(The Center Square) — Arizonans may not have heard the last of a situation involving a school superintendent and state legislators.
Tolleson Union High School District Superintendent Jeremy Calles appeared before Arizona’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee on July 21. Committee members raised concerns about matters such as a $25 million loan to the Isaac School District via a lease-leaseback agreement. Vice Chair and Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, also had concerns about a conflict of interest, citing ties between Isaac School District and Calles’ consulting firm.
In a recent email to The Center Square, Calles said committee members held private meetings with a group that was making comments against the Tolleson district just prior to the meeting. Calles did not identify the group.
“Representative Stahl-Hamilton made the best effort to explain to the chair that randomly throwing out dozens of accusations to see what sticks goes against the role of JLAC, but she was quickly shot down by the Chair to the extent that he threatened to remove her from the meeting,” Calles told The Center Square.
That exchange involved Rep. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton, D-District 21, and state Sen. Mark Finchem, R-District 1.
“I thought the rule of JLAC is to review info from the auditor general and not jump into issues that have not been audited,” said Stahl-Hamilton during the JLAC meeting.
JLAC Chair and Sen. Mark Finchem, R-District 1, said the committee was “trying to establish whether or not this school district is going to be under subject of a forensic audit.” When Stahl-Hamilton interrupted, Finchem raised his voice in front of everyone and told her, “Please do not talk over the chair.”
“I wanted to give Mr. Calles an opportunity to explain some of the things that his constituency is absolutely outraged over,” Finchem then told Stahl-Hamilton.
Calles, who came before the JLAC with plans to show slides on school policies and agenda items, was later told by Finchem to speed things along. Calles added his “requests to show video to refute accusations were ignored/denied.
The final agenda item was his rebuttal, which the chair elected to skip over, Calles said. The committee moved onto the next topic.
“This story goes far deeper than what was presented at the JLAC meeting, and it’s too much to wrap into one article,” said Calles. “I will be breaking it all down into its components and then explaining how it is all connected through a series on our podcast – ‘The Education Exchange.’ ”
A Fox 10 Phoenix story quotes Calles as saying he has “nothing to hide.”
Gress, a former public-school teacher and school board member, stood by the hearing when asked for comment by The Center Square.
“The hearing revealed deeply troubling information that shows a pattern of disregard for public transparency,” Gress told The Center Square via email. “Combining public service with private consulting work, including using Tolleson District facilities and employees to support Superintendent Calles’s consulting company reeks of corruption.”
Gress then said that he and Chairman Finchem are reviewing their options with the auditor general.
The Center Square emailed the Auditor General’s Office for comment and did not receive a response.
“We will also be following up with Mr. Calles for additional information based on testimony received in the hearing,” said Gress.
