Liberty Elementary School District didn't just lose its Governing Board president, now it's also seen the exit of several teachers during its Oct. 7 meeting, which resulted in police involvement.
According to a report from 12News, which attended the meeting, the meeting was standing room only with numerous teachers and parents who came to express concerns about district leadership.
InBuckeye has reached out to LESD for comment regarding the resignations and has not received a call back at this time.
According to the 12News report, several teachers resigned that evening, one citing "unsafe working conditions" and the "learning environment for students," as their reason.
Top-down discord
On that same night, the board reorganized with a vote to promote former vice president Bryan Parks to president. Kris Kenyon, a board member since last year, was elected as vice president. This came as the result of former president Michael Todd resigning, effective immediately, the evening of Sept. 24, according to according to Communications Director Derek Diesner.
Todd posted on his Facebook account on Sept. 25 saying "I have resigned from my position in the Liberty Elementary School District #25, effective immediately. I have lost faith in the leadership of the district."
Parents and teachers alike at the Oct. 7 meeting expressed similar concerns regarding the district's leadership, specifically pointing out Parks who some called on to resign. Comments were also directed toward Superintendent Cort Monroe, according to the 12News report. On Sept. 25, Todd posted on Facebook about Monroe, calling him "childish, immature and unprofessional" for blocking Todd on social media. He said this was "another sign of his failed leadership" and that it was "ironic he could move so fast to block me, but he wasn't willing to communicate with Westar parents in a timely manner."
This followed what Todd expressed as concerns regarding how the district handled a social media shooting threat to Estrella Mountain Elementary School, located in Goodyear. According to Goodyear Independent reporting, a teenager was arrested and charged with one count of making a terrorist threat to the school.
According to 12News reporters on scene at the meeting, the public comment portion ultimately required the presence of police to diffuse a situation when two members of the audience began arguing.
