by Matthew Holloway | Nov 10, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A Change.org petition calling for the removal of a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) “Club America” chapter at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale lists 429 verified signatures on its page as of November 7, 2025. The petition—titled “Stop Political Hate Clubs in Arizona Schools”—urges Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board members Carine Werner, Amy Carney, and Maricopa County Superintendent Shelli Boggs to dissolve the club, alleging it promotes “hate, division, or discrimination under the guise of ‘religious’ or ‘political’ values.”
The petition claims that TPUSA “has a documented history of targeting marginalized groups and spreading harmful rhetoric” and argues its presence “sends the message that intolerance is acceptable.” It adds, “While every student has the right to their own political beliefs, no club should be allowed to promote hate, division, or discrimination under the guise of ‘religious’ or ‘political’ values.” Funds raised through Change.org will support “awareness efforts, educational events, and promotional materials.”
Public comments on the petition echo those themes. Saguaro alumnus Seth wrote, “As a Saguaro alum, I am appalled that such a club would be allowed to exist… The very intention of Club America is to sew [sic] discord and position one side as morally right and the other as morally wrong.” Naleah of Peoria said, “This club is not freedom of speech; it is built on the premise and beliefs of a racist and sexist….” Ines of Scottsdale added, “Saguaro should be a community that nurtures its students into well-informed adults. Having a political group that is there to influence high school kids instead of properly educating them… is harming the fundamentals of education.”
TPUSA rebranded its high-school program as “Club America” in July 2025, but the petition refers to the Saguaro organization as a “Turning Point USA chapter.” The filing claims Saguaro recently approved the club under SUSD’s policy allowing student-led groups with staff sponsors, elected officers, and signed agreements. The district has not publicly confirmed the approval.
Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity, a parental-rights advocacy group, publicized the petition on X on Nov. 7, urging followers to email the SUSD board at GovBRD@SUSD.org to “uphold students’ rights to start a Turning Point club.” In the post, the group described the petition as “an effort to silence students at Saguaro High School who wish to launch a @TPUSA club,” quoting the petition’s claim that TPUSA clubs promote “discrimination under the guise of ‘religious’ … values.”
The advocacy group also alleged that Saguaro Principal Lisa Hirsch “previously allowed an antisemitic presentation to occur at Desert Mountain High School” when she was principal there—an allegation referencing a 2023 incident that drew statewide scrutiny. District communications at the time condemned hate speech and denied institutional antisemitism.
The event, also flagged by Scottsdale Unites for Education Integrity, involved a UNICEF club at Desert Mountain High School (DMHS) telling students that Israel has been illegally occupying, taking, and settling on land belonging to Palestinians; that Israel had engaged in ethnic cleansing and apartheid by forcibly displacing and discriminating against Palestinians; and that Israel unjustly tortured and imprisoned Palestinians, including 80 percent of Palestinian children.
TPUSA, founded in 2012, has faced similar opposition in other Arizona districts. In October 2025, Snowflake High School denied a TPUSA club request citing a moratorium on new clubs dating to 2009, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
SUSD did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A message sent through Change.org to petition starter Isabella Finley received no reply by press time.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 8, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
With the tragic murder of a Maryvale High School student and the brutal attack against the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, MN, still fresh in public memory, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne submitted a legislative budget request for $180 million to continue and expand state funding to put more armed officers on campuses throughout Arizona.
Existing funding for school safety, by initial appropriation and carryover, totals $128 million. Federal funding also provides an additional $20 million. According to the Arizona Department of Education, both are scheduled to expire in 2026. To address this, Horne has reportedly submitted the request for $180 million, which, if approved, “would ensure the current level of funding will continue and the added $32 million will allow for expanding the program for more officers and training.”
In a statement released Thursday, Horne said, “Over the past several weeks, our nation has witnessed terrible school tragedies. This problem is not going away, and we need to address it aggressively. Therefore, I am now making a budget request of the legislature to appropriate at least $180 million to make sure we have no gap in providing funding for armed officers on campuses. This request adds dollars to hire and train officers for more schools statewide to protect students, educators, and classified staff.”
Horne referred back to the successful intervention of a heroic Tucson Police Officer William Bonanno, who thwarted an attempted attack on Legacy Traditional School-East Tucson in January.
