Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and Maricopa County School Superintendent Shelli Boggs are raising urgent concerns about the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board’s recent failure to act. They warn that rising incidents of serious misconduct by school employees require immediate attention and full compliance with mandatory reporting laws to protect children.
Two former Centennial High School teachers, Haley Beck and Angela Burlaka, are at the center of allegations involving sexual misconduct with a student. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and the Peoria Police Department are currently conducting investigations and reviewing the matter. Former governing board president Heather Rooks also raised concerns and requested an inquiry into whether district employees and administrators fulfilled their mandatory reporting obligations under Arizona law. Shortly after requesting an investigation, Ms. Rooks was removed as board president in a 3-2 vote.
Under Arizona law, those requirements include reporting to law enforcement, the Department of Child Safety, and / or tribal authorities, as well as the State Board of Education. Recently, a dispute arose in the Peoria Unified School District over an incident of sexual conduct between a teacher and a student.
“I am deeply concerned about the events occurring on the Peoria district board,” stated Horne. “It is absolutely crucial that every school be transparent with the public about what happens in schools. There should be zero tolerance for people who don’t live up to their duty to report misconduct. In recent months, the State Board of Education, where I am a voting member, has disciplined educators for that kind of failure.”
Under Arizona law, school employees are mandatory reporters. The law defines reportable offenses, including non-accidental physical injury, abuse, serious emotional damage, sexual abuse or acts, exposure to dangerous drugs, and neglect, among others.
Also, reports must be made immediately; reporting to a supervisor or administrator is not sufficient. Failure to comply is a Class I misdemeanor for child abuse or neglect and a Class 6 felony for not reporting a reportable offense.
Horne added, “There seems to be a terrible trend of school employees being accused of egregious breaches of conduct, including sexual activities with children. This is completely unacceptable, and schools must do everything possible to ensure the safety of children. The exploitation of a child by anyone, but especially an educator or other school employee, is an unfathomable breach of trust and cannot be tolerated.”
Boggs says she has been communicating with County Attorney Rachel Mitchell about mandatory reporting requirements and the immediate involvement of law enforcement whenever allegations of criminal conduct involving children—including rumors—arise in schools.
“Parents send their children to school expecting they will be educated, protected, and safe,” Boggs said. “Schools must never become places where warning signs are ignored, delayed, minimized, or buried behind bureaucracy.”
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