In the aftermath of Power Ranch Elementary School Principal Chris Reuter’s resignation, Higley Unified School District stakeholders and at least one leader are calling for more transparency.
For years, Higley Unified School District, a top-rated district, enjoyed the support of taxpayers as evidenced by the approval of bond measures. However, in 2022 that changed. Voters rejected the district’s request for more money after the former superintendent was indicted for fraud related to both Higley and Scottsdale Unified School District’s building projects.
The district is hoping voters will approve a bond in 2024, but recent events, including the resignation of Rueter and the Governing Board’s decision to approve a controversial dress code has caused Higley supporters to have their doubts.
It is believed that Rueter was given the choice to resign or be fired this year after what district insiders say was an extreme lapse in judgment. The district’s administration chose to enter into a departure agreement that served the privacy interests of Rueter but it is coming at the expense of widespread speculation and further distrust. And while Rueter has remained largely silent, his proxies have spread a message that he was unfairly treated, creating additional mystery for the district’s parents and taxpayers.
Supporters of the district say transparency is the only hope if the district wants to restore enough faith in it to secure future increased funding.
One such supporter is Governing Board member Anna Van Hoek. Last week, Van Hoek released a statement calling for increased transparency:
In response to recent community concerns and speculation surrounding the departure of Mr. Reuter from Power Ranch Elementary, I have heard from parents, teachers, and various other stakeholders, who have questioned the apparent lack of transparency and accountability on the part of district officials, and I would like to provide clarification and address the situation.
As an elected official, it is within my purview to speak with all stakeholders and hear their concerns. That is not a violation of open meeting laws as some claimed during the November 15th meeting. It is also my duty to then bring those concerns to the superintendent and the rest of the board.
I am very disappointed with the performance of Higley Unified School District (HUSD) in response to the issues surrounding the resignation of Mr. Reuter (at the direction of legal counsel) and I completely understand the frustration from our teachers, parents and students who were not provided with an explanation in a timely manner which allowed for a lot of false information and rumors to be spread all over social media.
At the end of the August 9th meeting, I requested to have an Executive Session to discuss the turnover rate at Power Ranch. That Executive Session took place on August 23rd. Another Executive Session related to the turnover rate was held on October 30th and this situation regarding the turnover rate at Power Ranch was closed.
On November 9th, I learned that Mr. Reuter had submitted his resignation. This was completely unrelated to the issue from the turnover rate discussion and there was no discussion, and/or an investigation related to a former teacher’s arrest.
On November 15th Mr. Reuter’s resignation was on the consent agenda under Personnel Action Items and it was approved by the board. That was the extent of the Board’s involvement in his resignation. The matter was managed by our Human Resources team and Administration prior to the board vote.
Despite legal limitations on the disclosure of specific personnel matters, I will always share information transparently within the bounds of the law.
I value transparency and recognize the importance of open communication with our community. While we understand the community’s curiosity and concerns regarding Mr. Reuter’s departure, I want to emphasize that personnel matters are extremely sensitive and, by law, cannot be disclosed in detail.
I remain committed to fostering an environment of transparency and accountability and will push for the same from the district. I reassure the community that decisions related to personnel matters are made after careful consideration of numerous factors, balancing the need for confidentiality with the public’s right to information.
I urge the district to provide some type of information without having to disclose the actual reason for the resignation.
While we are on the topic of transparency, I have also requested that the district provide information to parents regarding an incident that occurred on October 26th regarding a teacher at Higley High School being placed on leave pending an investigation by Gilbert Police Department.
On October 29, it came to our attention that a teacher had been placed on leave effective October 26th due to possible misconduct with a student. The board was informed only after a citizen journalist posted the information on social media. There was a lack of transparency in communicating this information to the board and to the parents of Higley High. I as a board member was told that Gilbert Police Department advised that this information should not be shared with the board or anyone else. Students were told by a substitute that the teacher would be back after 2 weeks. I find this to be unacceptable and have shared the same concerns with the administration. Per our communication protocols, if it is newsworthy, we must be notified immediately.
Again, if the district notified parents and the board immediately, we wouldn’t have to find out from other sources which then creates a lot of speculation. As of this week, it is my understanding that the administration is working on gathering information on this situation to share with the community.
The well-being and interests of students, parents, and teachers must take precedence, even when it means potential challenges to the district’s image. My commitment is to consistently prioritize integrity and transparency, aspiring to set the utmost standards and serve as a positive model for our HUSD community, rather than merely meeting the minimum legal requirements.
Van Hoek included her phone number and email address to facilitate conversations with the press.
Van Hoek and fellow Higley Unified School District Board member Michelle Anderson came under fire from the press, but won praise from a majority of the parents and members of the public when they voted against a recent dress code policy. The vote on that policy made national headlines after a concerned father showed up at a board meeting wearing only what students would be allowed to wear under the new policy.
According to AZFREE News, that father, Ira Latham, “wore a black sports bra with spaghetti straps as an “object lesson,” or visual example, of permitted attire under the new dress code as a criticism of the district’s judgment. Latham said that anyone who took issue with his attire for a board meeting should question among themselves whether it was appropriate for a classroom. Members of the audience appeared amused or visibly uncomfortable with the display.”
“Now if you ask me, it’s inappropriate for a board meeting,” Latham told the board. “If you have a dress code policy that allows this in a classroom it does not promote a safe classroom environment as well as limits the amount of distractions in the classroom. I can’t think of any place of work where I can walk in and be taken seriously in something like this.”
It isn’t the first time Van Hoek called for increased transparency. Van Hoek riled up left-wing teacher union supporters when she pushed for transparency in the district’s spending and curriculum that she believed may have exposed students to inappropriate content and did not meet state standards.
Van Hoek also called attention to the district’s intention to send staff to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion events in clear violation of state law.
The Arizona Daily Independent reached out to Van Hoek for a comment but did not hear from her prior to the publication deadline.
Despite the fact that Van Hoek has made herself a target of teachers’ union members, she still says she remains steadfast in her support for public education and the district, according to sources close to her.
“I trust Anna did everything by the book and feel the district has benefitted from her presence and will continue to do so,” said Marty Bender, a Higley district resident.