The former chief financial officer for the Scottsdale Unified School District accused of breaking Arizona's conflict of interest laws has pleaded not guilty.
Maricopa County Superior Court officials say Laura Smith pleaded not guilty Thursday to two counts of fraud schemes and nine counts of public official conflict of interest.
A state grand jury indicted Smith last month.
She's accused of approving purchase orders and change orders between February and October of 2017 for a consulting company Smith and her sister had ownership interests in.
Smith allegedly signed off on five change orders that increased the district's purchases from the consulting company by more than $16,000 and she also authorized six purchase orders totaling nearly $44,000.
The 61-year-old Smith resigned in January after she was placed on leave.
