By Jonathan Eberle |
A community watchdog group is calling for a full stop to all major construction projects in the Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD), citing overwhelming voter opposition and stark financial projections that point to a looming deficit that could reach into the hundreds of millions.
Citizens for Schools Accountability (CSA), a local 501(c)(4) organization focused on transparency and responsible spending, says the district should halt work on all ongoing and planned facilities including High School #8, a proposed domed stadium, and a new district office until an independent audit is completed and a clear financial plan is released.
The group also criticized Superintendent Jeremy Calles and Governing Board President Steven Chapman for declining to follow a board directive requiring a full budget presentation before any further action on High School #8 is taken.
The warning comes just weeks after voters decisively rejected both a bond and an override sought by TUHSD, a dramatic reversal from past elections in which district measures routinely passed by wide margins. CSA leaders say the election outcome underscores widespread public concern over spending, transparency, and priorities within the district.
“Continuing construction without public support or a sustainable funding plan represents a dangerous breach of fiscal responsibility,” the group stated in its announcement. According to figures cited from district financial documents, TUHSD has approximately $294.6 million in bond, fund balance, and state School Facilities Board (SFB) resources available. Yet the projected costs of its construction plan far exceed that total.
Even under the lowest cost estimates, the district faces a minimum shortfall of $95 million. Under more likely scenarios, the deficit could approach $200 million. “This district is on the edge of a financial cliff,” said CSA Chairman Kino Flores. “Any organization facing a minimum $100 million deficit would hit the brakes immediately. Yet TUHSD is accelerating.”
Flores said that between the voter rejection, the cost projections, and the pending audit, continuing construction would be “reckless and irresponsible.”
CSA argues that until these steps are taken, any continued spending could jeopardize the district’s long-term stability. The organization says its concerns are not philosophical or political but grounded in the district’s own data and the unmistakable rejection voters delivered at the ballot box. “The voters said no. The math says no,” Flores said. “Fiscal responsibility demands the board stop every non-essential building project until the audit is complete, and a transparent financial plan is presented to taxpayers.”
CSA leaders say they will continue monitoring district actions and expect the board to respect both the financial realities and the community’s clear mandate.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