“The value of having armed officers on campuses is beyond dispute. One of the best examples occurred earlier this year when a heroic Tucson police officer arrested an armed intruder on a school campus during class hours.
“This criminal was armed with a gun and a knife and told the officer he was there to kill children and make them famous. The officer was on that campus because of funding through the department’s School Safety Program. In fact, he had been hired less than a month earlier using supplemental dollars my department made available. This program works and deserves more funding so it can be expanded. Every parent should want an officer on their child’s campus.”
Maricopa County Schools Superintendent Shelli Boggs issued a concurring statement saying, “I will continue to advocate for school safety programs. This is about ensuring that every student, in every school, in every neighborhood, has the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are safe.”
Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan offered his support as well, stating, “As Sheriff of Maricopa County, I strongly support Superintendent Horne’s efforts to fully fund our school safety program to ensure all schools have these resources to protect our kids. There is no greater responsibility for society than to do everything possible to keep children safe, especially in a place of learning and growing. To that end, we currently have dozens of MCSO deputies participating in this program, and additional funding will allow us to expand our services.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Kim Miller | Aug 14, 2025 | Opinion
By Kim Miller |
As with most things, asking the right questions is often more important than getting the answers. This is especially true for parents and grandparents who want to protect their children. We need to ask, then ask some more, to get to the truth at our kids’ school and public libraries.
If you value children, here’s what you should be asking, some important answers, good news of progress, and what YOU CAN DO to protect yours (and others’) kids:
4 Questions (with answers):
1 – Are there actually bad materials in schools and libraries, or is this just ‘pearl clutching’?
Yes, it’s really a problem. Here’s a letter with a long list of shocking books that were/are in Scottsdale schools (sent last summer to the Scottsdale Unified School Board by Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity). More was uncovered in Gilbert schools. Find out what’s in your school with this source: TakeBackTheClassroom.com.
Even in public libraries’ juvenile sections, there’s a gross overabundance of books on social activism, early sexual exploration, and questioning one’s sexual identity. (Where did they put the basic books on science, history, and adventure?)
2 – WHY are these materials on shelves (or online) for kids?
Unfortunately, there’s profit behind the sexualization of children. Online it extends from obvious porn (see our blog ‘Put Kids Before Profit’) to “digital learning tools” offered through AZ public tools. Recently, we alerted you that Arizona taxpayers are funding porn-for-kids, an open letter from Pornography is Not Education to the AZ Dept of Education.
Besides the profits for activists and the porn industries, it’s ignorance. Common-sense people are not becoming aware. (This is a reason to subscribe to AZ Women of Action’s weekly Call To Action Update!) Most people have no idea what children see in schools or access in libraries, but we keep them informed.
3 – Isn’t this simply ‘sex-ed’? Is there evidence of the harm on kids when they see sexual material?
This goes way beyond sex-ed, and that’s why there’s no excuse for staying silent. Ignorance is not bliss when you start seeing the fallout in your confused, angry, and sexualized children. Here are stories with supporting evidence: What Happens When Children Are Exposed to Pornography? And From MySpace to OnlyFans: The Dangerous Desensitization of Our Kids — Fueled by Public Schools.
4 – Do parents have a say on what their kids see at public schools and libraries?
YES–but only if they speak up! Arizona has some of the strongest parent rights laws. (See ‘What You Can Do’ for specifics.)
Some Good News!
AZ Women of Action has made progress with Maricopa County Libraries: We asked questions of the MC Library office who told us that no one had ever complained about children’s books (obviously because nobody knew). So, we created a citizen petition, shared the facts with our followers, and presented hundreds of names to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. They listened. We emphasized that parents, not libraries, should have the ultimate authority over the type of content their children are exposed to. We argued that the current arrangement, where explicit books are freely available to children, violates parental rights and endangers children’s emotional and mental well-being.
We also met with Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and her team. Overall progress is being made, though slowly.
We’re seeing widespread support from parents, teachers, faith-based organizations, and local activists who share the same concerns. Our message is clear: books are not being ‘banned’ but moved to adult sections for parents to decide. It’s not about censorship but protecting childhood. It’s restoring the family’s role in deciding how to protect and nurture each child.
