By Staff Reporter |
Peoria Unified School District (PUSD) retained a new governing board president following a charged special meeting on Tuesday night.
Former governing board president Heather Rooks lasted five months into her second elected term. Rooks was removed over what a majority on the board alleged was an undermining of their credibility and integrity involving a criminal investigation referral.
The board majority argued that Rooks defied the board’s authority in multiple ways, most recently by requesting the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office investigate Centennial High School officials for mandatory reporting violations in connection to the ongoing criminal cases involving former teachers Haley Beck and Angela Burlaka.
Beck and Burlaka face charges for the alleged sexual abuse of at least one student, though investigators have indicated in recent weeks that the victim pool may be bigger.
The board voted to delay a decision on launching a third-party, internal investigation due to other ongoing investigations by law enforcement. That would make the seventh investigation on the matter.
Also cited as a grievance by the board majority was Rooks’ media interviews in which she expressed criticisms of school administration over the handling of sexual abuse complaints. Rooks alleged the existence of “red flags” known to school administrators, something which has not been declared or proven by investigators.
The board voted 3-2 to replace Rooks with Jeff Tobey. Rooks and board member Janelle Bowles voted against Rooks’ ouster and spoke at length in Rooks’ defense.
Public comment ran for nearly an hour. Over 20 speakers showed up; slightly more speakers wanted to see Rooks replaced, while the remainder defended Rooks.
Rooks has maintained that she filed the internal investigation request in her capacity as a parent, not the board president. Rooks also claimed that her removal constituted retaliation over her speech.
“From a legal standpoint, when protected speech is followed by an adverse action and there is a causal connection between the two, it raises legitimate First Amendment concerns, including potential retaliation,” said Rooks. “If raising concerns about student safety and compliance leads to the removal from leadership, it risks creating a chilling effect, not just for me but for anyone who would otherwise speak up.”
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell’s investigatory efforts into high school officials were underway well prior to Rooks’ request. Peoria police have already stated publicly that they don’t plan to file any charges for mandatory reporting failures.
Ewing accused Rooks of undermining the board on its decision to wait for officials to conclude their own investigations into the matter. Ewing said Rooks was advancing theories and claims without evidence, something she said could risk harming prosecution efforts against the two teachers. This was a talking point that echoed throughout public comment advocating for Rooks’ ouster.
“She is advancing a narrative based on belief rather than evidence, despite her direct knowledge of interviews, investigative steps, and findings discussed in multiple executive sessions,” said Ewing.
Though critical, Tobey and Board Member Becky Proudfit had kinder words for Rooks. Proudfit said Rooks had PUSD students’ best interests at heart, but that intent didn’t justify her actions.
Tobey expressed support for Rooks’ freedom of speech generally but clarified that he was “disappointed” in her actions because they reflected her “opinions” and not the facts of the cases.
“I’ve learned the hard way that parallel investigations can interfere with one another,” said Tobey. “I don’t want to give any alleged pedophile any chance or upper hand in trial.”
Rooks accused the Arizona Education Association of coordinating the special meeting that resulted in her removal.
“Peoria School Board Members will vote tomorrow on a new President because the Arizona Teacher Union is calling for me to be removed as President,” said Rooks.
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