit report anticipated in early 2026. Apachito said updates about the audit and investigation will be shared at their meetings (which are open to the community) and posted on the ANSBI website at ansbi.org. He said they are also looking into using social media to increase transparency and engagement.

“We are dedicated to refilling the trust and continuing to serve our people with integrity and the word of Navajo way of kinship and family,” Apachito said. “We ask for the community to have patience as we navigate to a more efficient way of operating the division and serving them. We want them to know they are our priority.”

According to Hale the investigation and the forensic audit were initiated independently by the school board—not by directive of the Navajo Nation.

“They (ANSBI) do govern under some Navajo Nation law, but they are incorporated through the state of New Mexico,” Hale said, “It wasn’t a directive from the Navajo Nation, and they don’t need to necessarily report to the nation.”

According to their website, the Alamo Navajo School Board is the conduit and program administrator for over 45 grants and contracts with federal, state, and tribal agencies.

As a non-profit Indian organization, the Alamo Navajo School Board, Inc. is controlled by an elected, five-member board. The Board of Trustees is elected under the election code of the Navajo Nation.

The School Board oversees a tribally controlled K-12 School, a tribally contracted clinic, a Head Start Program, community services, wellness center, radio station, forestry program, facilities, transportation and administration.

The Navajo Ethics and Rules Office did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.