What YOU CAN DO:
1. Ask schools for their opt-out forms for any material you deem inappropriate for your child. Sex education is supposed to be opt-IN (meaning they require your permission before kids see it). Ask to see your school’s curriculum first.
2. Ask your local libraries for a form that limits what their child can check out or access online. If they don’t have one, contact the city, county, or state library office and file a request to change parent-rights policies.
3. Report any concerning material found in schools to the ADE Empower Hotline at 602-771-3500, or submit their online form.
4. Share concerning materials with P.I.N.E. (Pornography Is Not Education)
5. Promote Cleaner, Safer Libraries. Join Arizona Women of Action for a fun, family story hour with positive, wholesome books for kids! We’ve partnered with Brave Books to host “See You At the Library Story Hour” on Saturday, August 16th from 1–2PM at the Phoenix Public Library – Mesquite Branch. Families will enjoy uplifting and wholesome stories read by Arizona Women of Action and special guest Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools Shelli Boggs. Click here to register.
Kim Miller is the President and Founder of Arizona Women of Action. You can find out more about their work here.
by Matthew Holloway | Feb 23, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a letter issued to all schools and school board members in Maricopa County, Maricopa County School Superintendent Shelli Boggs gave notice that they are legally obligated to conform to an Executive Order from President Donald Trump ending illegal Diversity Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.
Within the letter, Boggs detailed a series of specific steps that all schools must now take to erase the illegal DEI-based hiring, training, and curricular practices that stand in violation of federal law. According to a press release from Maricopa County Schools, Boggs emphasized that while the Superintendent lacks jurisdiction to directly enforce compliance upon the schools, it strongly encourages that they do so in order to “restore education to its core mission.”
“DEI programs have been used as a tool to divide students, teachers, and parents rather than foster true unity and equal opportunity,” Superintendent Boggs said. “Schools should be places of learning, not ideological indoctrination. Education must return to its fundamental purpose—teaching students the skills they need to succeed—not promoting political agendas that undermine academic excellence.”
The release continued, “One of the most critical responsibilities of this office is the appointment of school board members, who share the authority to set policies within school districts. Under Boggs’ administration, appointees must be committed to meritocracy and academic excellence over politics. Schools should reward hard work and achievement, not lower standards in the name of equity. Education should empower students with knowledge, critical thinking, and opportunity—not divide them by race, gender, or political ideology.”
The Superintendent’s letter also informed school administrators that the county will be monitoring their compliance and has offered resources to assist with the transition away from DEI policies. Superintendent Boggs restated a “commitment to ensuring that all students receive a high-quality, merit-based education free from politically driven programs that promote division.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 8, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Barring a turn of events with additional ballots being tabulated from the November General Election, Maricopa County Republicans appear to be holding onto their positions for the upcoming term of office.
After Tuesday’s November General Election, a number of Maricopa County Republicans are likely returning and / or ascending to positions of leadership.
As of this report on Thursday night, Eddie Cook received 54.36% of the vote for re-election to County Assessor.
Rachel Mitchell acquired 55.01% of the vote to return as County Attorney.
Justin Heap won 52.56% of the vote to assume the position of County Recorder. Heap is currently a state representative.
In a statement, Heap said, “I look forward to immediately beginning the work of transitioning into the office, and working with the legislature to develop a common sense legislative agenda that will make our elections more effective, efficient, and most importantly, honest, while allowing us to deliver faster election results in the 2026 and 2028 elections.”
Shelli Boggs obtained 51.85% of the vote for County School Superintendent.
Jerry Sheridan received 53.78% of the vote for County Sheriff.
Sheridan posted a statement to his X account, writing, “The real work now lies ahead as we work with the community, the Board of Supervisors, and the amazing employees at MCSO to rebuild the Sheriff’s Office to better protect the people we are entrusted to serve. To those voters out there that didn’t support my campaign, I want you to know that I will work hard to earn your trust and support. I will keep the promises I made during this campaign, especially treating every person with dignity and respect, and protecting the civil rights of all Maricopa County residents.”
John Allen was unopposed for his reelection bid for County Treasurer.
As of Thursday’s report of ballot tabulation, Republicans would control the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors with a 4-1 split. Two races – both with a Republican leading – are within three percent or less.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
