WEST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONDS TO CRITICISM WITH A PLAN
West Valley Families examines recent developments within the Liberty Elementary School District, including leadership transitions, communication challenges, and district-wide initiatives.
The Liberty Elementary School District holds a governing board meeting tonight. And from what I’m seeing, it’s sure to be heated based on the comments I’m seeing from parents online. It’s rumored media will be in attendance again.
Why?
One continuing key issue - likely to draw attention - involves the district’s handling of a bullying incident, particularly concerning how and when parents were informed.
On tonight’s agenda: discussions on discipline policy and communication practices.
Let’s take a look.
DISCIPLINE
Liberty Elementary School District will discuss new discipline procedures tonight after a highly publicized incident in which a Westar Elementary mother called “for stricter bullying consequences after she said her son was attacked at school by another student.” - 12News Report | September 27, 2024
VIEW THE PROPOSED REDLINE DISCIPLINE DOCUMENT HERE.
The new policy would require proper documentation of discipline referrals, “detailing the teacher’s reason(s) for the temporary removal of a student from class.”
DEVELOPING DISCIPLINE POLICY
In July 2024, I initially reported on the Liberty Elementary School District's adoption of a "zero tolerance" policy to address student behavior. This conservative measure marked a significant shift, moving away from restorative justice practices used nationwide.
As part of ongoing efforts to address proficiency challenges in West Valley schools, I conducted interviews with two Liberty Elementary School District board members over the summer.
In our August 2024 conversation, current board president Bryan Parks and former president Michael Todd discussed the links between declining math scores, the pressures of the Common Core curriculum, and rising behavior issues among students.
Notably, this discussion occurred before a significant conflict emerged between the two board members, leading to the resignation of the then-board president Michael Todd.
Following the alleged assault at Westar Elementary School, Michael Todd resigned from the board. Bryan Parks was appointed as the new governing board president earlier this month. Parents and former teachers have since called for Bryan Parks to step down.
Despite his resignation, Michael Todd remains on the ballot as a school board candidate for the upcoming General Election on November 5, 2024.
West Valley Families covered all of these developments.
COMMUNICATIONS
Also on tonight’s agenda, the Liberty Elementary School District is set to introduce a branding guide to be implemented by June 2025. This guide will include each school and the district’s logo, along with an official color scheme. Additionally, new websites and updated social media handles are planned for both the district and its schools.
The presentation does not state an estimated cost to taxpayers for new branding.
In September 2021, Agua Fria Union High School District approved a rebranded logo. It’s agenda states, “$49,000 is currently budgeted using existing funding from Gifts and Donations/Auxiliary, to implement the roll-out plan for the new logo.” How much will Liberty ESD pay?
Notably, the last Liberty Elementary School District logo redesign occurred in September 2018, during a period when I assisted with communications as social media engagement was rapidly growing.
Find the district’s communications proposal here.
What stands out to me in tonight’s agenda is that the district is still working to establish a comprehensive crisis communications plan.
Back on March 22, 2018, the district faced a serious crisis involving allegations of a teacher’s inappropriate relationship with students.
In the aftermath of that day when news broke of the teacher-student relationship, I strongly advised the district to implement a crisis communications policy - SIX YEARS AGO. And it seems it was never accomplished as it’s to be discussed tonight.
This significant crisis communications event in 2018 coincided with the district's interviews for a new superintendent occuring on the same day, resulting in Dr. Shough’s appointment.
With Dr. Cort Monroe now serving as the current superintendent, the district has seen three superintendents during this time period.
JEN’S TWO CENTS
The day after the last governing board meeting, I discussed my thoughts on what had happend in the Liberty Elementary School District meeting. You can review my comments here.
This past week, Arizona's State Board of Education released letter grades for all public schools. Despite concerns raised by two governing board members over the summer by Todd and Parks, regarding proficiency scores, the district received an overall grade of B.
You may review how the state determines letter grades here.
I will not be in attendance at tonight’s meeting. Video of the meeting will be loaded to the district’s YouTube account. I will take a look at it tomorrow.