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The state’s Public Superintendent supports the recent actions of the controversial “Academic Board of Education” in the Apache Junction Unified Elementary School and Liberty Elementary School Districts.
“Destructive protests are taking place against newly elected academically-minded school boards calling for a new academically-minded school district superintendent,” Tom Horn said in a release.
“Apache Junction is rated as a ‘C’ school 3 out of 5 of its schools under old leadership. Three academically oriented school board members formed a new majority.
“They, of course, wanted a new academically oriented superintendent and came to a mutual agreement to part ways with the old superintendent.”
Superintendent Heather Wallace’s retirement agreement was approved at an April 10 meeting of the Apache Junction Unified School District Board of Trustees, which did not include public comment, discussion, or debate.
The board voted 3-2, with board members Bobby Bowders and Kami Garcia voting against the retirement agreement.
“Ms. Wallace and the board recently decided that they have different visions for the district,” AJUSD board chair Dena Kimble said in a written statement. “The administrative, operational and educational functions of the school district will continue without interruption.”
At the board meeting on April 11, more than 20 people voiced their opposition in the public comment section against the decision by Kimble, Gil Cancio and Gail Ross to approve the deal.
Among them was Barbara Kansler, who retired from AJUSD in May 2021 and ran unsuccessfully for school board in the November 8 election.
“We were headed in the right direction. Our children were working to reach their full potential. Mrs. President, what you’ve done deserves discussion and debate.” You were doing it wrong,” she said.
Wallace worked as an educator at AJUSD for over 20 years. She was the Executive Director of Education Services when she took over as Interim Superintendent in July 2021, after which she was hired as Superintendent.
Wallace is the second superintendent in two years to be released from his contract and the third superintendent employed by AJUSD since June 2017.
Horn also noted “protests” at a Liberty Elementary School Board meeting, where “a new academically-oriented majority of the school board was elected.” They were ‘accused’ of planning to introduce a ‘classic traditional model of education’. ”
“The replacement of non-academic board members with non-academic board members is a positive development for the school’s academic performance,” Horn said at the end of the statement.
We invite our readers to submit their public opinion, pro or con, on this issue. Send an email to AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
